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FBR application: April 2025

FBR accepted: February 2026

Passport application: August 2026

Passport Received: October 2026

hi I applied for join family visa me and my family last month 1 sep 2026

how long does it takes to get my passport back ?

people said it takes 6-7 months is that true? and if anyone got the visa how did they get it? like inside the passport or online

let me know who are they working on now

and is there’s a difference between non-EEA and EEA citizens? is it faster? let me know!

Did anyone get their nationalisation certificate this week or any week that attended the ceremony on the 18th of September?

as the title says,

I’m wondering as i have no ethnically irish neighbours, co workers or anything, i only know two ethic irish people closely, but tons with naturalisation or irish citizens through birthright and need 3 referees.

I have met lets of great ethnically irish people in university but i feel like i don’t know them long enough now to ask for them to be a referee.

would a referee with a non irish sounding name hurt my chances or is it even acceptable?

Hi all, so, my nan’s Irish (grew up in Cork), and I found out that makes me eligible for an Irish passport?

Really want to get one as all I’ve got is my shitty, non-EU British passport. But I don’t know how to get it - my nan died when I was a teenager (I’m an adult now) and I’m completely estranged from my dad, who’s side is half-Irish; the side with my Irish nan. Won’t talk to my dad again and don’t even have his contact details, so I’ve no idea how to get all the info I need to apply for an Irish passport.

Any and all advice on this is appreciated!

Background: I am an English-born Irish passport holder, qualifying through my Omagh-born mother.

My [non-Irish] wife is expecting. My question: which documents do I need and what’s the process for gaining citizenship and passport for my son? Would he qualify through me, or through his grandmother?

Thank you in advance.

I'm sending applications for me and one sibling based on our Irish born grandfather's lineage (grandmother is also Irish but due to the name change scenario I've included below, it's simpler to use his info instead). We are based in the US. Everything is collected and being organized to be sent out. But in putting it together- there's a couple last minute questions I have:

-I noticed that my mothers full birth certificate has parental details but does not include their dates of birth (only their ages). Additionally, her mother assumed a new first name after marriage- the maiden name listed on my mom's birth certificate doesn't totally match what's on the marriage cert because of her first name. Maiden surname is the same though. This is the copy issued by the state, no other copy exists.

Will either of these things be an issue? Should I write a letter explaining either or both of these things?

-I live in a state that issues certified signed marriage licenses as the official marriage certificate. I have written a letter explaining this after seeing it come up in this sub a couple times. Should I include this letter only once up front (alongside the letter explaining two applications are enclosed based on the same common documents) or attached to every certificate? (Lol I'm sure I'm overthinking this one, just wanted some input)

Once these questions get clarified, I then just need to find a way to get everything to fit in a USPS flat rate envelope. Right now I have things organized in Manila envelopes which are too wide. But that's for me to figure out lol although I'm open to suggestions on that also!

I filled in all the forms back in 2023 and paid the application fee but never sent the stuff in.

The witness sigs are from 2019 and 2022 in some cases. If I send it all in will it be an issue?

Many thanks in advance

Afternoon,

A couple of questions about which documents are accepted for the passport application, I've submitted my online application and it states: 'We will only start to process your application when we receive the documents listed below. Please submit:'

• Cover page
• Identity Verification Form
• Applicant's full civil birth certificate
• Copy of front and back of Public Services Card, or a copy of driving licence certified by a solicitor or An Garda Síochána, or original passport or National ID Card from another country. If resident outside the state, certified colour copies of ID are acceptable. A copy can be certified by a police officer, a solicitor, the witness who signs your Identity Verification Form, or by the issuing authority.
• Proof of name (for example, original utility bills, bank statements, government correspondence)
• Proof of address
• Applicant's Foreign Births Registration certificate (we will also accept a colour copy of Foreign Birth Registration Certificate, certified as a true copy of the original by a solicitor or notary public)
• Applicant's passport from country of origin/previous nationality

What do they accept as proof of address? Additionally if the a proof of name document has a different address from the proof of address document would that be a problem. Finally does sending my UK passport satisfy both the 4th and 8th bullet points.

Thanks a lot in advance

Hi all, I applied for the FBR back in February and received an email confirming that my application had been received on 20th February 2026. From what I’ve seen regarding the current processing times, I understand that, provided everything goes smoothly, I should hopefully receive confirmation that my application has been approved around February 2027.

I was wondering if anyone could share their experience with being asked to provide additional documents or information during the waiting period. At what point in the process did you hear from them requesting anything further?

The reason I’m asking is that I’m a little concerned I might be asked for further proof regarding my Irish ancestry. Long story short, I don’t have the best relationship with my dad and grandmother, who are the Irish side of my family, and I’m currently not in contact with them due to a breakdown in our relationship. My legal surname is my mum’s family name, so I included my deed poll certificate as evidence of the name change with my application. I submitted all the other documents outlined in the application process, for myself, my Dad and grandmother (which was a pain to ask for from them, but managed!).

I’m just a bit anxious that they might come back asking for additional documentation that could be difficult for me to obtain given my family circumstances now. Has anyone been in a similar situation, or had to provide further evidence after initially submitting their application?

Any advice or experiences would be really appreciated. Thank you!

Hi everyone,
My wife has applied for an Ireland Join Family (Spouse) visa from India. I currently live and work in Ireland on a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) and have a Stamp 1 IRP. I am in category B.

Since the processing time is very long, I’d really appreciate if those who have gone through this process could share their timelines. Please share your

-Visa application date
-Approval/decision date
-Visa sticker (passport stamping) date
-Country you applied from (especially if India)

If you’re still waiting, please tell:
-Your application date
-Current status (no response / under processing / additional documents requested, etc.)

I’m trying to get a realistic idea of how long the process is currently taking for spouses of CSEP holders.
Thanks in advance for sharing your experience, it will really help us and others in the same situation!

Applied via my maternal grandfather.

- Online application 30.09.2925

- Documents posted 30.09.2025

- Documents received 16.10.2025

- Notified via web chat 16.10.2026 that FBR was approved on 13.10 (I haven't received an email).

The agent was very helpful and said that the certificate may take 2 to 8 weeks to print and post but seeing other people's timelines hopefully it will be closer to 2 weeks.

I am Indian and my wife is Irish, i applied for my visa in Sept but vfs still just shows dispatched but haven’t received any acknowledgement of receipt, what’s the timeline for it for processing in India, i know 6-12 months but vfs guy told me its coming in around 3 months, what all have been your experiences?

Received my congratulations email today. My story was not straightforward due to poor family trees, foster care and even a brother and sister actually being cousins 😂😳

Original application sent April 2025, received May 2025.

Further information requested early March 2026 (around the 10m mark) sent and received end of May 2026 and approved today.

Ended up clarifying a lot with a letter, emails from GRO and baptismal certificates that prove parental names.

Unfortunately this all stemmed from my grans brother (actually her cousin) recording her death incorrectly and caused a mismatch of records.

Hi everyone! I am an irish american living in america right now, but have always wanted to spend a few years living in Ireland. I have my duel citizenship so i’m less concerned about myself being able to move back to Ireland, but I want to bring my partner with me. He is american.

I was wondering how feasible it would be for him to get a work visa? He is a land surveyor (geospatial surveyor) and has skills in GIS. I saw that this job is listed under “critical needs occupation list” for Ireland. Would this make it easier for him to get a visa or a job here?

As for myself, I am an ecologist. I would hope return to school to complete my masters and then hopefully secure a position. As someone who has their irish citizenship but is not a resident, are there any visas I would need to look into?

Would this be realistic? I am just looking for any guidance or advice on how to move to Ireland. Any insight is appreciated! Míle Buíochas!

Applying through my Irish-born grandmother. Algerian, living in Algeria. Applied May 2026 as an expectant parent. Baby has since been born, so that window is gone.

Four packages sent since May, all originals with certified ATII translations. Each time, a new request listing documents I had already sent. The latest request is down to one item: the "original GREEN Algerian 12-S birth certificate."

Algeria stopped printing that form on green paper in 2018. A Ministerial Order of 16 June 2022 (Official Journal No. 56, 31 August 2022) amended the 2010 Order so the certificate may be produced in white with a barcode. My commune issues only the white version. Same legal document.

I've already sent them the white 12-S, a certificate of authentication from the civil registry officer confirming it's the only form now issued, translations of the Ministry of Interior's own portal, and a copy of the Official Journal containing the Order. Still being asked for green.

The same email telling me to produce the green form also tells me how to get a 12-S: go in person to the Town Hall of your place of birth. That's exactly what I did. The white form is what they hand you.

Lineage has never been questioned. Every request has been about document format.

Questions:

1. Has anyone got FBR to accept a replacement format after the original was discontinued? Any country. What actually moved it?
   
2. Any way to reach someone who can make a decision? The returns mailbox doesn't answer replies and chat agents can't see the file.
   
3. Anyone used the Ombudsman for FBR? Did they take it?
   
4. Is a solicitor's letter worth it, or just money?

Thanks 🙏

We both submitted passport applications—mine for renewal (although treated as a first-time application because my previous passport had expired years ago) and my son's for his first passport. My last passport was pre-biometric and handwritten by the San Francisco Consulate.

My son's passport — received 10/14

8/7 - Application received by Passport Office. Sent from the US via FedEx (USD120). Cheaper options were available, but I didn't want to risk losing original documents.

Original estimated completion date: 9/4.

9/16/26 - Additional documents requested. Despite submitting his original FBR, US birth certificate, and notarized color copy of his US passport (all showing his three given names and surname), his bank statement listed only two given names. It was accepted as proof of address but not proof of name. We obtained a signed, stamped letter from his school confirming his full name.

9/18 - Additional documents sent via FedEx (another USD120!).

9/23 - Passport Office confirmed receipt.

10/2 - Passport book printed and dispatched.

10/5 - Passport card dispatched.

10/6 - Passport book arrived in NY.

10/7 - Passport card arrived in NY.

10/8 - Both processed through NY Distribution Center.

10/11 - Both processed through LA Distribution Center.

10/14 - Both delivered through my front door mail slot, without a signature. I was surprised, particularly as USPS tracking still shows them at the LA Distribution Center several days after delivery. They had appeared in Informed Delivery a few days earlier, with an earlier expected delivery date.

I've attached photos of both envelopes—ordinary, nondescript, standard-sized envelopes. I mention the tracking discrepancy because my own passport remains stuck somewhere in the USPS system in Los Angeles.

My passport — still not delivered!

original ETA: 9/4/26

8/7/26 - Application received by Passport Office.

9/16/26 - Passport book printed and dispatched.

9/18/26 - Passport card dispatched.

9/18/26 - Passport book arrived in NY.

9/19/26 - Passport book processed through NY Distribution Center.

9/22/26 - Passport card arrived in NY.

9/23/26 - Passport book reached LA Distribution Center.

9/23/26 - Passport card processed through NY Distribution Center.

9/26/26 - Passport card reached LA Distribution Center.

10/6/26 - Filed Missing Mail Search with USPS.

As of 10/16, neither my passport book nor card has arrived. Both remain stuck at the LA Distribution Center according to USPS tracking, although my son's experience suggests the tracking may not be reliable.

Hi , I applied for my citizenship on 31st August. There was a 4 day gap between my last 2 irp cards due to process delays. I had applied for my irp renewal well in advance of 12 weeks. I read a couple of reddit posts that it shouldn't be a problem for application and I didn't provide any explanation/ proofs to show that I had applied for irp renewal on time but this gap is only because of process delays.

Can I now send them the proof and explanation about this? If yes, how do I do it ?

My wife is applying next month. We are both self employed. We file jointly.

Right now we have only one strong proof possible and that is bank statements.

My self assessment form doesn’t have her name on the first page and as such there’s a good chance that the immigration assessor will reject it out of hand, according to what I have read here. Also there will be no Revenue record available for 2026 until the beginning of 2028 because we are self employed.

Similarly there is no PRSI record possible for 2026 until the beginning of 2028. Ironically if she was unemployed she would receive a record of payments immediately from their website.

Nor is an Employer’s letter possible for obvious reasons.

All she has is her bank statements. As we didn’t even think that we were going to apply until they decided to change the requirements, there are several months with only three or four Irish domestic transactions on them. I’ve no idea whether this will be a problem for an assessor but we are going ahead next month anyway.

If they ask us for a another strong proof there isn’t one (you might even think like every aspect of government I have encountered as a self employed sole trader in Ireland, that the Civil Service actively discriminates against us). We have letters of reply from Social Welfare and Revenue and 5 years of GP records with a letter. I see no time in the future that we will ever be able to apply if the assessors reject our bank statements.

Can anyone tell me if I’m completely wrong about any of the three strong proof problems we have? Also, is there another strong proof that I’m not thinking about or not in on the immigration website?

So what are the ways you use to cope with the waiting?

I try to ignore it, and as an "Additional Documents Request" FBR case I'm waiting a while.

What helps me is the following...

1. I made a little thread for my experience. Nothing much, but a reminder of where I am and where I've been. Link https://www.reddit.com/r/IrishCitizenship/comments/1t6np5i/additional_document_request/

2. Distraction with work, with parenting, with gardening. Anything really. Some months I barely think about it.

Now how about you? Anything working?

Hey everyone! I'm eligible to apply for naturalisation by reckonable residence next week and I've been assembling all the documents that I need for my application. Here's what I have -

Proof of Identity

• Certified Copy of the biometric page of my Passport
• Certified Copy of my translated birth certificate

Proof of Residence

• EDS for the last 5 years (2021 - 2025). I don't have one for 2026 since it hasn't been generated by Revenue yet
• Utility Bills for the last 5 years (I have 3 months from each year including August 2026, September 2026 and October 2026)
• Revolut Statements for the last 5 years (I receive my salary on my AIB account, transfer it to my Revolut immediately and use Revolut for any purchases I make. So my statements show all of my day to day transactions, but it does not show an incoming salary)
• Letter from my employer dated October 2026 stating that I've been employed full time with them in Ireland since 2022

I have every single one of my Stamp 1G, Stamp 1 and Stamp 4 IRP cards. I've also written a letter saying that all the information that I've provided is true and I'm happy to provide any more documents/information if they require it.

Please let me know if I'm missing anything or if there's anything else that I can add for a successful application. I've been quite tense about my upcoming application as of late and wanted to hear from others who have already been through this process.

My application received email was 1 Oct 2025. I’ve not heard anything yet. Is anyone else in the same position still waiting after more than a year? I just want to know I’m not alone 😭😭

So my nana, born in Dublin, had a first husband who died. She got his last name. Then she married my grandfather, and got his last name. I have that marriage certificate and I will send it because it connects us via last name. They divorced and she got another husband and another last name, which she had at the time of death. Do I need the first and third marriage certificates? Or only the second one? Her death certificate has the third husbands last name, but it includes her parents names which match her birth certificate.