An application for Irish citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) can be submitted by any person with a grandparent born in any part of Ireland or by any person whose parent received Irish citizenship prior to the birth of the applicant.

You need to include personal details about yourself and your family in your online application to confirm that you're entitled to Irish citizenship.

All the information you need can be found on the supporting documentation that you'll have to submit with your application form.

Once you begin your online application, you have to complete it fully. You can't save your details and finish it later. So make sure you have these documents to hand before you start.

You will need:

Original certificates plus one photocopy of each original document must be submitted in all cases - laminates are not accepted

Your details

• Original Long form Civil Birth Certificate
• Original Civil Marriage Certificate (if currently or previously married)
• Original Divorce Decree (final) if divorced and current Civil Marriage Certificate (if remarried)
• Certified/Notarised Copy of current passport witnessed within the last six months (the witness must write the date on the photocopy)
• If over 18 years - Two separate documents received by post showing proof of current residence in the UK e.g. phone bill, gas/electricity bill, council tax, water rates etc - these must not be print outs from the internet and must be dated within the last six months
• If under 18 years (minor) - a certified copy of minor's passport witnessed within the last six months (witness must write the date on the photocopy) and a letter from the GP/Practice/School/College addressed to the Consulate General of Ireland confirming that the minor is registered with them (letter should give name, address and date of birth of minor). In addition, one proof of current residence in the UK for the minor and two separate proofs of current residence in the UK for the applying Irish parent. All letters must be have been received by post and dated within the last six months i.e. Internet print outs will not be accepted
• Deed Poll (If you've changed your name) Original must be submitted and must have been valid for at least two years.Two documents showing proof of usage in the newly acquired name - e.g. bank statements, utility bills that are at least two years old must accompany the deed poll.

Your parent's details (through whom you're claiming citizenship)

• Original Long form Civil Birth Certificate
• Original Civil Marriage Certificate (if currently or previously married)
• Original Divorce Decree (final) if divorced and Current Civil Marriage Certificate (if remarried)
• Certified/Notarised Copy of current passport witnessed within the last six months (witness must write the date on the photocopy) or
• Original Death Certificate if deceased
• Deed Poll (if they ever changed their name). Original must be submitted and must have been valid for at least two years. Two documents showing proof of usage in the newly acquired name - e.g. bank statements, utility bills that are at least 2 years old - must accompany the deed poll.

Your Irish-born grandparent's details

• Original Long form Civil Birth Certificate
• Original Civil Marriage Certificate (if currently or previously married)
• Original Divorce Decree (final) if Divorced and current Civil Marriage Certificate (if remarried)
• Certified/Notarised copy of current passport witnessed within the last six months (witness must write the date on the photocopy) or
• Original Death Certificate if deceased
• Deed Poll (if they ever changed their name). Original must be submitted and must have been valid for at least two years. Two documents showing proof of usage in the newly acquired name - e.g. bank statements, utility bills that are at least two years old - must also accompany the deed poll.

You may also need:

Depending on the circumstances under which you are claiming Irish citizenship, you may also need:

• Your parent's Naturalisation Certificate
• Your parent's Foreign Births Registration Certificate
• Your parent's Post-Nuptial Declaration
• Your parent's adoption details

If the parent of the applicant acquired Irish Citizenship through one of the above before their child was born, the child may apply for Foreign Birth Registration.

The documentation required to prove the line of descent in these circumstances is as follows:

1. All of the documents applicable to the person named in Section A of application form
2. All of the documents applicable to the person named in Section B of application form
3. The original - FBR Certificate, Post Nuptial Citizenship Certificate, Naturalisation Certificate or Foreign Adoption Certificate issued from the Irish Adoption Board for Irish Parent.
4. Two proofs of current residence in the UK for the parent and photographic identification and proof of current residence for the child in the UK
5. The Embassy of Ireland London and the Consul General of Ireland, Edinburgh will only accept applications from applicants resident in the UK. If the applicant is under 18 years both the applicant and the Irish parent must be resident in the UK.

Further documentation

We may ask you to submit more documents to support your application.

South African Applicants Resident in UK - Please note:

South African Certificates submitted must be the Vault Copy or Unabridged Computerised Version. Laminated Certificates will not be accepted.

Nigerian Applicants Resident in UK - Please note:

Original Nigerian Certificates/documents submitted for Foreign Birth Registration may have to be verified by the relevant Authorities in Nigeria. Applicants resident in the UK should contact this Embassy/Consulate Edinburgh for further details before submitting their application. Laminated Certificates will not be accepted.

Authentication

We may check the authenticity of all documentation you submit as part of your application.

Getting replacement certificates

• We need original certificates (not photocopies) to process your application. If you don't have the original certificates, you can get replacements from the General Register Office (GRO) Ireland or within the UK from:
• General Register Office (GRO) Northern Ireland
• General Register Office (GRO) Scotland
• General Register Office (GRO) England and Wales

Checklist

When you submit and print your online application form, a checklist of the documents you need will also print out. You need to:

• Make sure you've included all the documents on the checklist in your application
• Sign and date the checklist
• Post it to us with your application form and supporting documentation

Remember...

If you haven't included all the necessary documents, your application will be returned to you.

In the interest of the environment please do not include any plastic pockets with your application.

The fee for Foreign Birth Registration includes the price of posting your FBR certificate and returning your documents to you by Special Delivery. Please do not include a stamped addressed envelope with your application.

If using a postmaster to certify photocopies of Photo ID, you must include the cover sheet given to you at the Post Office.

Before you send your application form to the relevant office, you must have it witnessed by an appropriate person.

Who can be a witness?

The witness must be from one of the following professions only and :

(a) Must be currently residing and practicing in the UK

(b) Must not be related in any way to the Applicant

• Police Officer (including collar number and Station Stamp if available)
• Members of the Clergy (We define a member of the Clergy as a person who can officiate at Ceremonies e.g. Baptisms,      Weddings, Funerals etc.)
• Medical Doctor (Must be registered with the General Medical Council)
• Solicitor (Must be registered with the Law Society)
• Bank Manager/Building Society Manager
• School Principal/Head Teacher
• Head of Department at University/College
• Magistrate/Judge
• If applicant/parent is being identified to the witness by a third party, the third party must be personally known to both witness and applicant/parent.

Your witness needs to:

• Fully complete Section E of your application form - 'Certificate of Identity'
• Sign your two passport-sized photographs (if under 18, parent must also sign the photographs)
• Witness you signing Section D of your application form
• Indicate on the form specifically whether they personally know you, or otherwise that you have been identified by a third party known to them.
• Provide a business/work address and contact number. Private addresses for witnessed are not accepted.

Remember...

If your application hasn't been properly witnessed, it will be returned to you.

You need to submit two passport-sized photographs with your application.

Your witness must sign and date these photographs.

If you're applying on behalf of a minor, you also need to submit two passport-sized photographs of yourself. They should also be signed and dated by you and your witness.

Over 18 years of age

• Registration plus Certificate: €270
• Non-refundable postage and handling fee: €8
• Total: €278

Under 18 years of age

• Registration plus Certificate: €145
• Non-refundable postage and handling fee: €8
• Total: €153

Payment methods

Payment is made by debit/credit card as part of the online application process.

We strongly encourage you to gather all the required documents prior to completing the online form – incomplete applications will not be accepted

Begin your online Foreign Births Registration application