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The law relating to Irish citizenship is regulated by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts 1956 – 2001. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is responsible for determining entitlement to citizenship in accordance with the relevant Acts.

Citizenship by Birth

Anyone born on the island of Ireland on or before 31 December 2004 is entitled to be an Irish citizen.
The citizenship entitlement of every person born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 is governed by the citizenship of the person’s parents at the time of the person’s birth or the residency history of one of the parents prior to the birth.

Where a parent is a non-national, other than an EU/EEA/Swiss national, the child will qualify for Irish citizenship if, at the time of the birth of the child in the island of Ireland, one of his/her parents had reckonable residence in the island of Ireland during the four years immediately preceding the birth of the child. Reckonable residence is regarded as residence where he/she had been lawfully resident in the island of Ireland for a period of not less than three years, or periods the aggregate of which is three years. Periods of unlawful residence, periods of residence which were for the sole purpose of having an application for refugee status determined or periods of residence where permission was granted for the purposes of study are excluded from the determination of periods of reckonable residence.

Citizenship by Application

Irish law permits dual citizenship and does not require applicants to renounce any other citizenship held at the time of application. Applicants should however always clarify the position governing the adoption of a second citizenship with the authorities of their other country of citizenship.

Foreign Birth Registration (FBR)

A person of a parent who was an Irish citizen at the time of that person's birth may apply for Irish citizenship and registration in the Foreign Birth Register.

Post-Nuptial Declaration

As a result of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2001, it is no longer be possible to become an Irish citizen by lodging a post-nuptial declaration at an Irish Embassy or Consulate. Instead, it is necessary to apply to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in Ireland for a certificate of naturalisation based on marriage to an Irish citizen and subject to a number of conditions, including residency in Ireland. For greater details please see the website of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.