Ireland Foreign Birth Registration

Value: what the Foreign Birth Registration gives you

Passport: visa-free destinations

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Years to permanent residence

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Years to citizenship

ImmediatelyOfficialIrish Statute Book, checked 2026-11-15Citizenship takes effect on registration. Processing time is shown separately.

Leads to citizenship

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Can work for a local employer

YesOfficialIreland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, checked 2026-11-15Irish citizens can work in Ireland without an employment permit.

Same application for spouse and children

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Public healthcare

YesOfficialIreland Health Service Executive, checked 2026-11-15Ordinary residents can access public health services. The type of entitlement and charges depend on eligibility.

Minimum stay per year

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Tax on foreign income

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Dual citizenship allowed

YesOfficialIreland Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, checked 2026-11-15Irish citizens may hold another citizenship. The other country can apply its own rules.

Rule changes, last 24 months

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Cost: what the Foreign Birth Registration costs over five years

Government fees

$307.25OfficialIreland Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, checked 2026-11-15Adult registration and required return handling: EUR 278. Conversion: EUR 278 to USD at 2026-11-13 reference rates.

Non-refundable contribution

$0OfficialIreland Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, checked 2026-11-15The published registration fee schedule imposes no investment contribution.

Due diligence

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Compulsory extras, first year

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Renewal fees, first 5 years

$0OfficialIrish Statute Book, checked 2026-11-15Registration confers citizenship. Optional passport fees are separate.

Investment you may get back

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Minimum income per month

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Extra for a spouse and two children

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Typical adviser fees (not in the total)

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USD estimates use the 13 November 2026 reference rates of the European Central Bank, Central Bank of Armenia and Central Bank of the UAE, and the Central Bank of Uruguay rate for UYU. The Panamanian balboa uses its official one-to-one parity.

Speed: how long the Foreign Birth Registration takes

Official processing time

360 daysOfficialIreland Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, checked 2026-11-15Approx. 12 months after physical documents arrive, expressed as 12 × 30 calendar days.

Reported processing time (median)

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Approval to card or passport

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Sources

1. Registering a Foreign Birth, Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Checked 2026-11-15.
2. Citizenship and Foreign Birth Registration FAQs, Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Checked 2026-11-15.
3. Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2001, section 3, Irish Statute Book. Checked 2026-11-15.
4. Who needs an employment permit?, Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Checked 2026-11-15.
5. Eligibility for Irish public healthcare, Ireland Health Service Executive. Checked 2026-11-15.
6. Consular assistance and dual nationality, Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Checked 2026-11-15.

Every figure on this page last reviewed 2026-11-15. General information, not legal advice. Spotted an error? Email us from the contact page.

Related programs

• AM Armenia Simplified Citizenship for People of Armenian Origin
• AU Australia Australian Citizenship by Descent
• AT Austria Citizenship by Declaration for Descendants (§ 58c)
• DE Germany Citizenship by Declaration (§ 5 StAG)
• DE Germany Restitution Naturalisation (§ 15 StAG)
• GR Greece Determination of Greek Citizenship by Descent

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