Question

I HAVE two children born in New York. My husband is from Ireland. We just received their Irish passports. I would also like one, but I understand I cannot get one. I am from the U.S. and have no Irish link but my husband. It doesn't make sense that my children can get passports, but I can't. Is it true that you have to live in Ireland to get a passport through marriage?

Answer

YES, it is true, ever since the laws regarding the passage of Irish citizenship through post-nuptial declaration changed on November 30, 2005.

Prior to that time, the process of obtaining an Irish passport through a spouse could be started and completed in the U.S., provided that the marriage was at least three years old at the time of application.

Now, however, that is not the case. Applicants must now lodge their cases through the Irish Department of Justice, and be resident in Ireland. Post-nuptial cases are no longer handled here under any circumstances.

Your children are entitled to Irish passports because their father is an Irish native. Read above question for more information. The Irish Embassy website provided above is also useful for any other Irish citizenship questions you may have.