Non-EEA parents
Non-EEA parents of children born in Ireland on or after 1 January 2005
What you get
- A calculation of the parent's reckonable residence before the birth
- Advice on the right route: passport application with residence evidence, Form A or Form C
- Preparation of the signed summary of the parent's permission stamps, or the declaration form
About this service
Declaration of Residence (Irish Passport for a Child Born in Ireland)
A child born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 to parents who aren't Irish or British is an Irish citizen if a parent had 3 years' reckonable residence in the 4 years before the birth. How you prove it depends on your situation. Non-EEA parents who lived in the Republic usually show their residence directly in the child's passport application, EU, EEA and Swiss parents complete Form A, and non-EEA parents who lived in Northern Ireland make a declaration on Form C to ISD. We check the residence and prepare the right application. Many parents don't realise their Irish-born child may already be an Irish citizen. Getting the residence evidence right first time avoids delays with the child's first passport.
€1229
Fixed fee
4
Areas we cover
6
Documents to prepare
5
Simple steps
Who it's for
Who this is for
Whether you're moving, hiring, staying or starting over, this is the place to begin.
EU, EEA and Swiss parents
EU, EEA and Swiss parents of children born on the island of Ireland
Northern Ireland residence
Non-EEA parents who lived in Northern Ireland before their child's birth
At a glance
Eligibility
01
Child's birth
The child was born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005
02
Parent's residence
One parent was legally resident for at least 3 of the 4 years immediately before the birth, or had the right to live in Ireland or Northern Ireland without restriction
03
Reckonable residence
That residence was reckonable: time on student permission, or while waiting for an international protection decision, doesn't count
04
Latest forms
You use the latest version of any form (older versions are returned)
Our promise
What's included
Declaration of Residence (Irish Passport for a Child Born in Ireland)
€1229
Before you start
Documents you'll need
Tick each item as you gather it. Bring whichever apply to you.
Your preparation checklist
0 of 6 ready
Tap items as you go
You're fully prepared. Let's get you booked in.
5-step journey
How it works
- 1Step 1
We calculate the parent's reckonable residence and confirm the route.
- 2Step 2
We prepare the summary statement or declaration form with you.
- 3Step 3
For residence in the Republic, or Form A, we prepare the child's passport application, and you send it with the residence evidence to the Passport Service.
- 4Step 4
For Form C, you post it to Citizenship Applications (Minor), ISD, PO Box 12079, Dublin 1. ISD issues a Certificate of Nationality, which goes with the passport application.
- Step 5
The child's passport is issued, and the parent's original documents are returned.
Good to know
Our fee
€1,229 VAT included. Government fees are separate.
Government fees
A first child passport costs €20 through Passport Online, plus a €5 postal fee. ISD doesn't list a fee for Form C.
Processing time
About 20 working days for first-time passports, from when the documents arrive. ISD doesn't publish a processing time for Form C.
Original documents
The passport application can't be processed until the parent's original documents are received.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
Since 1 January 2005, children born on the island of Ireland aren't automatically Irish citizens. A child born to parents who aren't Irish or British is an Irish citizen from birth if one parent had at least 3 years of reckonable residence on the island of Ireland in the 4 years immediately before the birth, or had the right to live there without restriction. Many parents don't realise that their Irish-born child may already be an Irish citizen. Reckonable residence excludes time on student permission and time spent waiting for an international protection decision, so a parent who was mainly on Stamp 2 before the birth won't qualify. How the residence is proved depends on the parent's situation. Non-EEA parents who lived in the Republic usually prove it in the child's first passport application, sending their passports showing their permission stamps, their IRP or GNIB cards and a signed summary of those stamps. EU, EEA and Swiss parents complete Form A with evidence of their residence. Non-EEA parents relying on residence in Northern Ireland make a declaration on Form C to ISD, which issues a Certificate of Nationality to send with the passport application. A first child passport costs €20 through Passport Online, plus a €5 postal fee, and takes about 20 working days from when the documents arrive. Children who don't qualify at birth may later be able to naturalise after 3 years' residence.
No. Student time isn't reckonable, so it doesn't count towards the 3 years.
Not at birth, but the child may later qualify for naturalisation after 3 years' residence as part of the family. See our Citizenship for Children service.
Only if you're relying on residence in Northern Ireland (Form C). Parents who lived in the Republic usually prove their residence in the passport application itself.
Yes. The Passport Service returns the parent's original documents.
Yes. First-time child passport applications can be made through Passport Online, and the supporting documents are then posted.
Ready when you are
Get started with Declaration of Residence (Irish Passport for a Child Born in Ireland)
€1229
€1229
Declaration of Residence (Irish Passport for a Child Born in Ireland)