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How To Get Irish Dual Citizenship With or Without Irish Ancestry

June 13, 2023 by Meghan - Editor at Legacy Tree Genealogists 24 Comments

Ireland Dual Citizenship

When my DNA test showed I was 94 percent Irish a few years ago, I wasn't surprised. I'd heard countless stories about my heritage for years and knew my mother's family had arrived as part of a large wave of immigrants in the early 1880s. At the same time, some on my father's side had emigrated from Ireland during the Great Famine more than thirty years before that. Still, others came after the turn of the last century.

While my family's past was fascinating, I was much more interested in the future—becoming a dual citizen of Ireland and the United States. Unfortunately, I was one generation removed from gaining Irish citizenship through descent—in other words, through one of my ancestors—but you may find that the path to citizenship is more straightforward! The only answer in my case was to move to Ireland, live there for at least three years, and then apply for citizenship (tempting, but not practical!).

You can become an Irish citizen if one of your grandparents was born in Ireland, or you can become an Irish citizen if one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth but was not born in Ireland.

Several websites have information about eligibility requirements and the process for applying for dual citizenship if you're not currently a citizen of or living in Ireland. The website for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs is an excellent resource for determining first if you're eligible and second how to apply. Another source, Ireland's Citizen Information, provides a chart that illustrates how you might gain Irish citizenship:

Ireland Dual Citizenship
Courtesy of Ireland Citizens Information. (https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving-country/irish-citizenship/)

Note: You must first register in the Foreign Births Register before applying for dual citizenship.

In general, applications for Irish dual citizenship are not accepted if you use a great-grandparent as your ancestor of descent. The only way to become a citizen through a great-grandparent is if your birth is registered in the Foreign Births Register AND your parent was registered there before you were born.

DNA test results are not accepted as proof of a relationship to becoming an Irish citizen.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION THROUGH DESCENT

The application for dual citizenship includes an extensive number of documents you will need to attach as part of your application. According to Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs, if you're an adult applying through descent from an Irish-born grandparent, you must gather the following information and documents. More detailed application information is available at Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs website:

YOUR DOCUMENTS (unless stated, originals must be submitted):

· Completed, signed, and witnessed application form (see list of witnesses at 1 above)

· Original civil birth certificate (showing parental details)

· Original civil marriage certificate (if applicable) OR other change of name document (if applicable)

· Photocopy of current state-issued ID document (i.e., passport, driver's license, national identity card) certified as a true copy of the original by application form witness

· Two separate original proofs of address

· Four color photographs (two of which are to be witnessed) – do not attach these to the application form

 

YOUR IRISH-BORN PARENT'S DOCUMENTS (unless stated, originals must be submitted):

· Original civil birth certificate of Irish citizen parent (showing parental details)

· Original civil marriage certificate of Irish citizen parent (if applicable) OR other change of name document (if applicable)

· Photocopy of current state-issued ID document (i.e., passport, driver's license, national identity card) certified as a true copy of the original by a professional from the list of witnesses OR original civil death certificate (if applicable)

YOUR IRISH-BORN GRANDPARENT'S DOCUMENTS (unless stated, originals must be submitted):

· Original civil birth certificate of Irish-born grandparent (showing parental details)

· Original civil marriage certificate of Irish-born grandparent (if applicable) OR other change of name document (if applicable)

· Photocopy of current state-issued ID document (i.e., passport, driver's license, national identity card) certified as a true copy of the original by a professional from the list of witnesses OR original civil death certificate (if applicable)

 

If your search for these required application documents has reached a standstill, consulting with someone familiar with Irish research and records availability may be required.

Working With Legacy Tree Genealogists To Gain Irish Dual Citizenship

A recent client contacted Legacy Tree Genealogists about dual citizenship with Ireland, and the team designed a project to help her become an Irish citizen. While she had been born in England and held a British passport, her family origins dated to at least the 1850s in Ireland. The client was certain that her grandmother Delia was born in County Sligo, Ireland, to a father named Michael. However, her mother's name was unknown at that point. She also knew that her grandmother had a brother named Owen. Her project was assigned to one of our researchers who specializes in Irish research, and the researcher found only one family in all of County Sligo that matched our client's family. Still, enough discrepancies in the ages and family composition required a more detailed search for the client's connection to Ireland. Access to databases in Ireland and the UK allowed us to scour dozens of records that could help us find the client's grandmother.

A nickname and a census record proved crucial in locating the document our client needed for her dual citizenship application. The 1921 England and Wales Census revealed that the client's grandmother was not born in Sligo as initially believed but twelve miles down the road and across the border in County Leitrim. We found a family residing in a household in Leitrim with the exact composition, including a father named Michael, a brother named Owen, and two girls, Bridget and Ann, who were Michael's daughters—but no Delia. Understanding Irish nicknames played a critical role in identifying the correct ancestor for Irish citizenship through descent: Delia is a nickname for Bridget.

Without that specialized knowledge of Irish geography and naming customs, proof of relationship would have been difficult to establish, and the client might have been unable to prove descent to become an Irish citizen.

STEPS TO FINDING YOUR IRISH CONNECTION

If you don't have much information about your grandparents or great-grandparents, information that you need to gain Irish citizenship by descent, the following tips will help you as you gather the information required for your application:

· Identify the townland, or at the very least, the county in Ireland where your ancestor was from to make sure you've got the right family.

· Understand that nicknames are often used in place of given names (as demonstrated in our client's project).

· Remember that while family lore can be valuable, some parts may not be entirely accurate.

· Gather census records and other documents that might help the research.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET IRISH DUAL CITIZENSHIP?

Once you've gathered your documents, the next step is to complete the citizenship application at the DFA's site. Applications may only be completed online.

The cost to apply for dual citizenship varies according to how much each original document costs (up to about $150 total). The application itself is currently 287 Euros (USD 337). Because original documents are sent as part of the application, it is suggested that they be sent via FedEx or another reliable delivery service provider (about $60-$70). In total, your dual citizenship application will set you back about $550-$600.

Local Irish consulates across the United States or your country of origin can be very helpful if you have questions about dual citizenship eligibility. Check Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs website for those in your home country. The following US cities have consulates which all have dedicated websites with helpful information:

• Austin, Texas

• Atlanta, Georgia

• Boston, Massachusetts

• Chicago, Illinois

• New York City, New York

• San Francisco, California

The process for Irish dual citizenship currently can take up to six months to finalize, but in the end, you can call yourself an Irish citizen!

 

If you'd like help from Legacy Tree Genealogists to find out more about your Irish ancestry, you can fill out a form here to get the ball rolling!

Filed Under: Dual Citizenship, Europe, Irish Ancestors, United Kingdom

About the Author

blank
Meghan - Editor at Legacy Tree Genealogists
Meghan is a versatile editor with a 25-year career in writing and editing communications. She has worked for various non-profit organizations as an editor for both print and electronic publications, and earned her certificate in Genealogy Research from Boston University in 2014. A life-long genealogist, Meghan has researched both family histories and house histories for clients and much of her research has been focused on Ireland and New England.

Comments

  1. Fernando Orozco Méndez says

    June 20, 2023 at 8:25 pm

    Soy de Guatemala, realice mi prueba de ADN en MyHeritage, y aparece una línea de tiempo donde existen ancestros en Inglaterra. Pero en realidad de la familia de mi madre solo sabemos que era hija no reconocida de EMILIO ARENALES CATALAN Ex Presidente de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, el cual tiene desendencia europea. Es lo único que se

    Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      June 22, 2023 at 11:43 am

      ¡Hola Fernando! Gracias por contactarnos. Puede programar una consulta con uno de nuestros genealogistas profesionales para que lo ayude con su pregunta.

      Reply
  2. Alan Rockwood says

    June 21, 2023 at 11:04 am

    I have a great grandmother who was born in Ireland. In looking at the chart for qualification for Irish citizenship by birth it looks like I would not qualify for Irish citizenship by birth due to the technicalities of my case. However, putting that question aside for the moment, I have a question. How can I prove that my great grandmother was Irish?

    Here’s the situation. I can find no records from Irish sources that mention her. However, the family lived for a time near Glasgow, Scotland, and she is listed by name in the 1851 Scotland census with place of birth listed as Ireland. Would that be sufficient to demonstrate that she was born in Ireland?

    Thanks.

    Reply
  3. charles wang says

    July 12, 2023 at 12:04 am

    Thanks for the information! But what if we don’t have few of my grand parents document? Please reply

    Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      July 19, 2023 at 4:46 pm

      Hi Charles! Glad the article was useful! We’d need to know more about what documents and other information you have. The best place to start is to schedule a consultation here: http://www.legacytree.com/genealogy-consultation

      Reply
  4. Tamira Houston says

    December 23, 2023 at 10:19 pm

    My grandmother’s name is, was Rachel Dublin-Pierce, just wondering about her maiden name ♧♧◇♡

    Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      December 27, 2023 at 11:00 am

      Hi Tamira! Could you clarify a bit more about what you’d like to know about your grandmother’s maiden name? Thank you!

      Reply
  5. Connie Driscoll says

    March 11, 2024 at 1:43 pm

    Hi. I’m wondering how much you charge to trace family roots back about 7 generations

    Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      March 12, 2024 at 7:24 am

      Hi Connie! Thank you so much for your inquiry! Someone on our team will be reaching out to you shortly to discuss your project with you.

      Reply
  6. Brian says

    July 2, 2024 at 6:03 am

    Hello! I was wanting to apply for the foreign birth register through my grandfather who was born in Ireland. I’ve collected all of the documents for him and myself. I’m confused if I need to provide anything regarding my father however.

    Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      July 2, 2024 at 9:23 am

      Hi, Brian! If you’ve got the documents gathered, we recommend you contact the consulate or an attorney for next steps. Good luck!

      Reply
    • SE says

      July 23, 2024 at 10:24 pm

      Yes, you do. You will need to provide your father’s birth certificate and death certificate if applicable. You have to show the chain of birth. Your father’s birth certificate will show that his father, your grandfather, was born in Ireland. Make sure that you are meticulous with your application and documents provided and you will gain your FBR certificate on your first submission. ☘️

      Reply
  7. Shannon Mayes says

    July 16, 2024 at 9:30 pm

    I would like to apply for dual citizenship. My paternal grandparents immigrated early last century

    Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      July 17, 2024 at 8:51 am

      Hi, Shannon! We’d love to help you apply for Irish dual citizenship. One of our team members will reach out to you.

      Reply
  8. Kathryn Cecelia says

    July 23, 2024 at 12:26 pm

    Does it work for great great grandparents or only one great?

    Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      July 24, 2024 at 7:59 am

      Hi, Kathryn! In general, applications for Irish dual citizenship are not accepted if you use a great-grandparent as your ancestor of descent. The only way to become a citizen through a great-grandparent is if your birth is registered in the Foreign Births Register AND your parent was registered there before you were born.

      Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am

      Hi, Kathryn! In general, applications for Irish dual citizenship aren’t accepted if you use a great-grandparent as your ancestor of descent. The only way to become a citizen through a great-grandparent is if your birth is registered in the Foreign Births Register AND your parent was registered there before you were born.

      Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      July 24, 2024 at 8:01 am

      Hi, Kathryn! Usually applications for Irish dual citizenship aren’t accepted if you use a great-grandparent as your ancestor of descent. The only way to become a citizen through a great-grandparent is if your birth is registered in the Foreign Births Register AND your parent was registered there before you were born as well.

      Reply
  9. Karen Jones says

    August 17, 2024 at 8:40 pm

    My great grandmother was born in Ireland. She came to the US with her parents when she was 14. From what I am seeing here, I can’t apply for dual citizenship?

    Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      August 19, 2024 at 12:11 pm

      Hi, Karen! We’d need a little bit more insight to answer you confidently one way or the other. You can schedule a consultation to ask one of our professionals directly: http://www.LegacyTree.com/genealogy-consultation

      Reply
  10. Allison says

    October 2, 2024 at 6:48 pm

    What if you are adopted and don’t know your original family? But when you got your DNA report, it was almost exclusively Irish (96%) – this is an uncommon result.

    Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      October 7, 2024 at 9:57 am

      Hi, Allison! 96% is high and you would need to have the documentation from her birth family. Here’s an article that we hope helps (see link below). It would be great if you could do a consultation with us to determine if she you are eligible under current Irish rules (grandparent or would have to be born in Ireland).

      https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ve28453gpo

      Reply
  11. Genevieve says

    October 13, 2024 at 12:44 pm

    Hello! Once you apply for the citizenship by descent, is the passport application then separate? Do I need to wait to get approval of my citizenship before applying for the passport?

    I’m currently mailing all the documents in, including the foreign birth application and now am aware that it may be another separate step to apply for the passport.

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • blankJessica - Legacy Tree Genealogists President says

      October 15, 2024 at 8:50 am

      Hi Genevieve! How exciting to be on the dual citizenship journey! We could better help you and answer your questions if you were to schedule a 45-minute consultation with one of our experts. You can do so here: http://www.LegacyTree.com/genealogy-consultation. Thank you so much!

      Reply

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