Foreign births register

I was born in Ireland but lived in Britain for most of my life and my children were all born there. My daughter is now expecting her first child who will be born in the UK. My daughter is an Irish citizen. Can the baby become an Irish citizen?

Yes, your grandchild can become an Irish citizen. Any child born outside Ireland to an Irish citizen is entitled to become an Irish citizen. However before the baby can claim Irish citizenship, he or she must have his or her birth registered in the Foreign Births Register, which is maintained by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Irish citizenship of successive generations can be maintained by each generation ensuring their registration in the Foreign Births Register before the birth of the next generation.

If you are living outside Ireland application forms and further information are available from your nearest Irish embassy or consulate. You can find more information about applying to the Foreign Births Register and the documents required on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs, dfa.ie. 

Once the process is completed, your grandchild will get a certificate confirming his or her entry in the Foreign Births Register. This certificate can be used as proof of Irish citizenship when applying for an Irish passport.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.