Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) was temporarily put on hold. However, processing of Foreign Birth Registration recommenced on a phased basis on Monday, 15^th November. Any applications that were sent to the FBR team while processing was closed have been kept on file, and the FBR team has assured that those applications will now be processed in strict date order. The Department of Foreign Affairs has noted that due to the complexity of the process itself, and the backlog of applications that has built up over the paused period, they predict an average of a two-year processing time for current applications.

Foreign Birth Registration allows for persons of Irish descent and children of Irish citizens born outside the State to become Irish citizens themselves.

Who is eligible to become an Irish citizen?

If you were born outside of Ireland, you can apply for Foreign Birth Registration if;

• One of your grandparents was born in Ireland, or
• One of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, even though they were not born in Ireland

Depending on the specific situation, there are certain documents that need to be submitted with an application for FBR on behalf of the applicant and the Irish citizen family member. There is also an online form that needs to be completed. The fees for FBR are €278 for an adult (over the age of 18) and €153 for registration of those under the age of 18.

Once a person is registered on the Foreign Birth Registrar, they can apply for an Irish passport as an Irish citizen.

The full notice on the Department of Foreign Affairs website can be found here.

If you or a family member have queries about the Foreign Birth Registration process, please do not hesitate to contact our office.