Get Citizenship of This Country if Your Grandparents Were Born Here

dailyblitz.de 3 hours ago

If one of your grandparents was born in Ireland, whether in Dublin, Donegal, or Dingle, you may be entitled to apply for Irish citizenship. This makes you eligible for an Irish passport, which is regarded as one of the strongest travel documents globally.

The Irish passport allows holders to work, live, and travel freely across all EU member states, a privilege highly valued by frequent flyers and aviation professionals. With Irish citizenship, travelers gain access to the European Union, as well as unique rights in the United Kingdom.

Unlike many other EU passports, the Irish passport also grants entry to the United Kingdom without additional visa restrictions, making it particularly powerful compared to other European travel documents, reports Travel and Leisure.

Irish Citizenship by Descent

Citizenship by descent is one of the most common ways people outside of Ireland acquire Irish nationality. Applicants typically qualify if at least one grandparent was born in Ireland.

The process is completed through Foreign Birth Registration (FBR), which records individuals considered Irish by bloodline, even if they were born abroad.

While in rare cases eligibility may extend to a great-grandparent, the vast majority of applications are based on a grandparent’s birthplace.

This makes Ireland one of the few countries offering a straightforward path to citizenship through two generations.

To apply, you must provide proof of your grandparent’s Irish birth along with your own identity records. The required documents often include original or certified copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, passports, and proof of address.

Immigration experts advise making copies of all documents before mailing them, as originals are needed for verification. Incomplete or incorrect submissions may cause significant delays.

Application Process for Citizenship

The process begins online through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

After completing the online form, applicants must submit physical documents by post to Ireland or a designated processing center.

Unlike some European countries that require in-person interviews, the Irish system is entirely managed via mail and online portals. Applicants should be prepared to gather multiple records from both Ireland and their current country of residence.

Once citizenship is granted, applicants can move forward with applying for an Irish passport. This step is also completed online via Passport Online, with supporting documents mailed for verification.

Costs and Processing Times

Applying for Irish citizenship by descent costs €278 (approximately $325) for adults, excluding postage, notary, or document retrieval expenses. Compared with other European citizenship programs, this fee is relatively affordable.

Processing times vary, but applicants should expect a waiting period of around nine months. Delays can occur if documents are missing or improperly certified.

Once approved, an Irish passport can typically be issued within 20 days through the online system, or up to eight weeks when documents are mailed.