Eligibility quiz
Was one of your grandparents born on the island of Ireland?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Irish passport
Irish citizens can hold an Irish passport for international travel.
An adult passport lasts 10 years and must be renewed, but citizenship does not need renewal.
Live in Ireland for life
Irish citizens have a permanent right to live in Ireland without immigration permission.
Citizenship has no routine expiry date.
Work in Ireland
Irish citizens can work in Ireland without immigration permission or restrictions on their right to work.
Get help abroad
Irish citizens can ask for help abroad, including in an emergency.
Where Ireland has no embassy or consulate, they can ask another EU country's embassy or consulate for help.
Vote and run for office
Irish citizens aged 18 or over can vote in elections and referendums if they live in Ireland and are registered.
Citizens can also stand for election in Ireland and the EU if they meet the qualifications for the office.
Eligible citizens can serve on a jury.
Use public healthcare
Irish citizens can use public healthcare on the same terms as other people living in Ireland.
Eligibility generally depends on where they normally live, and a medical card also depends on income and other conditions.
A medical card covers GP care and certain other services; without one, charges can apply.
Use social supports
Irish citizens can use social supports on the same eligibility basis as other people living in Ireland, not simply because of their citizenship.
How to apply
Applying from outside IrelandApplying from outside Ireland
Find your consulate
Find the Irish embassy or consulate responsible for where you live. Your completed application will tell you where to mail it.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Irish embassy or consulate handles Foreign Birth Registration for your city?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your Foreign Birth Registration application.
See required documentsFill in application online
Fill in the Foreign Birth Registration application online. A parent or guardian applies for a child.
Start your applicationPay the fee online
Pay the application fee online by debit or credit card during the application.
Pay the feePrint and sign
Print the completed application and checklist, and sign where required. If you are applying for a child, sign where required as their parent or guardian.
Find printing instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I print and sign my Irish Foreign Birth Registration application?”
Have your form witnessed
Ask an eligible professional who knows the applicant personally and is not a relative to witness the form and two photographs and certify the identity-document copy. The witness should use an official stamp, or you should include their business card if they do not have one.
Find a witnessSearches DuckDuckGo for “Who can witness an Irish Foreign Birth Registration application?”
Mail your application package
Mail the signed and witnessed application, checklist and required documents to the address printed at the top right of the form. It will be an Irish embassy or consulate or a postal address in Ireland.
Find mailing instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where do I mail my Irish Foreign Birth Registration application and documents?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for your application to be processed and answer any requests for more information or documents.
See processing timesSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does an Irish Foreign Birth Registration application take?”
Receive your certificate
Once approved, you or your child will be entered in the Foreign Births Register and receive a certificate. The person registered can then apply for an Irish passport.
Find certificate informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I receive my Irish Foreign Birth Registration certificate?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Send your original civil birth certificate and your Irish parent's original civil birth certificate. Both must show parental details.
Parent's citizenship records *
Send your Irish parent's original Foreign Birth Registration certificate. Your parent must have been registered before you were born.
* Only if your Irish parent became a citizen through Foreign Birth Registration.
May need translationName change documents *
Send the official name-change document for you or your Irish parent, as applicable. Include the original document.
* Only if you or your Irish parent changed your name without marrying.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationMarriage certificates *
Send the original civil marriage certificate for you or your Irish parent, as applicable. If either of you changed your name, include the relevant official name-change document.
* Only if you or your Irish parent married.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationParent's death certificate *
Send your Irish parent's original civil death certificate. This takes the place of a copy of their photo ID.
* Only if your Irish parent has died.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationCopy of parent's ID *
Send a copy of your Irish parent's current government-issued photo ID. The copy must be certified as a true copy.
* Only if your Irish parent is alive.
May need translationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Registration when living abroad
If you became a citizen through naturalisation and live abroad, you must register your intention to keep Irish citizenship every year, unless an exception applies.
Exceptions include some people with Irish ancestry or connections.
After seven continuous years living abroad, failure to register can put your citizenship at risk.
Jury duty
Irish citizens who are eligible and called for jury service must serve.
Some people are exempt or not eligible.
Citizenship can be lost
If you are over 18 and outside Ireland, you can give up citizenship if you already have, or are about to get, another citizenship.
Citizenship gained through naturalisation can be taken away for fraud, serious disloyalty, certain failures to register abroad, or other legal grounds.
You must be notified and can ask for an independent inquiry.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Foreign Birth Registration & Passports Ireland
English Facebook group for people interested in Irish citizenship
Request to joinr/IrishCitizenship
English Reddit group for people interested in Irish citizenship
Join on RedditEuropean citizenship by descent
English Facebook group for people interested in Irish citizenship
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
Adavia doesn't provide advice, but we're building a directory of professionals who do. If you'd like, we can notify you when help is available.
Updated