Can I claim Irish citizenship if I was born abroad to an Irish parent?

Irish citizenship can be claimed by those born abroad if they have an Irish parent or, in some cases, an Irish grandparent. The rules depend on when and where the parent or grandparent was born and whether they were Irish citizens at the time of the applicant's birth.

If you were born outside Ireland and one of your parents was born in Ireland (or was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth who was not born in Ireland but had their birth registered on the Foreign Births Register), you are automatically an Irish citizen by descent. However, to establish your citizenship and obtain an Irish passport, you must register your birth on the Foreign Births Register (FBR) maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

If your connection to Ireland is through a grandparent born in Ireland, you can also claim citizenship, but your parent must first have registered on the Foreign Births Register before your birth for you to be entitled automatically. If your parent registered after your birth, you may still apply but the entitlement is more complex. Great-grandparent connections do not generally confer automatic entitlement.

The application to the Foreign Births Register is made online through the Department of Foreign Affairs website. Processing times vary and can take several months.

This is general information only, not legal advice. Consult a registered immigration solicitor for advice specific to your situation.