Irish Foreign Births Register
COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE FOREIGN BIRTHS REGISTER WITH IRELAND
The Foreign Births Register (FBR) is a register of individuals, who were born outside of Ireland, who obtained Irish citizenship through their Irish ancestors; namely through their parents, grandparents, or, in certain cases, great-grandparents. Irish citizenship by foreign birth registration is part of the process of applying for Irish citizenship by descent. Ireland is one of the few countries in the European Union that has favorable laws allowing citizenship through the bloodline.
The Foreign Births Register with Ireland is also referred to as citizenship by descent because it is how descendants with Irish ancestors become Irish citizens. It is birthright and claim to citizenship based on bloodline and meeting the Irish dual citizenship requirements for acceptance into the Irish Foreign Birth Registry.
Eligibility for Irish Citizenship by Descent (Irish Foreign Birth Registry)
In order to be eligible to apply to have your details entered onto the FBR (Foreign Births Register Ireland), and become an Irish citizen, one of the following criteria must be met:
- If you were not born on the Island of Ireland, but your parent (who was also born outside of Ireland) was an Irish citizen, or entitled to be an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, you are eligible to become an Irish citizen.
- If you have a parent who registered on the FBR through their grandparent (your great-grandparent), you have a claim and right to Irish citizenship.
- If you have/had a grandparent who was born on the island of Ireland, you are entitled to claim Irish citizenship and able to apply to enter the FBR.
- If you have a great-grandparent who was born in Ireland (but your grandparents, parents and you were born outside of Ireland), you may still be eligible to apply through an Irish registration of foreign birth, but only if your parent was an Irish citizen had entered their details onto the Foreign Births Register before your birth, and was an Irish citizen by the you were born (if born after 1986) or between 1956 and 1986.
Application for Foreign Birth Registration with Ireland
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is responsible for processing Foreign Births Registration Ireland applications. ALL Irish citizenship applications go to this department, and those living in the U.S., Canada, Australia or Great Britain should note that Irish Embassies and Consulates abroad do not process citizenship applications.
In order to apply, you must first retrieve and collate the required documentation (original copies), including birth, marriage and death certificates (where applicable), and then complete the application form which is online.
Once completed, you will need to print the Irish citizenship application form and ensure that the online payment is made.
It is also required that a witness (a professional who you know, but not a relative) certify that your documentation and photos bears “a true copy of the original”. It is required for your photographs and the printed version of your application form to be formally witnessed. The witness should be someone you personally know and must belong to a profession recognized by the Department of Foreign Affairs as eligible for this role.
The witness is required to sign both a printed version of your application form and two of your passport photographs. They must also affix their official stamp to the printed application form. In cases where they don’t possess an official stamp, you should include their business card with your application. A full list of who can serve as a witness is on the government website.
You will need to send the Irish citizenship application form, along with supporting documentation, photos, and checklist, to PO Box address in Dublin, Ireland. All details will be stated on the Foreign Births Register Ireland application form.
Documents Required for the Foreign Birth Registry of Ireland
Once your Irish Foreign Birth Registry application has been approved, your documents will be returned to you. Documentation will be sent by recorded delivery and you will need to sign for them upon receipt, you will not need to include a pre-paid envelope.
Applying with Family Members in the Bloodline
You can apply with your siblings, and can send all applications and documentation together. You can also all apply using the same original documents for the Irish ancestor through which you are applying. With that said, if you want the documents to be used for all the applications, it is advised that you enclose a letter of explanation, to avoid confusion and risk more information will be requested, which could result in delays from the IFB when filing for an Irish registration of foreign birth.
Expectant parents (pregnant parent)
It is important that if you are an expectant parent, you complete your registration before your child is born. In the event that you fail to do so, they will not be an Irish citizen when they are born.
Cost of an Application for Irish Citizenship by Foreign Birth Registration
The fee for the Foreign Birth Registration Ireland and certificate is €270 if you are over 18. There is also a non-refundable postage and handling fee of €8.
If you are under 18, the fee for registration plus certificate is €145, plus the non-refundable postage and handling fee of €8.
Processing Time for Registering a Foreign Birth in Ireland
At present, Foreign Birth Registration applications in Ireland are taking an estimate of 9 months to process and are done in strict date order. In order to avoid delays, ensure that all documentation is accurate and without discrepancies. Discrepancies or inconsistencies with yours or your ancestors documents can cause delays when registering a foreign birth in Ireland.
Once the Ireland Foreign Birth Registration Application is Approved and Next Steps
Once your application is approved, your details will be registered and added to the Foreign Birth Registration Ireland, and from that date you are officially recognized as an Irish citizen, and can apply for a passport.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Irish Foreign Births Register?
The Foreign Births Register (FBR) contains the details of individuals (born outside of Ireland) who have Irish ancestors, and who obtained Irish citizenship through a parent, grandparent, or, in some cases, great-grandparent.
The FBR is known as citizenship by descent because it is how descendants with Irish ancestors can claim citizenship. It is an entitlement to citizenship based on bloodline.
What does Foreign Birth Registration mean in Ireland?
Foreign Birth Registration allows descendants of Irish people who have moved abroad to claim Irish citizenship. Irish citizenship can be passed from parent to child if each generation registers their birth before the next generation is born.
Does Ireland give citizenship by birth to foreigners?
If born abroad, you are automatically an Irish citizen if one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth and born in Ireland. In this case, it’s not necessary to apply to become an Irish citizen. If you have an Irish ancestor who is a parent, a grandparent, or, in certain cases, a great-grandparent, who is/was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth; then you may be able to claim Irish citizenship through the Foreign Birth Register Ireland. Irish citizenship by foreign birth registration is a common process with the Republic of Ireland as it is one of the few countries in the European Union (EU) that grants citizenship by descent.
How do I apply for the Ireland Foreign Births Registry?
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) processes all Foreign Births Registration applications. Please note that Irish Embassies and Consulates abroad do not process citizenship applications. Applicants living in the U.S., Canada, Australia or Great Britain must complete the online application form, via the DFA website, and then print and return the application form, along with supporting documentation, photos and checklist, to the PO Box address in Dublin.
What is the cost for registering a foreign birth in Ireland?
If you are an adult (over 18) the cost of registration and certificate is €270. In addition, there is a non-refundable postage and handling fee of €8. For under 18s, the cost for registration and certificate is €145, plus the non-refundable postage and handling fee of €8.
How long does it take to get on the Foreign Births Register?
Foreign Birth Registration applications are done in strict date order and are currently taking on average 9 – 24 months to process.
How do I check the progress of my Irish foreign birth registration?
Due to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration process, it takes approximately 9 months to 1 year to process a completed Foreign Birth Registration application. If further documentation is required, the applicant will be contacted. You can contact the Ireland Foreign Birth Register at +353 1 568 3331 to answer questions about your application for Irish dual citizenship and if your application has been approved.
What happens once my Ireland foreign birth registration is approved?
Once your Irish dual citizenship application has been successful, your details will be entered into the FBR, and from the date of registration, you are officially recognized as an Irish citizen. You are then able to apply for an Irish passport.
How do I contact the Irish foreign births register
The Ireland Foreign Birth Register has a direct contact phone number +353 1 568 3331 that you can call to answer questions about your application for Irish dual citizenship.
What is the wait time for the Foreign Birth Registration in Ireland?
Applications for citizenship through Foreign Births Registration are submitted online along with all required documentation. If all the correct documents are received and the application is complete, it can take 9 months to 1 year to process. Applications requiring clarification or further documents take longer.
What are the benefits of foreign birth registration in Ireland?
Being an Irish citizen grants you the same rights as those born in Ireland. You can live and work there, access Ireland’s highly-regarded health and education, as well as vote in elections. It also means you can hold an Irish passport, which makes you a citizen of Europe, and you can live, travel, work and study in any of the 27 member states without time or visa restrictions.
This page was last updated with help by Marco Permunian
