Born abroad

If you were born outside Ireland, you may be entitled to Irish citizenship.

Born outside Ireland?

You are automatically an Irish citizen if one of your parents was an Irish citizen who was born in Ireland.

You can become an Irish citizen if one of your grandparents was born in Ireland, or you can become an Irish citizen if one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, but was not born in Ireland. If you’re eligible, you can register your birth on the Foreign Births Register.

Registering your birth

To register your birth on the Foreign Births Register, you must:

1. Follow our How to Register a Foreign Birth guide
2. Complete your application form online
3. Print out a copy of your application form and make a payment online
4. Send us your form, supporting documentation, photos and checklist.

Posting your application

Send your application to the address printed on top right-hand corner of your application form. This will be either:

• Your nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate
• Our Cork office (if you live in Munster) Tel: 021 494 4763 (10am – 1pm)
• Our Dublin office (if you live elsewhere in Ireland, Australia, Canada or the United States of America) Tel: 01 408 2555 (10am – 1pm)

Getting a replacement certificate

If you’re already an Irish citizen through Foreign Births Registration and you need to apply for a replacement certificate, contact:

• your nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate (if you live abroad)
• our Cork office (if you live in Munster)
• our Dublin office (if you live elsewhere in Ireland).