Irish Citizenship
The right to Irish citizenship may be acquired by birth, descent, marriage or naturalization, subject to the conditions detailed below.
Who is entitled to Irish Citizenship?
By Birth:
If you were born in Ireland before 1 January 2005, you are automatically entitled to Irish citizenship, regardless of the nationality of your parents.
If you were born in Ireland after this date, one parent must be an Irish citizen, a British citizen, an indefinite resident of Ireland, or have at least three years' legal residence before the birth.
By Descent:
Children of Irish citizens born outside Ireland are also entitled to citizenship.
If the parents or grandparents are Irish (even if the birth took place outside Ireland), it is possible to register the birth on the Foreign Births Register to obtain citizenship.
By Marriage to an Irish Citizen:
Spouses of Irish citizens can apply for citizenship after at least three years of marriage or civil partnership and residence in Ireland for a minimum period of three years.
By Naturalization:
Foreign nationals legally resident in Ireland may apply for Irish citizenship by naturalisation after five years of legal residence in the country (including one uninterrupted year immediately before application).