The Next Passport
Parent Born in Ireland · Passport RouteIrish Citizenship — Apply Directly for a Passport
This page is informational only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed Irish immigration solicitor.
Last verified: September 6, 2026 · Maintained by The Next Passport (Warner Creates LLC).
Who this route is for, in the Department's words
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says: "You are automatically an Irish citizen if one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, and was born on the island of Ireland. You don't need to apply to become an Irish citizen in this case."
It also says: "The Foreign Births Register is for persons who can apply to become Irish citizens through their Irish-born grandparents or their parent who was an Irish citizen at the time of their birth, but was not born in Ireland."
Not sure which describes your family? Take the free eligibility check.
The application on this page is a standard first-time passport application: no Foreign Births Register form and no FBR fee.
FBR vs. Passport Direct
Legal basis
- Primary law
- Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956
- Authority
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Passport Service)
- Application portal
- passportonline.dfa.ie (online via Passport Online)
- Processing time
- 20 working days for a First Time Online Application (adult or child), from receipt of your supporting documents — plus international postage. The 10-working-day figure applies to Simple Adult Renewal, and the DFAT states first-time applications cannot be expedited.
How to apply
- 1
Gather your parent's Irish birth certificate. The DFAT's line for your parent's birth certificate, under "I was not born on the island of Ireland. My parent was born on the island of Ireland and I am now resident overseas.", reads: "Your Irish-born parent’s full original civil birth certificate. The version that includes the name(s) of their parent(s). We do not accept baptismal certificates or birth certificates that do not show the name(s) of the parent(s). We do not accept laminated certificates."
- 2
Get your own long-form birth certificate. The DFAT's line for your own birth certificate, under "I was not born on the island of Ireland. My parent was born on the island of Ireland and I am now resident overseas.", reads: "Full original civil birth certificate (version that includes the name(s) of the parent(s))."
- 3
Gather supporting identity documents. For a first-time adult applicant, under "I was not born on the island of Ireland. My parent was born on the island of Ireland and I am now resident overseas.", the DFAT's lines for the identity verification form, proof of address, proof of name and photographic identification read: "Identity verification form." "Proof of address (dated within 12 months of application date), such as original government correspondence such as letter from the local government health services, local social welfare services or other local government services. These must be accompanied by a translation into English or Irish. Where you do not have government correspondence, original utility bills, or bank statements may be considered." "Proof of name (dated within 12 months of application date), such as original government correspondence such as letter from the local government health services, local social welfare services or other local government services. These must be accompanied by a translation into English or Irish. Where you do not have government correspondence, original utility bills, or bank statements may be considered." "You must submit one document as proof of name and one document as proof of address. It cannot be the same document." "You must submit an original government issued photographic identification. This could be a certified copy of a passport from another country or a certified copy of your driver’s licence (certified by a Garda, solicitor, notary or the issuing authority)." The whole list, with DFA's lists for applicants resident in Ireland or Northern Ireland, is on the Department's documentary-requirements page: https://www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/documentary-requirements/adult/
- 4
Apply via Passport Online. For applicants in the United States, the Irish Embassy in Washington says: "Passport Online is the only way to apply for an Irish Passport in your country." The online system is at passportonline.dfa.ie. For first-time adult applicants living outside of Ireland, the DFAT says: "Applicants must ensure identity verification is witnessed by a witness residing in the same country as the applicant."
- 5
Pay the passport fee. Standard adult passport fee applies (currently €75 for a 10-year passport). There is an additional €15 postal fee if you reside outside Ireland. No FBR registration fee on this route.
Northern Ireland parents
Order the birth certificate from GRONI in Belfast.
Where to order a birth certificate for a parent born in the Republic (GRO) or in Northern Ireland (GRONI): see "Parents born in the Republic or in Northern Ireland" on Irish Citizenship Through a Parent
Confirm your path
Not sure whether you qualify for the direct passport path or need to use the FBR? The free eligibility check walks through your parent's birthplace and confirms which track applies.
Check your eligibility →Grandparent born in Ireland instead?
The Department says: “If your grandparent was born on the island of Ireland, your parent was born outside Ireland, and you were born outside Ireland, you can apply for entry on to the Foreign Births Register.”
See: Through Your Grandparent (FBR) →Ready to start your application?
Start your free eligibility check →Not affiliated with the Irish government or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Information sourced from publicly available legislation and government sources. Verify details with the official Passport Service before taking action. As of .