Robert Troy
Question:142. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expedite an application for citizenship through the foreign births register of a person (details supplied). [18632/23]
View answerThursday, 20 April 2023
Questions (142)
Written answers
My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen in 2022.
FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of between 6 and 9 months from receipt of supporting documents. Applications which require further supporting documents will take longer to process.
Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application was registered on 26 March 2021 and approved on 3 December 2022. An FBR certificate was issued to the applicant on 14 December 2022. A member of the FBR team will be in contact with the applicant in relation to this.