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Original poster

Register of Foreign Births

23 replies

user1455735072 · 07/05/2023 17:20

Hello wise Irish mumsnetters!
could anyone help me with application for renewal of Irish passport?
I am entitled to an Irish passport as I was born in the UK to Irish parents but to renew my Irish passport the online form asks for the Foreign Birth Register certificate number. I have that here and it has a Foreign Birth Register Entry number ( which is requested separately) but no Certificate number.
Anyone know? My certificate is from 1970 maybe they didn't put numbers on the certificates then?

OP posts:
Radiatorvalves · 07/05/2023 17:22

My mum was Irish so I have an automatic right to an Irish passport. No need for registration…. Unlike my kids who are waiting to get registered. Are you sure you need it?

Original poster
user1455735072 · 07/05/2023 17:26

Yes parents also born in uk so it's grandparents born in Ireland

OP posts:
bellinisurge · 07/05/2023 18:32

That's odd. I'm UK born to an Irish born mother. Which means I am an automatic Irish citizen. To get my first Irish passport, I had to prove my link to her and that she was Irish born. When it comes to renew, I don't expect to have to do that again. I'm not on the Foreign Birth Register but my daughter is.

bellinisurge · 07/05/2023 18:35

Oh, sorry, I've just seen that your parents are UK born but must have got you on the Foreign Birth Register like I did for my daughter. Only back in the 1970s. They must have changed the recording system but surely the legacy system is still accessible.

Abhannmor · 09/05/2023 10:23

user1455735072 · 07/05/2023 17:26

Yes parents also born in uk so it's grandparents born in Ireland

Eek. My boys are on the Register too. Presumably they were sent a Certificate but that could be anywhere now 😭.

Its a bit steep expecting you to know the number anyway 50 years on. Job for your TD ?

bellinisurge · 09/05/2023 11:40

Ultimately, you could make a subject access request to the Department of Foreign Affairs www.dfa.ie/about-us/contact-us/contact-details/

Here's a template from the Data Protection Commissioner www.dataprotection.ie/en/individuals/know-your-rights/right-access-information

Put as much identifying info in the request as possible about your personal circumstances- date of birth , old passport number and specify what information about

This may not be the best route and DFA might point you down a different route, but it might help

bellinisurge · 09/05/2023 11:41

"Specify what information you seek"

Abhannmor · 09/05/2023 11:48

That looks v useful. Thanks @bellinisurge .

Original poster
user1455735072 · 13/05/2023 00:08

Phoned them up to ask and the young chap on the phone said ´"Ah just put lots of zeroes in"
So I did and it worked!!
So far anyway, need to see if they send me a new passport!!

OP posts:
bellinisurge · 13/05/2023 07:46

Well done! Thanks for the update!

Abhannmor · 13/05/2023 07:56

Phew . Now I must see if we can find my sons' Certificate.
When the got the passport one if them said ' we 'll never need that bloody Certificate again!'

I've got a bad feeling about this 😱 . Good luck OP !

Usou · 13/05/2023 09:08

"Phoned them up to ask and the young chap on the phone said ´"Ah just put lots of zeroes in"

Lol - that's great!

SunnyFog · 15/05/2023 07:11

Are you sure you need to be on register of foreign births? Some of my relatives - cousins aunts, and uncles - were eligible for a passport without registering the foreign birth, because their parents were born in Ireland. They went straight to passport application.

Others whose parents had been registered as foreign births before 1985 also went straight to passport application.

Others had to register first because grand parents were born in ireland and parents elsewhere and registered foreign born after 1985.

It made sense when I was in the thick of sorting them all out. Good luck.

Abhannmor · 15/05/2023 09:50

It was her grandparents born in Ireland-@SunnyFog

Abhannmor · 15/05/2023 09:51

Abhannmor · 15/05/2023 09:50

It was her grandparents born in Ireland-@SunnyFog

Our problem is potentially more critical - can't find the bloody Certificates !

bellinisurge · 15/05/2023 09:58

@Abhannmor , make a data protection subject access request for them from DFA

Abhannmor · 15/05/2023 10:38

bellinisurge · 15/05/2023 09:58

@Abhannmor , make a data protection subject access request for them from DFA

Thanks . I screenshotted that and sent it to the lads. One of them had scanned the certificate so it should be on his Google hard drive. Don't think his brother did so may have to try that @bellinisurge !

BeagleMum1 · 08/07/2023 21:13

Hello, sorry to jump onto this thread OP, but can I ask a question regarding this.

My maternal grandfather was born in Ireland
My mother was born in Uk
I was born in the UK - I now have an Irish passport

Can MY children get an Irish passport?

bellinisurge · 09/07/2023 07:45

I'm really sorry but it's a generation out. The applicant needs one Irish born grandparent.

Costacoffeeplease · 09/07/2023 09:05

@BeagleMum1 only if you had your Irish passport before you had your children

bellinisurge · 09/07/2023 19:01

Yes, I'm afraid according to the DFA website
"If an expectant parent is not on the Foreign Births Register when the child is born, the child will not be entitled to Irish citizenship"

www.dfa.ie/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/

BeagleMum1 · 10/07/2023 18:11

Thank you

itbemay1 · 18/04/2025 16:30

Wonder if anyone can help. I’ve completed the foreign birth registration form but didn’t save it, I assumed it would be emailed to me! Can’t find how to access it now to print to get it signed. TIA!

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