Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation.

My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.

Foreign Birth Registration applications are citizenship applications and, as in all jurisdictions, involve a complex and lengthy process. The Passport Service has a statutory responsibility to protect the integrity of this citizenship process. Accordingly, it has to assure very careful analysis takes place across its systems to verify both the identity of the applicant and their entitlement to Irish citizenship.

Each application for entry onto the Foreign Birth Register is assessed on a case by case basis. In a case where photographic ID is not available for the parent or grandparent through whom citizenship is being claimed, this must be explained by the applicant in writing. In the case where a parent or grandparent is incapacitated and does not have photo ID, this can be supported by a letter from a medical professional or by an official report (e.g. court order, report from social worker etc.).

The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received by the Passport Service. The FBR team will reach out to the applicant to advise them of what is required.