As results from the 2024 US Presidential election began to roll in on Tuesday night, November 5, Google queries in the United States about Irish citizenship have surged.
As such, we are sharing the most up-to-date information provided by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) about getting Irish citizenship and an Irish passport.
In order to obtain an Irish passport, you must be an Irish citizen. You do not need to have been born in Ireland to be considered an Irish citizen in some cases. Read on to determine if you are an Irish citizen and how to get your Irish passport.
Am I an Irish citizen?
If you or your parent were born on the island of Ireland before 2005, you are an Irish citizen. You can apply for an Irish passport without making an application for citizenship.
If you, or your parent, were born on the island of Ireland on or after January 1, 2005, your right to Irish citizenship depends on:
- the parents’ citizenship at the time of the birth
- the residency history of one of the parents before the birth
What does being an Irish citizen mean?
You are formally recognised as a national of Ireland and a citizen of the European Union. You have certain rights. These include the right to:
- carry an Irish passport
- live and work in Ireland and the EU
- You may also request consular assistance from Irish embassies and consulates abroad, or from those of any other EU member state in a country where there is no Irish representation (EU Consular Protection Directive).
My grandparent was born on the island of Ireland. Am I an Irish citizen?
Yes, you can apply for Irish citizenship by descent.
In these cases, you can become an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration.
Once a person is entered onto the Foreign Births Register they are an Irish citizen and entitled to apply for an Irish passport.
My parent is an Irish citizen who was not born on the island of Ireland and I was not born on the island of Ireland. Am I an Irish citizen?
Yes, if your parent was an Irish citizen when you were born. You can apply for Irish citizenship through the Foreign Birth Register.
Once a person is entered onto the Foreign Births Register they are an Irish citizen and entitled to apply for an Irish passport.
How else do I become an Irish Citizen?
Ireland's DFA only processes applications for citizenship through Foreign Births Registration.
The Minister for Justice and Equality is responsible for deciding who is eligible to apply for Irish citizenship through the naturalisation process. Citizenship Division is part of Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), Department of Justice and Equality.
Foreign Birth Registration
Ireland's DFA processes applications for Foreign Births Registration otherwise known as Citizenship by Descent.
This can be a complex process that may require you to submit official documentation relating to three generations which may have been issued by several jurisdictions.
The DFA says it has seen an increase in the number of applications, as well as an increase in the number of incomplete applications.
To avoid delays:
- It is important that all required Original state-issued documentation, including Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates are included with your application. These documents contain the information that you will need to complete your on-line application.
- The application fee must be paid at the time of application.
To help with the number of applications, the Department has set up a new Foreign Birth Registration team. This team allows them to manage the increased volume of applications and improve efficiency.
New Customer Service Hub
The DFA has also recently set up a new Customer Services Hub. This hub manages all queries related to Foreign Birth Registration and passport applications.
The DFA communicates with customers by telephone. This method of communications ensures that it is:
- improving service to customers
- compliant with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- compliant with Data Protection legislation
How long does it take?
After all the correct physical documents are received, it takes approximately nine months to process a Foreign Birth Registration application.
Applications requiring clarification or further documents take longer.
Incomplete applications delay the processing of the complete applications.
Living in Great Britain/USA/Canada/Australia
Ireland's Embassies and Consulates in these countries do not process Foreign Birth Registrations. All applications are now processed in Dublin.
Read more
First-time Irish passport application for adults
Overview
You can apply for your Irish passport or passport card from anywhere in the world, on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. This secure and convenient service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Applications will be processed within the current processing times. If you need to submit documents, the processing time will only start when we receive them.
Adult passports are valid for 10 years. If your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago, you need to apply as a first-time applicant.
You can also apply for an Irish passport card along with your passport book when you apply online.
How to apply for an Irish passport online
To apply using Passport Online you will need:
- a digital photo that meets the photo guidelines
- credit or debit card
- an email address
- access to a printer
The online application takes about 10 minutes to complete.
How to meet the photo guidelines
Documents you need to apply for an Irish passport
The online application will tell you the documents you need to submit after applying.
You can also read our guidance on the documents you need to submit if you are a:
Verifying identity
As a first-time adult applicant, your identity must be verified by a member of An Garda Síochána in Ireland or an appropriate witness outside of the State.
As part of the online application, you will be asked to print an identity verification form which will tell you what type of witness is acceptable.
First-time Irish passport applicants born abroad
Check the documents you need to submit if you are a first-time adult applicant born abroad.
What it costs to apply for an Irish passport
The cost of your passport depends on the way you apply for it and the type you choose, for example, standard or large.
When you apply using Passport Online:
- a standard 10-year passport for an adult is €75
- a large 66-page 10-year passport is €105
- a standard 10-year passport plus passport card bundle is €100
When you apply online, there is an additional €15 postal fee if you live outside Ireland.
You can read the full list of Irish passport fees here.
How long it takes to process an Irish passport application
Passport turnaround times: Check the current turnaround times for the latest information here.
Passport tracking service: You can check the status of your online application using the passport tracking service here.
When online application is not possible
Passport Online
Passport Online is the fastest way to apply for a passport.
If Passport Online is unavailable for first time applications in the country where you are living, contact your local Irish Embassy or Consulate for information on how to get a paper form and how to submit it.
Application forms cannot be downloaded.
Paper applications
If you are living in Ireland, Northern Ireland, or Great Britain and do not wish to apply online, you can apply using a paper passport form.
Paper applications in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain are submitted through the Post Passport service.
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