The Path to an Irish Passport
February 5, 2024
Contemplating getting an Irish passport but uncertain about eligibility?
Find out more on the Department of Foreign Affairs website
You must be an Irish citizen to acquire an Irish passport.
One can gain citizenship through birth, descent, or naturalisation.
This section will provide an outline based on birth and naturalisation, as it can be confusing.
Eligibility criteria:
- If you were born in Northern Ireland before the 1 st of January 2005, you are entitled
to claim Irish citizenship and can therefore apply for an Irish passport
- If you were born in Ireland after the 1 st of January 2005, your entitlement is
dependent on the nationality and residence history of your parents
- Nationality: if your parents were Irish or UK citizens at birth you can choose to be an
Irish citizen
- Residence History: one of your parents must have lived in Ireland or Northern
Ireland for 3 out of the 4 years before you were born or have the right to live in
Ireland or Northern Ireland without any restriction on their period of residence
- If you were born outside of Ireland to an Irish born parent, you are automatically
entitled to an Irish citizen by birth
- If you were born outside of Ireland to a parent who was an Irish citizen or would
have been entitled to become an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, you are
entitled to become an Irish citizen
- If you have an Irish-born grandparent who was an Irish citizen at the time of your
birth you entitles to become an Irish citizen
When applying for your Irish Passport, you will need your birth certificates and if claiming
through descent, your parent or grandparent’s birth certificate.
What are the benefits of having an Irish passport?
- As an Irish citizen, you are no longer tied down to visa restrictions that dictate
how to live, work, study, and travel
- You can buy a property, knowing you have a right to reside indefinitely. You can
apply for jobs, knowing that you don’t have to worry about a visa expiring. You
can travel across the Emerald Isle as you please.
- Irish citizens also have the right to reside in the UK.
- This agreement, known as the Common Travel Area, happened before the UK’s
entry into the European Union, so the agreement continues post-Brexit.
- Since Ireland is a member of the European Union, Irish citizens have the
freedom to live, work, study, and travel in other EU member states without
visas or restrictions
Once you have got your hands on that red passport again and the excitement of free
movement kicks in, why not plan a trip to where it all started? Whether you hop on a ferry
or catch a quick flight, head over to the Emerald Isle and soak in the heritage that granted
you this freedom. Explore the scenic beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way or dive into the vibrant atmosphere of Cork. Your passport doesn’t just have to be for travel; it can be an opportunity to connect with your roots.
We are hiring for - PA to the Manager This post is a 3 year fixed term role. Salary: £15,000 P.A, 15 hours per week. About us: Established in 1993, Coventry Irish Society (CIS) is a Charity providing a wide range of community health and support services to the Irish Community in Coventry. Coventry Irish Society has supported and celebrated the Irish community in Coventry and the Midlands since 1993 — from health and welfare services to festivals, heritage projects including our Oral History project ‘Irish Heart, Coventry Home’. We're a small dynamic charity with a big impact, and we're looking for an organised, personable PA to help our CEO keep everything running smoothly. The Role: As PA to the Manager, you'll be the right hand that keeps our finances, records, and databases in order — freeing up our Manager to focus on the bigger picture. This is a role for someone who enjoys precision and detail as much as people, at the centre of a busy and welcoming charity. To apply: Please email CEO Simon McCarthy simon.mccarthy@covirishsoc.org.uk with your CV and reasons for applying. Download and view full job role description below.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme provides financial payments and health supports to eligible people who spent time in a Mother and Baby or County Home in the Republic of Ireland. For straightforward information on the application process, eligibility criteria, and institutions covered by the Payment Scheme, please see the link to download an information leaflet below. For detailed information and other queries, please visit the GOV.ie website at the link below. Visit the Gov.ie website by clicking here.
The Department for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has announced the Stardust Recognition Payment Scheme. This is a scheme of ex-gratia recognition payments to survivors who were injured in the Stardust fire in 1981. All survivor beneficiaries of the original Stardust Victims Compensation Tribunal will be solely eligible for this recognition payment. Each person will be eligible to receive a fixed recognition payment of €20,000. Applications for the recognition payments can be made online or by post. A Stardust Recognition Payment Helpline is available during office hours at 01-859 2268 for those who wish to request an application form to be sent to their home address. Help completing the application is available via the helpline and email sdrqueries@justic.ie Applications will be accepted until 5pm on 17 August 2026 The Stardust Recognition Scheme can be accessed at the below link.
