Registering a Foreign Birth (Ireland): Certified True Copies for Irish Citizenship Applications (Adults)

If you were born outside Ireland but have an Irish-born grandparent or a parent who was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, you may qualify for Irish citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration (FBR).

In reality, many Irish citizenship applications fail or slow down not because of eligibility, but because applicants submit incorrectly certified documents.

Therefore, understanding certification rules matters.

This guide explains:

• who can apply for Irish citizenship
• which documents need certified true copies
• who may certify documents under Irish rules
• why certification is different from witnessing
• which documents we can certify for adult applicants

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Official Irish Citizenship Guidance

Irish citizenship rules come from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Before applying, you should review these official sources:

Foreign Birth Registration – FAQs and guidance
https://www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/

Certifying documents for Irish citizenship
https://www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/certifying-a-document/#who

This article follows those standards.

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Who Can Apply for Irish Citizenship Through FBR?

You may apply for Irish citizenship if:

• one of your grandparents was born in Ireland, or
• one of your parents was an Irish citizen when you were born

Even if your parent was not born in Ireland, you may still qualify.

Once registration is complete, you become an Irish citizen.
After that, you may apply for an Irish passport.

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Certified True Copy and Application Witness: Not the Same

Many applicants confuse these two steps. However, they serve different purposes.

Application Form Witness

First, the application form needs a witness.
This person must know you personally.
They confirm your identity and sign the form.

For this reason, a document certifier cannot act as your witness unless they know you.

Certified True Copy of Documents

In contrast, certified true copies relate only to documents.
The certifier checks the original document and confirms the copy is accurate.

They do not need to know you personally.

This distinction matters. As a result, mixing the two roles often causes rejection.

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Who Can Certify Documents for Irish Citizenship?

Irish Immigration guidance defines a certified document as a copy signed and dated by a recognised professional.

The following professionals may certify documents:

• Solicitor
• Notary Public
• Commissioner for Oaths
• Peace Commissioner

Official guidance appears here:
https://www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/certifying-a-document/#who

How a Document Must Be Certified

The certifier must:

• write: “Certified to be true copy of the original seen by me”
• sign and date the document
• print their name
• include occupation, address, and phone number

Because Irish authorities check these details carefully, missing wording often leads to delay.

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Adult Applicant Routes and Required Certified True Copies

All adult Foreign Birth Registration routes for Irish citizenship require certified true copies of photographic ID.

We can certify all documents listed below.

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Irish Citizenship Through an Irish-Born Grandparent

Documents for the grandparent:

• Photocopy of passport, driver’s licence, or national ID

This copy must be certified as a true copy of the original.

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Irish Citizenship Through a Parent Naturalised as Irish

Documents for the Irish citizen parent:

• Photocopy of state-issued photographic ID

This copy must be certified correctly.

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Irish Citizenship Through a Parent Registered on the Foreign Births Register

Documents for the Irish citizen parent:

• Photocopy of state-issued photographic ID

Again, certification is required.

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Irish Citizenship Through Post-Nuptial Citizenship Declaration

Documents for the Irish citizen parent:

• Photocopy of state-issued photographic ID

This document also needs proper certification.

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Irish Citizenship Through Adoption Under Irish Law (Born Abroad)

This route requires documents for two generations:

• Irish citizen parent: photographic ID
• Irish-born grandparent: photographic ID

Both copies must be certified.

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What We Provide and What We Do Not

Service	Available
Remote Certified true copies for Irish citizenship	Yes
Online Passport and ID certification	Yes
Remote Parent and grandparent documents	Yes
Overseas applicants	Yes
Application form witnessing	No

We focus only on remote / online document certification.
We do not act as application witnesses.

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Why Correct Certification Matters

Irish citizenship applications often slow down because:

• wording is incomplete
• professional details are missing
• applicants submit uncertified copies
• certification and witnessing get confused

Therefore, correct certification saves time.

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Summary

Foreign Birth Registration provides a clear route to Irish citizenship.
However, the process follows strict rules.

If you understand:

• who witnesses the applicant, and
• who certifies the documents

you avoid common mistakes.

If you need certified true copies for an Irish citizenship application through Foreign Birth Registration, we can remotely certify those documents correctly and in line with official Irish guidance.