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Ireland Citizenship By Descent

Did you know that there are more Irish-Americans (Americans with Irish heritage) than the entire population of Ireland? Recent figures estimate that there are about 33 million Irish-Americans, compared to Ireland’s population of about 5.5 million.

The Irish citizenship by descent law is notably generous compared to other European countries, allowing individuals with an Irish-born grandparent to claim citizenship. This means that even Americans two generations removed from Ireland can reconnect with their heritage through citizenship. The process typically involves gathering birth, marriage, and death certificates to prove a “paper trail” of lineage back to the Irish-born ancestor.

Citizenship By Ancestry Eligibility

If you or your parent were born on the island of Ireland before 2005, you are an Irish citizen. You can apply for an Irish passport without making an application for citizenship.

If your grandparent was born on the island of Ireland, you may apply for Irish citizenship by descent through Foreign Birth Registration.

You may also apply under Foreign Birth Registration if one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, even if they were not born in Ireland.

According to recent evidence, applications based on Irish ancestors going back further than a grandparent are generally rejected by Irish authorities.

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Who can you include on your application:

Main applicant, his/her children, and siblings.

Application Processing Time:

9 months to 2 years total, depending on how long it takes the applicant to acquire the essential documents.

Documentation Requirement:

Applicants must provide a chain of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) linking the applicant to the Irish ancestor.

Language Requirement:

None

Everything You Need to Know about Ireland

Being a citizen of Ireland allows you to live, work, study and retire anywhere in the EU. Additionally, citizens of Ireland can live, travel to, work, and study in the United Kingdom under the Common Travel Area (CTA) agreement.

Read Our Guide: Life in Ireland

One thing that history shows us is that citizenship by descent rules can change quickly, without warning. The best time to begin your Italian citizenship by descent inquiry was yesterday. The second best time is today.

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Are you ready to reestablish your connection to the country of your ancestors?

We simplify the complex Irish citizenship by descent process, giving your case expert attention from our U.S. team and partners. Book a free consultation to start the journey to your Ireland passport.

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Who all can be included

Extend your benefits to your spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents.

Residency Requirement

The Portuguese golden visa residency requirement is very flexible, making it an attractive investment migration option for Americans. You can maintain your residency with just an average of seven days per year in Portugal.

When some countries require investors to stay in the country at least six months per year, Portugal only requires seven days. This allows you to maintain your current lifestyle in the United States while fulfilling the golden visa requirements and working towards citizenship by essentially taking a week-long vacation to Portugal once a year!

Citizenship Requirement

After five years of legal “residency” under the golden visa program, applicants may apply for Portuguese citizenship or permanent residency.

To qualify for citizenship, in addition to fulfilling the five years of investment, applicants must also learn basic Portuguese to an A2 level. However, in lieu of a language test, applicants may also attend 150 hours of virtual Portuguese language lessons from a government-approved language school. Upon completion of the 150 hours, the applicant is considered to have satisfied the language requirement.