Foreign Birth Registration Form Guide

Before opening the form

• Confirm that FBR is the correct citizenship route.
• Have official names, dates and places from the certificates in front of you.
• Trace marriage and other name changes across the family line.
• Prepare the applicant, parent and grandparent details required by your route.

While entering information

Treat the civil records as the source of truth. Do not silently modernise a spelling or use a familiar name where the legal record shows something different. Record discrepancies and make sure the supporting evidence explains the connection.

• Check day-month-year ordering carefully.
• Use the correct person for the Irish citizenship link.
• Review all entries before paying and generating the form.

After the form is generated

• Print every required page clearly.
• Use one eligible witness for the form, two photographs and certified ID copy.
• Do not attach photographs to the form unless the printed instructions specifically direct it.
• Add the original supporting certificates and other required evidence.
• Post the pack using a tracked service and retain a complete scan.

What happens next

Applications are processed by the DFA in date order. The Department currently says a complete FBR application takes approximately 12 months. If more evidence is required, the Department contacts the applicant directly.