> Information on Citizenship

IRISH CITIZENSHIP

The law relating to Irish citizenship is regulated by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts 1956 – 2001. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is responsible for determining entitlement to citizenship in accordance with the relevant Acts.

CITIZENSHIP BY BIRTH

Anyone born on the island of Ireland on or before 31 December 2004 is entitled to be an Irish citizen.

The citizenship entitlement of every person born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 is governed by the citizenship of the person’s parents at the time of the person’s birth or the residency history of one of the parents prior to the birth.

Where a parent is a non-national, other than an EU/EEA/Swiss national, the child will qualify for Irish citizenship if, at the time of the birth of the child in the island of Ireland, one of his/her parents had reckonable residence in the island of Ireland during the four years immediately preceding the birth of the child. Reckonable residence is regarded as residence where he/she had been lawfully resident in the island of Ireland for a period of not less than three years, or periods the aggregate of which is three years. Periods of unlawful residence, periods of residence which were for the sole purpose of having an application for refugee status determined or periods of residence where permission was granted for the purposes of study are excluded from the determination of periods of reckonable residence.

CITIZENSHIP BY APPLICATION

Irish law permits dual citizenship and does not require applicants to renounce any other citizenship held at the time of application. Applicants should however always clarify the position governing the adoption of a second citizenship with the authorities of their other country of citizenship.

Foreign Birth Registration

Anyone born outside Ireland, whose father or mother is an Irish citizen not born in Ireland, can become an Irish citizen by having his or her birth entered in the Irish Register of Foreign Births at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin or at the nearest Irish diplomatic or consular mission.

For individuals applying for registration, the usual situation is one where citizenship derives from an Irish-born grandparent. In such cases, it is necessary to provide documentary evidence of the link between the applicant and the Irish-born grandparent, (i.e.. birth certificates, marriage certificates for each generation).

If the parent has derived Irish citizenship in another manner, such as through marriage, adoption or naturalisation, further information can be obtained from the Embassy.

Since 1 July, 1986 a person registered in the Foreign Births Entry Book after 1986 is deemed to be an Irish citizen only from the date of his/her entry in the Register and not from the date of birth. This means that children born to that person before his/her date of entry in the Register are not entitled to citizenship.

Persons registered before July 1986 are deemed Irish citizens either from the date the original Citizenship Act came into force, i.e. 17 July 1956, or their date of birth, whichever is later. Only children born after 17 July 1956 can claim citizenship in such cases.

In order to apply for FBR, please contact the Embassy for the relevant forms.

Post-Nuptial Declaration

As a result of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2001, it is no longer be possible to become an Irish citizen by lodging a post-nuptial declaration at an Irish Embassy or Consulate. Instead, it is necessary to apply to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in Ireland for a certificate of naturalisation based on marriage to an Irish citizen and subject to a number of conditions, including residency in Ireland. For greater details please see the website of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform www.justice.ie .