Do You Have Irish Citizen Parents?

✔️ If you were born in Ireland after 1st January 2005 and have parent(s) who are Irish citizens, you are automatically an Irish citizen.

Foreign Births Register

The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains the Foreign Births Register, where eligible individuals can apply for Irish citizenship. If you qualify to register, your Irish citizenship is effective from the date of registration, not from the date of your birth.

How to Apply

Immigration Solicitors Dublin and Cork can advise on all aspects of claiming citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration. The application form (available online) must be completed, and supporting documentation submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs for processing.

Once the process is complete, you will receive a Foreign Birth Registration Certificate confirming your entry on the Irish Register of Foreign Births. From that date, you are an Irish citizen and can apply for an Irish passport.

You cannot apply for an Irish passport until you are registered on the Foreign Births Register.

Children of Foreign National Parents Born in Ireland

✔️ A child born on the island of Ireland to an Irish or British citizen is automatically an Irish citizen.

✔️ A child born on the island of Ireland is entitled to Irish citizenship if their parent has the right to reside in Ireland or Northern Ireland without restriction, or if their parent was legally resident in Ireland for three of the four years immediately before their birth.

Applying for a Passport for an Irish-Born Child of Foreign National Parents

✔️ Residence in Ireland: Non-EEA nationals must provide proof of residence, including a letter listing their passport’s immigration stamps and their Certificate of Registration.

✔️ EU Citizens: Must provide proof of residence in Ireland for three years before the child’s birth. Acceptable documents include tax records, bank statements, utility bills, rental agreements, and school letters.

✔️ Residence in Northern Ireland: Non-EEA nationals with UK residency must apply to the Department of Justice and Equality for a Certificate of Nationality for their Irish-born child. This application must include a completed Declaration Form C, proof of residency, and supporting documents. Once the certificate is received, parents can apply for an Irish passport for the child.

Advantages of Becoming an Irish Citizen

✔️ You become an EU citizen.
✔️ You can live, work, and travel freely across the 27 EU Member States, 3 EEA states, and Switzerland.
✔️ Your children can become Irish and EU citizens, ensuring future benefits like unrestricted education access.
✔️ You can secure lower university fees across Europe compared to non-EU citizens.
✔️ You avoid non-EU passport queues at European airports.

Irish Citizenship Through Other Irish Ancestors

Unless at least one parent or an Irish-born grandparent was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, you cannot claim Irish citizenship based on extended ancestry (e.g., great-grandparents). Additionally, having an Irish relative such as a cousin, aunt, or uncle does not entitle you to Irish citizenship if neither your parents nor grandparents were Irish citizens at your birth.

Recent Trends in Citizenship by Descent Applications

Over the years, we have handled many Foreign Birth Registration cases with complex circumstances. Some common challenges include:

✔️ Name changes without legal documentation – Many individuals who emigrated to the UK or the USA informally changed their names.
✔️ Adoption cases – Some birth certificates may not include a parent’s name, making it harder to prove eligibility.
✔️ Estranged parent relationships – Clients who cannot obtain their parent’s passport or ID may face documentation issues.

These are just a few examples of the complex cases in which we have successfully helped clients register on the Foreign Births Register. If you need assistance, Immigration Solicitors are here to guide you through the process.