Anyone born outside Ireland who, at the time of their birth, had a parent who was an Irish citizen, otherwise than by birth in Ireland, may become an Irish citizen by application for Foreign Birth Registration
FAQs: Irish Citizenship
Am I eligible to apply for Irish citizenship?
Anyone born outside Ireland who, at the time of their birth had a parent, who was an Irish Citizen, otherwise than by birth in Ireland, may become an Irish Citizen by application for Foreign Birth Registration (FBR).
What if one (or both) of my parents were born in Ireland?
Then you acquired Irish citizenship automatically at birth.
May I apply through an Irish born grandparent?
Yes. If one of your grandparents was born in Ireland, their child (your parent) acquired Irish citizenship automatically at birth. Therefore, unless your parent renounced their Irish citizenship before your birth, you are eligible to apply.
Is anyone else eligible to apply for Foreign Birth Registration (FBR)?
Eligibility is not limited to grandchildren of people born in Ireland. The criteria is that at the time of your birth one of your parents held Irish citizenship other than through birth in Ireland. The FBR process is therefore also available to the foreign-born children of naturalised Irish citizens, and to children born to Irish citizens who themselves acquired citizenship through FBR.
What if my parent became an Irish citizen after I was born?
It is not possible to apply on the basis that your parent acquired Irish citizenship after your birth, except in the very limited circumstance that your parent became a citizen through FBR prior to 1 January 1987 and you were born after 17 July 1956. This arises from previous legislation. Current legislation only provides for persons who, at the time of their birth, had a parent who held Irish citizenship other than by birth in Ireland.
How may I apply for Irish citizenship by Foreign Birth Registration?
Applications must be made online Dept of Foreign Affairs Irish Citizenship Applications
What is the cost to apply for Foreign Birth Registration?
Application fee for adult (aged over 18 years) FBR is NZ$450
Application fee for minor (aged under 18 years) FBR is NZ$250
FBR fees can be paid by credit card via our website, or by personal cheque or bank cheque.
If you come into our office you can pay by cash or EFTPOS.
Please remember, if paying online, to include a copy of your receipt or write the authorisation code from your receipt on your application.
How long does it take to process an application for Irish citizenship?
It currently takes approximately four months to process FBR applications at this mission, if all necessary documentation is provided. If we have to seek additional documents, the processing time may be longer.
Applications on behalf of a minor should be submitted at least four months before the minor turns 18 years old.
No travel arrangements should be made on the assumption of having Irish citizenship and then passport by a certain future date. Once you have been notified that your FBR application is successful, you may apply for an Irish passport.
You said that the supporting documents have to be originals but I don’t have the originals of some certificate what should I do?
When we say original documentation we mean that the document should be from the competent issuing authority –(ie not a photocopy, even if certified). You can obtain a new original from the competent authority.
Certificates from the Republic of Ireland can be obtained from General Register Office.
Certificates from Northern Ireland can be obtained from General Register Office Northern Ireland.