Irish citizenship through a parent or grandparent

Who qualifies

It depends on which relative was born in Ireland, and for some people, on dates.

• Already IrishA parent born on the island of IrelandIf your parent was an Irish citizen when you were born, you’re automatically Irish, wherever you were born. Almost everyone born on the island before 2005 is an Irish citizen (see below for later births). You just apply for a passport.
• Can registerA grandparent born on the island of IrelandYou can become a citizen by entering your birth on the Foreign Births Register. Then you can apply for a passport.
• Can registerA parent who was already an Irish citizen when you were born, but wasn’t born in IrelandFor example, a parent who was on the Foreign Births Register or had been naturalized before you were born. You can register too.
• Only sometimesA great-grandparent born in IrelandUsually only if your parent was entered on the Foreign Births Register before you were born. There’s an exception for older registrations: if your parent was entered on the register between 1956 and 1986, ask the Foreign Births Registration section, because you may qualify even if you were born before they registered.

Northern Ireland counts

The rules say “born on the island of Ireland”, which includes Northern Ireland as well as the Republic. Lots of people with a parent or grandparent from Belfast, Derry or anywhere else in Northern Ireland don’t realize this.

There’s one exception to be aware of. For people born on the island of Ireland on or after January 1, 2005, citizenship also depends on their own parents’ status. If the relative you’re claiming through was born in 2005 or later, check with the Passport Service before you apply.

Dates that matter

• You’re a citizen from the day you’re registered, not from birth. If you go through the Foreign Births Register, your Irish citizenship starts on the date your entry is made.
• The date matters for your children. Only children born after your registration date can be registered through you. If you’re expecting a baby, the Department of Foreign Affairs asks you to say so clearly on your application.
• The waits are long. The Foreign Births Register currently takes about 12 months, then the passport about 20 working days more. See how to apply.

What an Irish passport gives you

• The right to live, work and study in any EU country, and in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
• For people in the UK: you stay British. Irish and British citizens already have special rights in each other’s countries under the Common Travel Area, so nothing changes in the UK.
• No duty to live in Ireland, pay Irish tax because you’re a citizen, or do military service.

See what an EU passport lets you do, from working in Berlin to retiring in Portugal.

Common snags

• Short birth certificates. Every certificate must be the full version showing the parents’ names. Church records aren’t accepted, except baptismal certificates for grandparents born before 1864.
• Names that don’t match. A grandmother’s maiden name on one certificate and married name on another is normal, but you need the marriage certificate that links them.
• The witness. The Foreign Births Register form must be witnessed by someone from an approved list of professions who knows you personally and isn’t a relative. They use their official stamp, or include their business card if they don’t have one.
• Incomplete applications are sent back. They aren’t processed, so gather everything before you start the online form.

More in common questions about Irish citizenship.