Irish citizenship by descent is automatic if a parent was born in Ireland, and available through the Foreign Births Register (FBR) if a grandparent was born there or a parent was already an Irish citizen when you were born. In 2026 the FBR costs €278 for an adult, takes about 12 months, and makes you a citizen from the day you’re registered, not from birth.
Last checked: October 2026
In short:
- The FBR fee is €270 plus €8 postage (€278) for adults and €145 plus €8 (€153) for under-18s, paid online, and the Department of Foreign Affairs says processing takes about 12 months in strict date order.
- You become Irish only when you’re entered on the register, so children born before that date can’t claim through you.
- Ireland doesn’t make you give up another citizenship, and an Irish passport costs €75 online, plus a €15 postal fee if you live outside Ireland.
Who qualifies
| Your situation | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A parent was born on the island of Ireland and was an Irish citizen | Already Irish from birth, even if that parent has died (per Citizens Information) | Apply straight for a passport |
| A grandparent was born in Ireland, neither parent was | Eligible, not yet a citizen | Register on the FBR |
| A parent was Irish when you were born but born abroad (for example, registered on the FBR or naturalised) | Eligible | Register on the FBR |
| A great-grandparent was born in Ireland | Only if your parent was registered on the FBR before you were born | Check your parent’s registration date |
| Further back | No right by descent | Only ministerial discretion for “Irish associations” |
Citizens Information notes that anyone born on the island of Ireland before 1 January 2005, including Northern Ireland, was Irish by birth. The registration date catches families out: if your father registered on the FBR only after you were born, you can’t claim through him.
Documents you’ll need
The DFA wants originals of every civil certificate, not photocopies, and returns them by signed-for post at the end.
For you:
- Original civil birth certificate showing your parents’ details
- Original civil marriage certificate or change-of-name document if your name has changed
- Certified copy of a photo ID (passport, driving licence or national ID card)
- Two separate original proofs of address
- Four passport photos, two signed and dated by your witness
For the Irish-born grandparent and the parent you claim through:
- Original civil birth certificates (a baptismal certificate is accepted only for a grandparent born before civil registration began in 1864)
- Original civil marriage certificates where relevant
- Certified photo ID, or an original civil death certificate if they’ve died
The witness. Your form and two photos must be witnessed by someone who knows you personally, isn’t a relative and is currently practising in a listed profession: police, teacher, clergy, doctor, nurse, pharmacist, dentist, lawyer, notary, bank manager, accountant, elected representative, vet or chartered engineer. They add an official stamp or business card.
Certification and apostilles. Copies of ID must be certified as true copies by a solicitor, notary, commissioner for oaths, post office or the issuer. The DFA’s guidance doesn’t mention apostilles; it asks for originals instead.
How the process runs
- Apply online at fbr.dfa.ie. Gather everything first; you pay during the application.
- Print, sign and witness the form.
- Post the pack by recorded mail to the address on your printed form. In-person submissions aren’t accepted. Per Fragomen (September 2026), originals have to arrive within 20 weeks of the online application.
- Wait about 12 months. Applications are handled in strict date order.
- Receive your FBR certificate. It shows your name exactly as on your birth certificate.
- Apply for your passport. You can’t apply for an Irish passport until you’re registered.
If you’re refused, you can ask for a review in writing within six weeks of the refusal letter, but only if you’d sent all the required documents. After that, the route is the Ombudsman.
Common delays
Per Fragomen, missing or wrong documents can add four to six months. The issues it sees most:
- Missing civil records. A grandparent born after 1864 needs a civil birth certificate; late registrations need extra evidence.
- Unexplained discrepancies. Spelling and date differences across generations need a covering explanation.
- Wrong witness or certification. An unlisted profession or a relative signing gets it bounced.
- Using DNA tests. Commercial DNA results don’t replace civil records.
What you get
EU rights. An Irish passport is an EU passport. Per the EU’s Your Europe portal, you can live in any other EU country for three months without registering, longer if you’re working, studying or have enough resources, and gain permanent residence after five continuous years. That’s the practical prize for nomads eyeing Spain, Portugal or Italy without a visa (Second passport (2026): how to get one by descent, residency or investment covers other second-passport routes).
The UK too. Under the Common Travel Area, GOV.UK says Irish citizens can live, work and study in the UK without permission, vote in certain elections and access health services. The CTA predates EU membership and was reaffirmed in a 2019 UK-Ireland memorandum.
No renunciation. The Irish Immigration Service says you don’t have to give up another citizenship to claim Irish citizenship by descent. Check your other country’s rules in Dual citizenship (2026): which countries allow it and which don’t.
Your children. Register before they’re born. Citizenship dates from your registration, so a child born afterwards can register through you; a child born before can’t.
Related guides: Second passport (2026): how to get one by descent, residency or investment · Dual citizenship (2026): which countries allow it and which don’t · Italian citizenship by descent (2026): what the new law allows
Quick answers
Q: Can I get Irish citizenship through my grandparent?
Yes, if a grandparent was born in Ireland. You register on the Foreign Births Register at fbr.dfa.ie with original civil certificates for you, your parent and your grandparent. The adult fee is €278, processing takes about 12 months, and you become a citizen on the date you’re registered.
Q: Can I get Irish citizenship through a great-grandparent?
Only if the parent you descend through was registered on the Foreign Births Register before you were born. In that case your parent was an Irish citizen at your birth and you can register through them. Otherwise, descent beyond grandparents gives no right to Irish citizenship.
Q: How much does Irish citizenship by descent cost in total?
The Foreign Births Register costs €278 for adults and €153 for minors, including postage. A 10-year adult passport is then €75 online, plus €15 postage if you live outside Ireland. Budget separately for ordering civil certificates and certifying ID copies.
Sources
- Ireland.ie (DFA): Registering a foreign birth
- Ireland.ie (DFA): Foreign birth registration review process
- Ireland.ie (DFA): Passport fees
- Citizens Information: Irish citizenship through birth or descent
- Irish Immigration Service: Dual citizenship
- Fragomen: Foreign birth registration mistakes that can delay Irish citizenship applications
- GOV.UK: Common Travel Area guidance
- Your Europe: Residence rights for EU citizens
This is general information from the Nomad Forums team, not immigration, tax or legal advice. Rules change; check the official source or a qualified adviser before applying.
Over to you: If you’ve registered on the FBR recently, how long did it take from posting your documents to getting the certificate, and which certificate was hardest to track down? Did anyone get a query back from the DFA, and how did it change the timeline?