Irish citizenship through birth or descent is a complex area. This document aims to explain the law regarding Irish citizenship as clearly as possible. It includes information regarding children born to foreign nationals, foreign births and registration procedures. Further information regarding Irish citizenship through birth, descent, naturalisation and following marriage is available from your nearest Irish embassy or consulate – see 'Where to apply' below.

Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004, children born of other foreign national parents in the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 are not automatically entitled to Irish citizenship. The parent(s) must prove that they have a genuine link to Ireland. This will be evidenced by one parent having 3 out of the previous 4 years reckonable residence in the island of Ireland immediately before the birth of the child. On proof of a genuine link to Ireland their child will be entitled to Irish citizenship and they can apply for an Irish passport for their child - see 'How to apply' below.

A child born in the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 is entitled to Irish citizenship if they have a British parent or a parent who is entitled to live in Northern Ireland or the Irish State without restriction on their residency. A child born in Ireland to a parent who has been granted refugee status is also automatically entitled to Irish citizenship.

However, in certain circumstances some people born in Ireland have to claim Irish citizenship. You can find more details about claiming Irish citizenship through special declaration in 'Further information' below.

If you were born in Ireland after 1 January 2005 and your parent(s) was an Irish citizen, then you are also an Irish citizen.

If you were born on the island of Ireland before 1 January 2005, you are entitled to be an Irish citizen.

Born outside Ireland

If you were born outside Ireland, your entitlement to Irish citizenship through descent will depend on whether your parent was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth.

Irish citizen parent born in Ireland

If either of your parents was an Irish citizen who was born in Ireland, then you are automatically an Irish citizen, irrespective of your place of birth. If you are an Irish citizen, you can apply for an Irish passport. You do not need an Irish passport in order to be an Irish citizen but having an Irish passport is evidence that you are an Irish citizen.

Irish citizen parent born outside Ireland

If you were born outside of Ireland and your parent (who was also born outside of Ireland) was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, then you are entitled to become an Irish citizen.

If the parent through whom you are entitled to Irish citizenship was deceased at the time of your birth, but would have been an Irish citizen if alive at that time, you are also an Irish citizen. Also, you derive citizenship through an Irish parent whether or not your parents were married to each other at the time of your birth.

Claiming Irish citizenship: To claim Irish citizenship, you must have your birth registered in the Foreign Births Register. If you are entitled to register, your Irish citizenship is effective from the date of registration – not from the date when you were born.

Citizenship through descent from Irish grandparent

If one of your grandparents was born in Ireland, but neither of your parents was born in Ireland, you may become an Irish citizen. You will need to have your birth registered in the Foreign Births Register.

Other Irish ancestors

Unless at least one parent or an Irish-born grandparent was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, you cannot claim Irish citizenship on the basis of extended previous ancestry (that is, ancestors other than your parents or grandparents). In addition, you cannot claim Irish citizenship on the basis that a relation such as a cousin, aunt or uncle was an Irish citizen if none of your parents or grandparents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth.

The following table may help to explain the situation:

If you are: Then you are: A Born in the island of Ireland on or before 31 December 2004 Entitled to Irish citizenship or you are an Irish citizen B Born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 Entitled to Irish citizenship if one or both of your parents: Is Irish

Is British or entitled to live in Northern Ireland or the Irish State without restriction on their residency

Is a foreign national legally resident in the island of Ireland for 3 out of 4 years immediately prior to your birth

Has been granted refugee status in Ireland C Child of A, born outside the island of Ireland An Irish citizen D Child of C and a grandchild of A, born outside the island of Ireland Entitled to Irish citizenship, but you must first register in the Foreign Births Register E a child of D and a great-grandchild of A, born outside the island of Ireland Entitled to Irish citizenship, by having your birth registered in the Foreign Births Register, but only if your parent D had registered by the time of your birth.

You can use the online tool on the Immigration Service Delivery website to check if you are an Irish citizen by birth or decent.

Irish citizenship through adoption

Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, if a child who is not an Irish citizen is adopted by an Irish citizen or a couple where either spouse is an Irish citizen, then the adopted child shall be an Irish citizen.

If an Irish citizen who is living abroad adopts child abroad, they should apply for the adoption to be entered in the Register of Intercountry Adoptions. Once it is registered, the adoption has the same legal status as if the adoption was made in the State.

If an Irish citizen living in the State adopts a child from outside the State, immigration procedures must be observed. In order for the adopted child to enter the State, immigration clearance must be obtained in advance from the Department of Justice and Equality. This clearance will only be granted once the adoptive parent(s) proposing to adopt abroad have successfully completed the assessment procedure and have had a declaration made in their favour by the Adoption Authority of Ireland. This process is known as intercountry adoption.

Deserted infants

Every deserted infant first found in Ireland will, unless the contrary is proved, (that is, the parents of the child come forward and clarify that the child is not Irish) be considered to have been born in Ireland.