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24th Jun 2016

Here’s how people in the UK can get an Irish passport

Google searches for Irish passports have gone up massively.

Megan Roantree

Now that Britain has voted to leave the EU, it may be hard for British people to travel outside of the country, which means an Irish passport may come in handy. 

Since the results came through, the Google searches for Irish passports have been through the roof.

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There are a few ways that people can qualify for dual-citizenship, some of them obvious, some of them more surprising.

If you were born in Ireland, have Irish parents, or even Irish grandparents obviously you can apply for an Irish passport, but there are other circumstances in which people outside of Ireland might qualify.

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pic via: citizensinformation

According to citizens information these situations can also get you Irish citizenship. (They may be unlikely but judging by the surge in interest, we’re betting people are willing to try anything.)

  • A person born on the island of Ireland to a foreign national who at the time of that person’s birth was entitled to diplomatic immunity within the State (for example, a foreign ambassador)
  • A person born in Irish sea or air space to a foreign national on a foreign ship or in a foreign aircraft
  •  a person who has declared that he or she is no longer an Irish citizen). Such a person can resume Irish citizenship by making a declaration.

So if you were born to an ambassador, born in the sky or mistakenly said you didn’t want to be an Irish citizen anymore, you are still in luck.

If any of this applies to you, contact your nearest Irish embassy.

You can also visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website, which will explain which documents you need.

You can submit your application to become an Irish citizen here.

The other thing you might want to do is start saving because Irish citizenship isn’t cheap, it costs €175 to apply and €950 for the certificate.

It’ll be worth it though.