Foreign Birth Registration

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Questions (340, 342)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

340. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the processing of foreign births registration applications has resumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33375/21]

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Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

342. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to resume the processing of foreign birth registrations; the estimated backlog; the length of time it will take to clear; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33453/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 342 together.

The processing of Foreign Births Registration (FBR) applications has been temporarily paused as a result of COVID-19 related restrictions.

There are nearly 31,000 applications in the Foreign Births Registration (FBR) system that await processing at present. Prior to COVID-19 it took twelve to eighteen months to process applications. This was due to the complex nature of FBR applications and the very high volume of applications due to Brexit.

The Passport Service will resume processing FBR applications as soon as the COVID Passport backlog is fully cleared. In cases of exceptional urgency the applicant may contact the Passport Service directly.