Simple Guide to Ireland Foreign Birth Registration 2024

Are you an Irish citizen who is concerned about the Irish citizenship of your child born in another country? Can’t get a way to earn your child Irish citizenship?

Then, you need to know the rules and regulations of the FBR or Foreign Birth Registration of Ireland. The registration process is administered by Ireland’s Foreign Affairs & Trade Department.

Educating yourself about the FBR rules and regulations will solve your problem. It will give you enough knowledge to help other people earn their Irish citizenship.

That sounds good, isn’t it? Worried, who will help you with the exact rules and regulations of FBR and describe them to you in simple language?

Hakuna Matata..because we are here to help you! Keep reading our simple guide to Ireland Foreign Birth Registration. You will gain extraordinary confidence to get your job done. 

Ireland Foreign Birth Registration – Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria of the aspirant for FBR in Ireland are –

• ​​​​​​Any one or both parents of the aspirant must have been a citizen of Ireland when he/she was born. 
• Any one or both of the aspirant’s grandparents are Ireland-born. 
• His/her Irish citizen parent has earned the citizenship of Ireland by birth. Or, the parent may have obtained the same through naturalization or other legal procedures before his/her birth. The evidence for proving the Irish descent of the parent must be strong. 

Ireland Foreign Birth Registration – Documents to Be Produced

The documents required for the Ireland Foreign Birth Registration are –

• The aspirant’s birth certificate. 
• His/her Irish parent’s birth certificate.
• Marriage certificate in case the citizenship aspirant is married.
• The applicant’s 4 photos ( passport-sized ).
• The parent’s proof of being a citizen of Ireland (for example, Irish passport, naturalization certificate, etc). 
• 2 address proofs.
• The child’s school certification and doctor’s certification, in case the aspirant is a child. 
• Extra supporting documents (if the Irish Foreign Affairs Department authority demands the same). 

The other documents you might need are –

• Original post-nuptial citizenship certificate. 
• Original naturalization certificate. 
• Original adoption certificate.
• Original adoption order, etc. 

The Process of FBR Application

For the application process of Ireland Foreign Birth Registration, pursue the following steps – 

• Assemble all the important documents that are required for the registration process.
• Fill up the application form for Ireland Foreign Birth Registration. You can download the application form for the same from the Irish government website of Foreign Affairs & Trade.
• You can also get the form by contacting the Irish embassy/consulate. 
• After you complete the form details, submit the form. While you submit it, don’t forget to submit the supporting documents along with it.
• You can submit the completed form online, to the Irish embassy/consulate, or the department office directly. You can do it by presenting the documents physically to them.  
• After you submit the form, consider making payment of the processing fee for the registration. 
• The office of the Foreign Affairs & Trade department is in Dublin.

Verification

The documents and application will need your self-attestation in the presence of a renowned person. This person has to be a member of any of the professions listed by the site of Foreign Affairs & Trades.

Once he/she verifies and attests the documents with his/her official stamp, you can do the final submission of your application.  

​​​​Ireland Foreign Birth Registration – The Processing Time 

There’s no certainty about the processing time of this registration process in Ireland. Your registration can be done within a short time or it may take a longer time than usual. Both have a 50 – 50 chance. This uncertainty of time may be due to –

• A large number of submitted applications by various applicants. 
• Other individual circumstances. 

If the volume of applications is large, your registration may take several months. If you want to know the expected time of the completion of your registration, you can go to their site.

There you can check the current processing time for each registration and you can guess what will it be in your case.

In general, it can take approximately nine months or less for the entire process to be complete. If somehow your application is denied, you can reapply.

However, the re-application must be done within forty-two days starting from the date of rejection. 

How Much Does It Cost to Become A Citizen of The Irish?

Going to apply for citizenship in Ireland by filling out the application form for Ireland Foreign Birth Registration? You have to submit the mandatory documents with it and a fee. You have to make a payment of €153 for children and €278 for adults. It’s the application fee.

If your application gets selected, you will have to make a further payment. This payment is for processing the birth registration certificate. The authorities will further inform you if you need to pay any extra certification fees for the same. 

Can I get Irish Citizenship through My Child? 

Yes, it’s possible if you’re the biological parent of a child with Irish citizenship. It will give you the privilege to apply and get a citizenship certificate in Ireland.

However, for that, your child has to reside in Ireland on a full-time basis. Also, you must have a present tie-up with your Irish child. The tie-up must be either emotional or financial. 

Ireland Foreign Birth Registration – Its Benefits

• By getting it done, you will get the privilege of living in Ireland and doing any job over there. 
• You can travel or work in any of the European Union countries. There will be no restriction applicable to you. 
• You can attain education in Ireland.  
• You will get all healthcare and social welfare advantages in Ireland. You can attain them whenever you want. 
• Ireland possesses some visa-free agreements with other countries in Europe​​​​​​. By becoming a citizen of Ireland, you will be able to transit all over the EU. 
• You will be able to pass on your Irish citizenship to the young generations of your family.  

FAQS

1. What is the waiting time for a foreign birth register in Ireland? 

The processing time for Ireland’s FBR varies. It depends on certain factors. They include-

• The number of application forms submitted.
• Individual circumstances, etc.

Also, it has changed with time. In 2022, it was somewhere between one and a half years to twenty-four months. However, in 2023/2024, it became approximately nine months or less.

The Passport Service Department of Ireland is trying hard to reduce this processing time further. They are trying to do it by incorporating some extra resources in the Ireland Foreign Birth Registration unit. 

2. How do I get a copy of my Irish Foreign Birth Registration? 

The FBR unit situated in Dublin accepts replacement certificate applications. If you want such a certificate for yourself, enter their online website and apply for your Replacement FBR certificate.

Wanna get a copy of your Irish Foreign birth registration certificate through another way?  Get in touch with Ireland’s and Northern Ireland’s General Register Office. 

3. How do I contact the Irish Foreign Birth Registry? 

You can contact them by calling them at the number, +353 15683331. The one who will receive your call will address all of your registration queries patiently.

Remember, you or your spouse as a parent, have to be an Irish citizen during your child’s birth. It’s important if you want to claim the Irish citizenship for your child. Otherwise, you can’t apply for the Ireland Foreign Birth Registration for your child. 

4. Does Ireland give citizenship by birth to foreigners? 

No, due to an amendment in the Constitution law of Ireland, the country doesn’t give anyone the provision of citizenship by birth now.

A child born in Ireland doesn’t become a citizen of Ireland automatically. One or both of his or her parents/grandparents have to be citizens of Ireland during his or her birth. 

5. How do I find birth records in Ireland? 

To get your Irish birth record, you need to get in touch with Ireland’s and Northern Ireland’s General Register Office. They will help you to get any certificates related to birth, marriage, or death. 

6. Is it hard to get Irish citizenship? 

No, it’s not hard to get someone’s Irish citizenship. However, he/she has to prove his/her recognizable residence. It’s important to get citizenship through naturalization. For this, he/she has to show that he/she has spent the last 5 years in Ireland.

Your stay in Ireland can be on and off over the years. However, you must ensure that you have stayed in Ireland for one year before giving this application.

Besides, a child is entitled to get citizenship in Ireland if one or both of his/her parents/grandparents were Irish citizens when he was born.  

7. Is Ireland citizenship good?

Yes, most people in the world seek Ireland citizenship because of the benefits this country offers. The privileges that you will get by being a citizen of this nation include – 

• Right to vote.
• Right to work or travel in any place within the EU.
• Individual rights. 
• Dual citizenship.
• Right to education, etc. 

Conclusion

So, are you interested in getting your child the Irish citizenship certificate to stay connected with your Irish roots? Then apply for his/her citizenship today. Fill up the application for Ireland Foreign Birth Registration and provide the necessary documents.

Make the fee payments, and wait for some months for the processing of the same. Your child will enjoy the benefits of the citizenship of Ireland forever once his/her birth certificate is registered.