Post
by nisi » Wed Mar 25, 2026 8:30 am
You likely have 3 possible paths to an Irish passport:
1. Your parent was born on the island of Ireland. In this case you're probably automatically an Irish citizen, and can apply directly for a passport online. The Irish government website explains the documents you'll need to prove this.
2. Your parent was born outside Ireland, but was an Irish citizen when you were born (likely automatically because one of their parents was born in the island of Ireland). If that's the case then you can apply for Irish citizenship through the Foreign Births Register. Once you've received a certificate you could then apply for a passport.
3. Through living in Ireland for 5 years. As a British citizen you can live and work in Ireland with no restrictions. After living there for 5 years (3 years of married to an Irish citizen) you can apply to naturalise as an Irish citizen. Once you've attended a citizenship ceremony and got your naturalisation certificate you can apply for a passport
You'll only need a PPS number if you want to live/work in Ireland, much like you need a National Insurance number in the UK. It's pretty irrelevant to getting a passport.