Your step-by-step guide to becoming Irish

British people with an Irish grandparent can apply for Irish citizenship, giving the right to continue living and working in the European Union after Brexit. But how do you apply?

 

Ireland has seen a surge in people from the UK applying for Irish citizenship in the wake of the EU referendum. If successful this will allow them to live and work in the EU once the Brexit process has been completed. If you’ve been meaning to check your eligibility, this week’s Ireland Property Guide newsletter will help you do just that; before identifying the steps involved in application the process for those that qualify.

Working out whether or not you’re eligible is simple.

STEP ONE – Are you eligible?

Working out whether or not you’re eligible is simple. You will be eligible if:

1. You were born in Ireland to Irish parents
2. Either of your parents was an Irish citizen born in Ireland
3. Any of your grandparents were born in Ireland
4. Your parents were foreign nationals, legally resident in Ireland for three out of the four years prior to your birth
5. At least one of your parents was an Irish citizen but not by birth, i.e. by marriage, or naturalisation

 

STEP TWO: Providing the correct supporting documentation

As with any application for citizenship, there will be considerable supporting documentation that you will need to supply in order to ensure your application is successful.

You can complete your online application by visiting the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Do bear in mind that you need to have collected all of the documentation prior to applying online, and you must complete the application in one go – it cannot be saved for later.

Alongside your online application, you need to supply the following:
N.B You will need the original documents – photocopies are not permitted.

Your personal information

• Original birth certificate
• Original civil marriage certificate (if married) – Church certificates are not permitted
• Original divorce decree (if divorced), and current civil marriage certificate (if you have remarried)
• Deed poll (if you have changed your name) that must have been valid for a minimum of two years
• Three types of usage document that are at least two years old, i.e. bank statements, utility bills
• Certified copy of passport or identity document i.e. drivers licence
• Three examples of proof of residence (if over 18), i.e. phone or utility bill
• School report/doctor’s note (if under 18) as proof of residence of applicant

Your parents’ information

• Original long form civil birth certificate
• Original civil marriage certificate (if married)
• Original divorce decree (if divorced) and current civil marriage certificate (if remarried)
• Declaration of Alienage (if your parent ever renounced their Irish citizenship)
• Certified copy of current passport, or identify document i.e. driver’s licence
• Original death certificate (if deceased)
• Deed poll (if your parent ever changed their name) – original copies only, and must have been valid for at least two years
• Three documents showing proof of usage in newly changed name, i.e. bank statements or utility bills that are at least two years old

Your grandparent’s details

• Original long form civil birth certificate
• Original civil marriage certificate (if married)
• Original divorce decree (if divorced) and current marriage certificate (if remarried)
• Declaration of Alienage (if they ever renounced their Irish citizenship)
• Certified copy of current passport or identity document, i.e. driver’s licence
• Original death certificate (if deceased)
• Deed poll (if they ever changed their name) – original copies only, and must have been valid for at least two years
• Three documents showing proof of usage in newly changed name, i.e. bank statements or utility bills that are at least two years old

If your parent acquired their Irish citizenship through adoption, naturalisation, or marriage, you will be asked to supply:

• Your parent’s foreign births registration certificate
• Your parent’s adoption details
• Your parent’s naturalisation certificate
• Your parent’s post-nuptial declaration

It is possible that you’ll be asked to supply further documentation if deemed necessary.

Once you have collected together all of these documents, and printed out your online application form, you will need to:

• Check everything off on the official checklist that will print out at the same time as your application form
• Sign and date this checklist
• Enclose the completed application form, checklist, and all required documentation
• Post it to: Foreign Births Registration, Consular Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 80 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland, D02 VY53

 

STEP THREE: Providing witnesses

The next step is to find a witness that falls into the following group:

• Medical doctor
• School Principal
• Bank Manager
• Member of the Clergy
• Police Officer
• Magistrate/Judge
• Solicitor/Lawyer

You must either know this person personally, or know a Third Party who knows you both personally.

This witness will need to sign two passport photos of you, complete Section E of your application form entitled, Certificate of Identity, and then witness you signing Section D of the application form.

STEP FOUR: Photographs

Enclosed with your application, you must include two passport photos of yourself that have been signed and dated by both you and your witness.

STEP FIVE: Making your payment

If you’re living in Ireland, your application will cost you €270 (or €145 if you’re under 18). If you live outside Ireland, the fees involved will depend on where you are making the application. Contact the Irish Embassy in your country of residence to determine the fees.

STEP SIX: Complete your online application

The next step is to complete the online application, and then? It’s time to sit back and wait!

To chat through your options for securing citizenship or for more information about moving to Ireland, contact our Resource Team on 020 7898 0549.