Irish citizenship by descent allows people with Irish ancestry around the world to reconnect with their Irish roots and gain EU citizenship and its associated rights. Many potential applicants want to know how eligibility works and which stipulations apply to descendants.
When it comes to seeking Irish ancestry citizenship, the Irish Foreign Births Register (FBR) becomes a key factor in eligibility for descendants, especially if the applicant was born abroad. In this guide, we’re unpacking everything you need to know about the FBR, when it affects citizenship applicants, how to enter your name, and more.
What Is the Irish Foreign Births Register?
The Irish Foreign Births Register is an official list maintained by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for people of Irish descent who are born abroad to claim Irish citizenship.
Legal Basis for FBR Requirements
Irish citizenship by descent is governed by provisions in the amended Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1956.
Section 6 of the Act outlines automatic birthright citizenship for children of Irish citizens. And Section 7 of the Act outlines citizenship through registration in the Irish FBR.
When You Don’t Need to Enter in the FBR
Some Irish descendants can gain automatic birthright citizenship through parents. For example:
- If you were born abroad but your parent was born in Ireland and held Irish citizenship at the time of your birth.
- If you were born abroad to Irish parents who had already registered in the FBR before your birth.
When You Must Enter in the FBR
There are two cases in which people of Irish descent who were born outside of Ireland must use the FBR to gain Irish citizenship by descent:
- If one of your grandparents was born in Ireland.
- If one of your parents was an Irish citizen when you were born, but that parent was not born in Ireland.
If you were born abroad and want to apply for Irish citizenship by descent, you must have your name entered onto the FBR. At that point, you are an Irish citizen, and you can apply for an Irish passport and enjoy the benefits of Irish and EU citizenship.
How to Enter in the Irish FBR
The FBR application process is fairly straightforward, and the form can be accessed online through the Irish DFA website:
- First, complete the Foreign Births Register application form online.
- Ensure that you have submitted supporting documents, including your own long-form birth certificate, your parent’s and grandparent’s birth and marriage certificates, your passport, your proof of address, and your grandparent’s Irish birth certificate.
- Ensure that your foreign documents have been officially translated through a certified translator and legalized.
- Pay applicable fees and submit your application to the DFA in Dublin.
For a more comprehensive breakdown of the Irish citizenship by descent application process, check out our complete guide.
Tip: Entering the FBR Preemptively
Some Irish citizens who were not born in Ireland themselves preemptively enter their names on the FBR when they plan to have children in the future. Doing so ensures that their children, if born abroad, can claim automatic Irish citizenship by descent.
Our guide to citizenship eligibility for children explains this in more detail.
FAQs
Do adopted children of Irish citizens need to register?
It depends. If the adopting parent was already an Irish citizen when they adopted the child, the child is automatically an Irish citizen once their adoption is legally recognized in Ireland (no FBR registration needed). However, if the parent became an Irish citizen later, their adopted child doesn’t automatically qualify for citizenship.
Do great-grandchildren qualify for citizenship?
The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act (1956) doesn’t explicitly mention great-grandparents. However, great-grandchildren of Irish ancestors can obtain Irish citizenship by descent, but only if their parent registered in the FBR before they were born.
How long do FBR applications take?
Processing time varies, but it often takes 18–24 months, especially when there is high demand.
Are there fees for registering?
Yes, if you are 18 years old or older, FBR registration (including the certificate) costs €270, and there’s a non-refundable postage and handling fee of €8. For those under 18 years old, the registration plus certificate fee is €145, and the non-refundable postage and handling fee is €8.
What if my ancestor was born before Irish civil birth registrations started?
According to the DFA, in this case, you may supply your ancestor’s Baptismal certificate instead as a supporting document for the FBR application.
Final Thoughts
A long history of economic hardships, political strife, and struggle for independence from British rule have created a pattern of emigration from Ireland, lasting into the 20th century. But legal provisions for descendants of Irish nationals make it possible for people to reclaim Irish citizenship by descent and reconnect with their origins.
Grandchildren of Irish nationals and children of Irish nationals who were not born in Ireland must register in the Irish Foreign Births Register to acquire citizenship by descent.
If you think that you may be eligible to pursue this pathway of Irish citizenship by descent, get started today by reaching out to our citizenship experts and signing up!