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Brexit
Original poster

Irish citizenship

199 replies

Apileofballyhoo · 01/08/2018 16:58

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/

OP posts:
MeganNut · 14/10/2018 02:08

I think I may be entitled to an Irish passport through my maternal grandparents. Would my DC also be entitled to one?

bellinisurge · 14/10/2018 07:55

@MeganNut - you will need to get in the Foreign Births Register first if to is through a grandparent. I am not sure about your daughter, though, once you get on FBR.

Hushabyelullaby · 14/10/2018 09:07

@MeganNut if either of your parents had Irish citizenship then your DC could claim through them. They couldn't claim through you unless you were on the FBR before they were born. Your grandparents would be their great grandparents so I understand it that they couldn't claim through them (although if I'm wrong someone please correct me).

MeganNut · 14/10/2018 09:12

Thank you, bell and hush.

If that's the case, I don't think I'll bother for myself but it would have been great to get one for DD.

applecatchers36 · 14/10/2018 09:41

Can anyone guide me as to how this might work. Mum mum is an Irish citizen through her Dad ( born in Ireland) and holds an Irish passport. I would like to apply for citizenship through descent do I need all the documents for my grandfather, or can they use my mother's Irish citizenship?

bellinisurge · 14/10/2018 10:06

If your Mum is already a citizen but was not herself born in Ireland, you will need to apply to get on the Foreign Birth Register first. You will need your Grandad's birth certificate which you can easily obtain a copy of through the Irish Records office (can't remember the name but it is linked from the Irish Citizenship/passport website.
Once you are on the FBR, you can apply for a passport. Not sure about your children and your partner (if you have one( can't get it through you.

bellinisurge · 14/10/2018 10:08

If I get my dd (11) on the FBR now, I think she can put any future children of hers on the FBR.

WeeM · 14/10/2018 10:21

I’m thinking about doing this too, my father was born in ROI, think my DC could get it too but DH can’t so not sure if there’s any point!

Yesitwasmethistime · 14/10/2018 11:15

Yes bellinisurge definitely worth doing it for your DD before she may have children. Then they will also be eligible.

Yesitwasmethistime · 14/10/2018 11:16

WeeM, yes your kids can get it through your father. Again, worth doing it before they have kids.

Yesitwasmethistime · 14/10/2018 11:20

WeeM, definitely worth doing it even if your DH can’t. (mine can’t and neither can my DC but i’m still doing it)

Hopefully they may never need it but it will give them rights to work and study in the EU even if UK citizens can’t. There also may be the case that visas for other places are easier to obtain for EU citizens.

That is why i’m doing it as DH and I plan to work abroad for a while (and most of the EU gives spouses of EU citizens the same rights as the citizen themselves). To be fully honest I see it as an insurance policy, I may never need to use my Irish passport but I will have secured the right to it.

Hushabyelullaby · 14/10/2018 12:13

@bellinisurge yes that's right. I put my DD on it at the beginning of the year (she's also 11), and it came back in August. Her kids will have the choice if they want to claim through her.

Jessicabrassica · 14/10/2018 17:32

@Flourella thanks for your comments. My birth mother is Irish born and was living there until early pregnancy. I have an original birth certificate with the name she gave me, including her surname and confirming her details, plus an adoption certificate Plus a British birth certificate naming by adoptive parents. I also have my birth mother's birth certificate which confirms her as an Irish national. I've never had contact with her. Social services checked a couple of years ago and she was still alive but I don't know if she's married and I obviously can't access current ID for her. That may be the stumbling block but it seems somewhat unreasonable to track her down, rock up and demand documents so her grandchildren can have free movement through Europe!

Peregrina · 14/10/2018 18:50

If you have an Irish parent, and were granted an Irish passport yourself, even though not born in the Republic, does it mean that you would have been entered on the register of foreign births first, in order to get the passport?

bellinisurge · 14/10/2018 18:56

I wasn't entered on the FBR but I have an Irish born parent. Which makes me automatically an Irish citizen (didn't know before I checked). My passport application is in. My sibling already has his.

Peregrina · 14/10/2018 19:15

I ask because DIL is trying to get this for her son, but has been told to produce the paperwork of being on the FBR, which she hasn't got. She has got her Irish passport - until recently it was her only one.

bellinisurge · 14/10/2018 19:35

You need to prove the link between yourself and the Irish born parent. The passport form has a check list. It includes your birth and marriage certificates and Your parent's birth and marriage certificates. Other proof of identity bits for you. No FBR paperwork is sought if you have an Irish born parent.

Peregrina · 14/10/2018 19:38

I think she provided all that - she is seeking clarification.

bellinisurge · 14/10/2018 19:44

If she's on the FBR but doesn't have the paperwork I would contact the Irish authorities to get a copy of the proof.

hardheadedwoman · 16/10/2018 15:06

Hi - if anyone is still around I have a question please.

It's about a grandparent not born in Ireland (born in Glasgow) but returned with family to Ireland when he was 2, grew up in Ireland and served in the Irish Army, how would I prove he was an Irish citizen?

Unfortunately he was born before 1956 when the Foreign Birth Records began.

If anyone could point me at the right place to search that would be great.

nicknamenoname · 16/10/2018 15:28

Can anyone tell me what they are doing about posting all these original documents? I'm a bit anxious about them going astray in the mail. They seem to need to be posted to Cork. I see there's a London office and I could travel there I suppose just to drop them off.

bellinisurge · 16/10/2018 15:45

I sent mine tracked delivery to Cork (or recorded- not sure what it is called). Arrived safe and sound and currently in the application system which you can check online.

Hushabyelullaby · 16/10/2018 18:19

They ask you to include a stamped self addressed special delivery envelope for the return of all your original documents (when you apply for FBR). Mine came back no problem

itbemay · 16/10/2018 18:24

@flourella thank you! I thought as much, not planning on moving soon, with or without in laws!!

@bellinisurge thank you

Yesitwasmethistime · 16/10/2018 20:25

hardheadedwoman as I read it you cannot claim through a grandparent who was not born in Ireland even if they are an Irish citizen.

Maybe i’m wrong? i’d love to be! Then my kids would be eligible too as my mum was born outside Ireland but lived there from a few months to age 21 and is ‘properly’ Irish. As she was not born there though I am claiming through my grandfather and I believe my DC are not eligible.

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