Standard Search for Citizenship Documents

Standard Search for Citizenship Documents

The Standard Search for Citizenship Documents involves searching for a Birth record. It nomally takes about three weeks from the time of ordering. If the record is found a certified copy of the record (which is suitable for application for Irish citizenship/passport) will be despatched by snail mail. The total cost of the search and the certified copy of the record is €90.

Irish Citizenship by Descent - Entitlement and Procedure

Hilda McGauley, in the December 2008 issue of Irish Roots Magazine. The full article may be viewed here.

Under the terms of the Irish Constitution and successive pieces of legislation, an individual may become entitled to Irish citizenship by virtue of being born on the island of Ireland, through marriage to an Irish citizen or through the process of naturalisation. Crucially for the Irish Diaspora however a process of citizenship by descent is also provided for. This process can allow for maintenance of citizenship through the generations of a family living abroad if certain conditions are fulfilled.

The following is a very simplified explanation of the criteria for qualification for Irish citizenship:

MOTHER or FATHER was born in Ireland

A person whose mother or father was born in Ireland is automatically an Irish citizen. For example, if it was your mother who was born in Ireland you may apply to the Passport Office by completing a passport application form (Pass 1) and include:

1. your birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable) and photographs.
2. your mother's birth and marriage certificates and an identity document for her (such as a passport, driving licence etc). If your mother is deceased her death certificate is required instead.

GRANDPARENT BORN IN IRELAND

A person whose grandfather or grandmother but not his/her parents, was born in Ireland may become an Irish citizen by registering in the Foreign Births Register (FBR) at an Irish Embassy or Consular Office or at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin. There are also certain circumstances whereby a person can obtain Irish citizenship through his or her great-grandfather or grandmother. The following might help to explain the situation:

• Anne (born in Ireland) Irish Citizen
• Barry (child of Anne - not born in Ireland) Irish Citizen
• Catherine (child of Barry/grandchild of Anne) must register in Foreign Births Register
• Dennis (child of Catherine/great-grandchild of Anne) may register for Irish citizenship, provided that Catherine had registered by the time of Dennis' birth

NOTE: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1986 introduced a provision whereby registration in the Foreign Births Register after the aforementioned date granted citizenship from the date of registration only. Prior to this a person could have registered after having their children and the children could then have been registered as children of an Irish Citizen. The 1986 Act means that it is now necessary for a person to be registered before having their children if the children are to qualify.

Dual or multiple citizenship - Irish law does not require that a person give up any other citizenship or citizenships he or she may hold when acquiring Irish citizenship.

Your Irish Embassy/Consulate will provide you with application forms. If the above application is successful you will be issued with a Foreign Births Registration Certificate (BFR cert). If you wish to apply for a passport you submit this certificate, your birth certificate and photographs along with a completed passport application form (Pass 1) to the Passport Office.

For further information on Irish citizenship and Irish passports see the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service at inis.gov.ie.