Irish citizenship

[Apileofballyhoo]

Just some information for anybody that's wondering. Estimates seen to vary but it looks like the following applies to 5 or 6 million people.

If you were born outside the island of Ireland and if either of your parents was an Irish citizen who was born in the island of Ireland, then you are entitled to Irish citizenship, and entitled to apply for an Irish passport under Irish law, irrespective of where you reside. You can also apply for Irish citizenship if one of your parents, while not born in the island of Ireland, was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth. In most cases applications of this type are made through a grandparent who was born in Ireland.

www.dfa.ie/irelanduk-citizenshipandpassports/

@GoldenBuns you should be eligible. Anyone born on the island of Ireland is eligible.

My husband was born in Ireland but has a British passport. I know he’s entitled to an Irish passport. What I want to know is if we book a holiday and put down the information from his British passport, when we arrive at our destination (say Greece) can he show his Irish passport to get through passport control quicker. If he’s taken ill in resort is he entitled to use an E.U medical card?

GoldenBuns, in that situation you and your children (wherever they were born) are all Irish citizens and have been since birth. You can each get an Irish passport without having to apply to go on the Foreign Births Register.

Is the website issue you describe happening when you try to apply for a passport? First-time applications and those from made from outside Ireland need to apply using a paper form; details on how to get one and everything else you need to do is on this page:

www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/great-britain/passports/how-to-apply-for-a-passport/

I am Irish but from Northern Ireland - living there. Is my American DH, who has UK citizenship, eligible for an Irish passport?

All four of his maternal grandparents are European but not Irish sadly. He MIGHT be able to get one of those but would prefer us all to be Irish. Obvs never been an issue until now

Thanks so much for this thread btw!

Thanks florella - that is exactly what I needed!

*flourella

You're welcome!

ravensmum, only if he meets the conditions to become a citizen through naturalisation, including time spent resident on the island of Ireland as your husband. I posted a link about it somewhere earlier in the thread if you look back.

My kids and I are eligible for Irish passports but when I looked into it, it would cost around 500 quid to get us all done.... Plus then the cost of renewing a British and Irish passport each time, unless we just wanted to go Irish.

I just don't know if its worth it?

The cost for me to end up with an Irish passport is going to be several hundred pounds, once I've obtained all the documents (including a renewed UK passport just to prove my identity ) and applied to the FBR first. But I can budget for it and I really fucking hate Brexit, so it's worth it to me! I suppose you just have to weigh it up for yourself.

A couple of questions- DH’s parents are both Irish citizens (born there, hold passports albeit expired). DH was born here so is eligible without going on the foreign births register. However, I think it may be helpful for DD age 12 to go on it. Would it be less hassle for DH to apply for an Irish passport and then register DD on the FBR or would she have to apply through her grandparents?
Secondly, would DH have to complete all the paperwork for her as technically he is the Irish citizen?

Melfish, your daughter would be applying through her grandparents, so would have to prove her link to them (or one of them) through her dad, but his current UK ID and all other required documents would be enough. I don't think him getting his Irish passport first would make it easier or quicker.

I don't see why he would need to be the one filling in the form either, but not certain about that.

@Melfish - I just doubled up on official certified copies of birth certificates/marriage certs etc as well as getting the different documents needed for each and did them both at the same time.

I've been meaning to do this (Irish born GPs). Is there a deadline for it?

I just wanted to add that if someone is entered onto the FBR when they are a child, then when they have children of their own, they would be entitled to claim citizenship through their parent.

For example: I was entered onto the FBR when I was 1 due to my Irish born grandparents. I was able to add DD using the fact that I'm an Irish citizen. She is now on the FBR, so when she has kids they will be able to claim through her.

Anyone know what being adopted does to your rights? My BM is Irish - I've applied for her birth certificate. I'm assuming that being adopted won't change my right to apply for registration on the FBR?

Jessica, I've never read anything regarding a person's right to citizenship when their birth mother or father is Irish and they've been adopted, only that people adopted by Irish citizens have the same rights as those born to them. I've just looked again at the Irish government website and it doesn't seem to consider this scenario. I hope someone here knows the answer; if not, you'll have to ask the Irish DFA or citizens advice service.

Was your birth mother born outside of Ireland?

If it is possible, and the requirements are the same as for people who haven't been adopted, you'd also need your birth mother's marriage and death certificates/copy of photo ID and documents proving your link to her. Are birth certificates amended when a child is adopted?

you'd also need your birth mother's marriage and death certificate/copy of photo ID

Sorry, I posted before I'd properly edited that. You'll need any marriage and divorce certificates that apply to her, as well as current ID if still living or death certificate if not.

You'd need, I mean! If it's possible. I hope it is if it's what you want.

Hushabyelullaby makes a very valid point re going on foreign births register as soon as possible.

My parents never put me on it and I am currently gathering the documents to do so. But my Irish citizenship will only be from the date I go on the register, which means I was not a citizen when my DC were born so they are not eligible for citizenship.

If only they had thought about Brexit 40 odd years ago!!

Just FYI - I applied for my kids to go on foreign births register in June - they estimated Dec for completion of process and return of docs. Then I’ll apply for their passports. So it’s a long haul.

If only they had thought about Brexit 40 odd years ago!!

Same position. If only we could have predicted that a country could vote to remove its own privileges. .

SwedishEdith certainly not me, I didn’t vote for it ☹️
Thing is I wasn’t born in the UK either but my parents thought to register my birth with the UK, but didn’t occur to them to do it with Ireland too.

Interesting it is taking six months! Wow! But I guess they are rather overwhelmed currently.

No, my mother didn't vote to register her kid either. Why would she? Progress means going forwards. What a damn mess.

It says on the website

'Applications for Foreign Birth Registration can take up to six months to process from the date of receipt of a complete application with all the required supporting documentation'

From what I gather this isn't as a result of Brexit, apparently this was the waiting time anyway. I suppose it's due to it being quite an in depth process that they look into all documentation thoroughly.