The Next Passport
Parent Born in Ireland · Automatic CitizenshipIrish 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).
You do not need to use the Foreign Births Register
If your parent was born on the island of Ireland — Republic or Northern Ireland — you are automatically an Irish citizen by birth under Section 7(1) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, the descent provision. The Foreign Births Register (FBR) is for grandparent and further-ancestor claims. Your path is a direct passport application.
Section 6(1) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 governs birth in Ireland: as enacted it read 'every person born in Ireland is an Irish citizen from birth', and since 1 January 2005 it reads 'subject to section 6A, every person born in the island of Ireland is entitled to be an Irish citizen'. Descent is governed by Section 7(1): 'A person is an Irish citizen from birth if at the time of his or her birth either parent was an Irish citizen or would if alive have been an Irish citizen.' So if your parent was born anywhere on the island of Ireland, that parent is an Irish citizen, and you inherited citizenship from them at your birth under Section 7(1).
This is citizenship by birth, not by registration. You are already an Irish citizen — you simply need to prove it to the Passport Service by applying for a passport. No FBR form, no witness declaration, no FBR fee. You apply like any other Irish citizen who needs their first passport.
FBR vs. Passport Direct
Legal basis
- Primary law
- Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, Section 7(1) — a person is an Irish citizen from birth if, at the time of their birth, either parent was an Irish citizen or would if alive have been an Irish citizen. (Section 6(1) separately governs birth in Ireland.)
- Authority
- Department of Foreign Affairs (Passport Service)
- Application portal
- passportonline.dfa.ie (online via Passport Online) or in-person at a Passport Office
- 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 DFA states first-time applications cannot be expedited.
How to apply
- 1
Gather your parent's Irish birth certificate. Order a certified civil registration certificate from the General Register Office (GRO) for births in the Republic, or GRONI (General Register Office for Northern Ireland) for Northern Ireland births. This is the anchor document proving your parent's Irish citizenship.
- 2
Get your own long-form birth certificate. Your birth certificate must show both parents' names. This proves you are the child of an Irish citizen.
- 3
Gather supporting identity documents. A certified copy of your photo ID (driver's license or existing passport). You will also need 2 passport-sized photos.
- 4
Apply via Passport Online or in person. Irish citizens living abroad apply through the Passport Online system at passportonline.dfa.ie. First-time adult applicants using Passport Online must have their photo countersigned by a witness who can verify their identity. Alternatively, apply in person at an Irish embassy or consulate in your country.
- 5
Pay the passport fee. Standard adult passport fee applies (currently €75 for a 10-year passport). No FBR registration fee — you are not going through the FBR process.
Northern Ireland parents
Under the Good Friday Agreement, persons born in Northern Ireland are entitled to hold Irish citizenship. If your parent was born in Northern Ireland, they are an Irish citizen by birth — and you inherited citizenship from them. Order the birth certificate from GRONI in Belfast. The process is otherwise identical to claiming through a parent born in the Republic.
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?
If your grandparent (not parent) was born in Ireland, you need to register on the Foreign Births Register before applying for a passport.
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. Information sourced from publicly available legislation and government sources. Verify details with the official Passport Service before taking action. As of .