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Irish Citizenship Through Your Parent (Born in Ireland)

This page is informational only and is not legal advice. Irish citizenship law is complex and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade interpretations vary. Consult a licensed Irish immigration solicitor for guidance on your specific situation.

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 parent-born-in-Ireland path is the simplest and fastest route to an Irish passport.

This route has no Foreign Births Register queue. The only process is a standard first-time passport application, for which the DFAT publishes a turnaround of 20 working days for a first-time online application, from the date your supporting documents are received. Allow additional time for international post in both directions.

Parents born in the Republic or in Northern Ireland

Parent Born in the Republic

Order the birth certificate from the General Register Office (GRO) at gov.ie/gro. Certificates issued as civil registration documents are the accepted format. Historical records (pre-1921) may require ordering from a local register office.

Parent Born in Northern Ireland

Order the birth certificate from the General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI) in Belfast at nidirect.gov.uk/articles/ordering-life-event-certificates. GRONI issues certificates for births registered in Northern Ireland from 1864 onward.

Two cases the Department distinguishes

A parent born on the island of Ireland

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." The passport application is set out below. The DFAT publishes a turnaround of 20 working days for first-time online applications, plus international postage.

A parent who was an Irish citizen but was not born on the island

The Department 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." That is the Foreign Births Register, not this page's passport route: see the grandparent and great-grandparent guides.

Documents you'll need

For a first-time Irish passport application through the parent-born-in-Ireland path. Additional documents may be requested depending on your situation.

Your documents

Your parent's documents

Apostilles are not part of this process. The Passport Service asks for original documents — it accepts GRO and GRONI certificates directly, and its published requirements do not call for apostilles or legalisation on US-issued records either. The Next Passport generates a personalised document checklist based on your specific lineage.

What the passport application looks like

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." Its page "How to get your application witnessed" lists the approved witnesses.

The DFAT publishes 20 working days for a First Time Online Application (adult or child), measured from the date your supporting documents are received. Note that the 10-working-day figure you may see quoted is for Simple Adult Renewal, not first-time applications, and the DFAT states that first-time applications cannot be expedited. The standard adult passport fee is currently €75 for a 10-year passport.

Legal basis summary

Primary law
Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956
Authority
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Passport Service)
Application
passportonline.dfa.ie — Passport Online
Processing time
20 working days (DFAT First Time Online Application, adult or child), from receipt of supporting documents — plus international postage
Passport fee
€75 (standard adult, 10-year); no FBR registration fee. There is an additional €15 postal fee if you reside outside Ireland.

Adopted children

Consult an Irish solicitor if your situation involves adoption.

What if your parent had an Irish passport that has since expired?

An expired Irish passport in your parent's name is strong corroborating evidence that they were recognised as an Irish citizen by the Passport Service. However, an expired passport is not by itself sufficient to prove Irish citizenship in your application — you will still need to provide your parent's original Irish birth certificate. The Passport Service may ask for the expired passport as a supporting document; keep it if you have it.

Frequently asked questions

My parent was born in Northern Ireland — what then?
Northern Ireland is part of the island of Ireland. 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." Order your parent's birth certificate from GRONI (General Register Office for Northern Ireland) in Belfast.
My parent is Irish by descent (not born in Ireland) — does this page apply?
The Department 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." That is the Foreign Births Register: see the grandparent and great-grandparent guides.
Do I need an FBR application if my parent was born in Ireland?
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." and, in its answers to common questions: "An application for Irish citizenship through Foreign Births Registration can be submitted by any person with a grandparent born on the island of Ireland." Not sure which describes your family? The free eligibility check is linked below.
Can my children also claim Irish citizenship?
The Department 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." See the Foreign Births Register guide for how that application works. Speak with an Irish solicitor if the timing of your children's births is a question for your family.
How is this different from the FBR path?
The Department 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." The FBR process involves a €278 adult registration fee, a witness who must sign your form and certify your ID, mailing original documents to the address printed on your form, and a wait for the registration to be processed. What the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade publishes about how long Foreign Birth Registration takes is quoted on our page “Irish Citizenship Processing Times”. Once registered, you can then apply for a passport. The passport route on this page is a standard passport application instead: 20 working days for a first-time online application plus postage, and a €75 passport fee. There is an additional €15 postal fee if you reside outside Ireland.

Related guides

Apply Directly for a Passport (Parent Born in Ireland) →

Step-by-step guide to the actual passport application process for the parent-born-in-Ireland path — forms, photos, fees, and what to expect at each stage.

Irish Citizenship Through Your Grandparent (FBR) →

How the Foreign Births Register works when a grandparent was born on the island of Ireland, and what documents it asks for.

Irish Citizenship Cost Calculator →

Estimate the total out-of-pocket cost of Irish citizenship by descent — including vital records, FBR fees (if applicable), and passport fees. Free tool, updated for 2026.

Check if you may qualify

The free eligibility check confirms which Irish citizenship path applies to your situation — parent born in Ireland, grandparent path (FBR), or another route. Takes about 2 minutes, no account required.

Check your eligibility →

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Not affiliated with the Irish government, the Department of Foreign Affairs, or the Passport Service. Information sourced from publicly available legislation and government sources, current as of . Irish law can change — verify details with the official Passport Service before submitting documents.