1. A correctly completed and witnessed application form [FB1A for persons over 18 years of age or FB1B for persons under 18 years of age] must be submitted to the relevant office (see above list), with the appropriate fee, and with supporting original documentation sufficient to demonstrate clearly the identity of the applicant and the relationship between the applicant, the parent and the Irish-born grandparent.

2. The following list is a guide to supporting documentation which must be produced by persons submitting an application for registration in the Foreign Births Entry Book. The documents are requested to prove the identity of the applicant and the relationship between the applicant, the parent and the grandparent. Supplementary documentation may be necessary when the supporting documents listed below are unobtainable, incomplete, inaccurate, ambiguous or insufficient because of local administrative processes. If documents are not in English, an English translation from an official translator is required.

A. Documents relating to your Grandparent -

For the grandparent three documents are required in normal circumstances:

A.1. The full, long form (i.e. showing the names of the parents of the child) Irish birth certificate. Birth records have been maintained centrally in Ireland since 1864 and certified copies may be obtained by applying to the Registrar of Births, Joyce House, 7-11 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2, Ireland or by applying to the Superintendent Registrar of the district where your grandparent was born. (see list below). Requests to the Registrar should detail the grandparent's full name, and the date and place of birth. If not already known, this information is often obtainable from death/marriage certificates.

A.2. The marriage licence/certificate.

A.3. If the grandparent is deceased, the death certificate; if living, a current official photo I.D. (e.g. a driving licence, passport).

B. Documents relating to your Parent -

B.1. The full, long form, birth certificate of your parents, showing your grand parents' names, places of birth and ages at time of birth. Note: Birth certificates which do not contain this information are not sufficient of themselves to establish a clear relationship to the Irish-born grandparent.

B.2. The marriage licence/certificate.

B.3. If the parent is deceased, the death certificate; if living, a current official photo I.D. (e.g. a driving licence, passport.)

C. Documents relating to you the Applicant -

C.1. Full, long form, birth certificate, that is, one which shows parents' names, places of birth and ages at time of birth. Note: Birth certificates which do not contain this information are not sufficient of themselves to establish a clear relationship to the parent.

C.2 Where there is a change of name, e.g. on marriage, supporting documentation must be provided, e.g. marriage licence/certificate.

C.3. Two recent passport type photographs which must be signed and dated on the back by the witness to section E of the application form at the same time as the form is witnessed.

C.4. Notarized copy of current US passport (if held).

C.5. Notarized copies of three additional proofs of identity, one of which must be a photo I.D., such as a driver's licence. Please provide a copy of a bank statement/utility bill, showing your present address.

C.6. In the case of a person under 18, the person submitting the application (a parent or guardian) must also submit proofs of identity as at C3, C4 & C5 above.

D. Fees -

D.1. Applicants should check with the relevant FBR processing office for details of curent fees, communications costs and acceptable forms of payment.

Important note

Church certified baptismal and marriage certificates may be considered when an applicant can produce a statement from the relevant state authority to the effect that they have been unsuccessful in their search for the civil record.

Hospital certified birth certificates are not acceptable.

All official documents - birth, death, marriage certificates - must be original or official copies from the issuing authority, properly sealed and stamped. All other necessary supporting documents, e.g. proofs of identity, must be originals or notarized copies of originals [note: please send notarized copies, not originals, of current passport, driver's licence and any other important identification].

Please include 1 copy of all documentation, together with a large self addressed envelope for return of documents.

List of Offices of Superintendent Registrars where Irish Birth Certificates may be obtained

Send your application directly to the county in which your grandparent was born. If you do not know the county, send the application to the Registrar’s Office in Dublin. If your grandparent was born in Northern Ireland before 1922 send your application to the Registrar’s Office in Dublin.

Carlow
(0503) 31691
Community Care Centre, Athy Road, Carlow

Cavan
(049) 61399 Gate Lodge, Lisda
rn Hospital, Cavan

Clare
(065) 28525
The Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare

Cork North
(022) 21123
Southern Health Board, Anabella, Mallow, Co. Cork

Cork South
(021) 275126
18 Liberty Street, Cork

Cork West
(028) 21299
The Courthouse, Skibbereen, Co. Cork

Donegal North
(074) 24576
St. Conal’s Hospital, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Donegal South
(074) 31038
St. Joseph’s Hospital, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal

Dublin
(01) 6711000
Joyce House, 8-11 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2
Hours 09.30 - 12.30 and 14.15 - 16.30

Galway
(091) 528966
Western Health Board, 25 Newcastle Road, Galway

Kerry
(064) 32251
Southern Health Board, Killarney, Co, Kerry

Kildare
(045) 876001
Eastern Health Board, Poplar House, Poplar Square, Naas, Co. Kildare

Kilkenny
(056) 52208
County Clinic James’ Green, Kilkenny

Laois
(0502) 21135
Health Centre, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Co, Laois

Leitrim
(078) 20308
North Western Health Board, Leitrim Road, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim

Limerick (City)
(061) 327522
St. Camillus’s Hospital, Limerick

Limerick (County)
(069) 62545
Mid Western Health Board, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick

Longford
(043) 46211
Midland Health Board, County Clinic, Longford

Louth
(042) 32287
Community Care Centre, Dublin Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Mayo
(094) 23249
Western Health Board, Newantrim Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Meath
(046) 31512
The Courthouse, Trim, Co. Meath

Monaghan
(047) 81333
North Eastern Health Board, Rooskey, Co. Monaghan

Offaly
(0506) 41301
The Health Centre, Arden Raod, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Roscommon
(0903) 26518
Western Health Board, The Courthouse, Roscommon

Sligo
(071) 60222
North Western Health Board, Markievicz House, Sligo

Tipperary (North)
(067) 31212
Mid Western Health Board, Kenyon Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary

Tipperary (South)
(052) 22011
County Clinic, Western Road, Clonmel, Co, Tipperary

Waterford (City)
(051) 55296
St. Patrick’s Hospital, John’s Hill, Waterford

Waterford
(058) 42199
St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

Westmeath
(044) 40221
County Clinic, Mullingar, Co, Westmeath

Wexford
(053) 23522
County Clinic, Grogan’s Road, Wexford

Wicklow
(0404) 68400
New Health Centre, Glenside Road, Wicklow

Birth Certificates from Northern Ireland
Registrar General’s Office,
Oxford House,
49 Chichester Street,
Belfast 1, Northern Ireland

Please note this document is not and does not purport to be a legal document. The following information is intended for guidance only and is not a formal interpretation of Irish law. For further information on the relevant legislation, please contact the Embassy of Ireland or your local Irish Consulate. The law regarding Irish citizenship is set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts of 1956, 1986 and 2001, as amended.

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