What Is Foreign Birth Registration (FBR)?
Foreign Birth Registration is the official process for people born outside Ireland to become Irish citizens through ancestry. Once your birth is recorded in Ireland’s Foreign Births Register, you’re a legal Irish citizen, eligible to apply for an Irish passport.
For many Australians and New Zealanders with Irish heritage, FBR is the first step to claiming Irish citizenship through a parent or grandparent born in Ireland.
At ÉirePassports, we specialise in helping clients across Australia, New Zealand and beyond successfully complete their FBR applications — ensuring accuracy, saving time, and avoiding unnecessary delays.
✅ Who Needs to Register for Irish Citizenship by Descent?
You’ll need to apply for Foreign Birth Registration if:
- You were born outside Ireland
- Your parent was also born outside Ireland
- But your grandparent was born in Ireland
In most cases, if your parent didn’t register as an Irish citizen before your birth, you must complete FBR to claim your citizenship.
You may also need to register if your parent became an Irish citizen through naturalisation or descent before your birth.
👉 Unsure if you're eligible? Contact ÉirePassports and we’ll assess your case and explain what applies to you.
📋 What Is Required for a Foreign Birth Registration Application?
To apply, you’ll need to submit several documents to the Irish government, including:
- Original civil certificates (birth, marriage, and death if relevant)
- Valid photo ID (for you and your Irish-born ancestor)
- Proof of residential address
- Two witnessed statutory declarations
- A printed and signed online application form
There is no in-person appointment. However, accuracy is essential, a minor error can delay processing for months.
At ÉirePassports, we help you:
- Complete the online application correctly
- Draft statutory declarations that meet Irish standards
- Source missing certificates
- Send your documents securely to Dublin
🗂️ Which Documents Do You Need for FBR?
The exact list depends on your situation, but most applicants must submit:
- Your full birth certificate
- Your parent’s birth and marriage certificates
- Your Irish grandparent’s birth certificate
- Valid photo ID (passport or licence)
- Recent proof of address
- Statutory declarations (yours and your parent’s, if required)
- Death certificates for deceased parents or grandparents (if applicable)
👉 We provide every ÉirePassports client with a tailored FBR document checklist - no guesswork involved.
🌏 How the Process Works from Australia or New Zealand
Applying for FBR from abroad comes with additional steps:
- Ordering long-form civil certificates locally or internationally
- Having declarations witnessed by approved professionals (e.g. solicitor, police officer, JP)
- Posting your documents to Ireland via secure international courier
- Monitoring your application status via email
With offices based in Australia, we know exactly what’s accepted by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs for applicants from AUS and NZ. Whether it’s finding your grandparent’s birth record or getting your declarations witnessed properly - we’re here to help.
⏳ How Long Does Foreign Birth Registration Take in 2025?
As of 2025, FBR processing times range from 6 to 18 months, depending on the time of year and demand. Applications are handled in Dublin by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Once approved, you’ll receive a certificate confirming your Irish citizenship and you can apply for an Irish passport right away.
💚 Why Choose ÉirePassports?
We’ve helped hundreds of Australians, New Zealanders and clients worldwide complete their Foreign Birth Registrations with confidence.
When you work with ÉirePassports, you get:
- A free eligibility assessment before you begin
- Complete support with all forms and declarations
- Document sourcing and checklist guidance
- Secure document uploads and international courier support
- Friendly, personalised service in your timezone
Avoid common mistakes and delays, we’ll guide you step by step, from first form to final passport.
📩 Start Your Irish Citizenship Journey Today
If you have Irish ancestry, Foreign Birth Registration is your first step toward citizenship and a passport of opportunity.
✅ Let ÉirePassports take care of the details.
✅ Get expert help from Australia or New Zealand.
✅ Avoid delays, rejections, and document confusion.
👉 Start your FBR application with ÉirePassports — obligation free
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