Foreign Birth Registration

Hi all, an update on my application which was received 10 October 2019. I just received a confirmation of details email from the FBR department.

I am applying through descent to my grandfather who was born in Ireland, however I unfortunately do not have his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I DO however have my mothers birth certificate with my grandfathers name on. Has any else been in a similar situation? I have search all online databases including Ancestry, to try to locate his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I am really worried if I cannot find this marriage certificate then my application will not be processed. Surely the fact his name is on my mothers birth certificate proves the lineage?

I would welcome any comments or feedback from anyone else who is/has been in a similar situation. Thank you in advance.

I've tried the search tool but wasn't able to find this addressed previously, so apologies if I missed something relevant.

I'm in a situation with a bit of similarity to what jdh174 has just described as well.

Both of my maternal grandparents were born in Ireland, and both are deceased, as is my mother. My birth certificate shows the full names of my parents, including my mother's maiden name. I'm in B.C. Canada, and our government here doesn't issue birth certificates for the deceased. I was able to obtain what they call a birth/death certificate, which lists details of both - her parents' full names, as well as her date of death. Would this be admissible as both a birth certificate and a death certificate?

Also, if birth certificates show maiden names as mine does (and as my mother's does, since she was also born here), does this obviate the need for acquiring a marriage certificate? My last name is my father's, but as I said before my birth cert shows my mother's maiden name so that seems like it acceptably traces lineage back to her without a marriage certificate, and her birth/death cert shows her parents' names as well, doing the same. Is there a reason why a marriage certificate would be needed at all? I could see that being the case if I were tracing lineage through her mother, or my birth certificate showed her married name.

Is there something I'm overlooking here?

kickstandmafia wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 11, 2022 1:02 am

Both of my maternal grandparents were born in Ireland, and both are deceased, as is my mother. My birth certificate shows the full names of my parents, including my mother's maiden name. I'm in B.C. Canada, and our government here doesn't issue birth certificates for the deceased. I was able to obtain what they call a birth/death certificate, which lists details of both - her parents' full names, as well as her date of death. Would this be admissible as both a birth certificate and a death certificate?

Also, if birth certificates show maiden names as mine does (and as my mother's does, since she was also born here), does this obviate the need for acquiring a marriage certificate? My last name is my father's, but as I said before my birth cert shows my mother's maiden name so that seems like it acceptably traces lineage back to her without a marriage certificate, and her birth/death cert shows her parents' names as well, doing the same. Is there a reason why a marriage certificate would be needed at all? I could see that being the case if I were tracing lineage through her mother, or my birth certificate showed her married name.

Is there something I'm overlooking here?

Always provide what they ask for if you are literally able to, even if it defies logic.
If birth certificates or the equivalent exist they should be provided. Same goes for marriage certificates.
Before I made my application I asked in webchat if it was necessary to provide marriage certificate since my parents were not married but my mother did get married to a different man 10 years after my birth. FBR said yes they want that marriage certificate

Mr_Knight wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 11, 2022 5:06 pm

Always provide what they ask for if you are literally able to, even if it defies logic.
If birth certificates or the equivalent exist they should be provided. Same goes for marriage certificates.
Before I made my application I asked in webchat if it was necessary to provide marriage certificate since my parents were not married but my mother did get married to a different man 10 years after my birth. FBR said yes they want that marriage certificate

Looks like I'll potentially have to go the affidavit route then; copies of marriage certificates can only be requested here by one of the two married parties. Same deal with standalone birth certificates, they just straight up don't issue them for people who aren't still alive, so the combination birth/death is all I can get.

I wish the FBR webchat was back up; I've been waiting since the beginning of the pandemic just to ask them some of these questions.

jdh174 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 10, 2022 7:34 pm

Hi all, an update on my application which was received 10 October 2019. I just received a confirmation of details email from the FBR department.

I am applying through descent to my grandfather who was born in Ireland, however I unfortunately do not have his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I DO however have my mothers birth certificate with my grandfathers name on. Has any else been in a similar situation? I have search all online databases including Ancestry, to try to locate his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I am really worried if I cannot find this marriage certificate then my application will not be processed. Surely the fact his name is on my mothers birth certificate proves the lineage?

I would welcome any comments or feedback from anyone else who is/has been in a similar situation. Thank you in advance.

I applied in August 2019 and was also unable to track down my grandparents' wedding certificate, although I provided everything else. Before I sent these in (October 2019), I rang the office for advice, explaining this. I was simply told to include a covering letter and that it shouldn't be too much of a problem, which I did. However, I have been waiting 27 months and not heard a peep since, which I have found hugely disappointing and frustrating. I'm just hoping that the advice I was given back then about this omission isn't the reason for this, seemingly never-ending, delay.

jdh174 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 10, 2022 7:34 pm

Hi all, an update on my application which was received 10 October 2019. I just received a confirmation of details email from the FBR department.

I am applying through descent to my grandfather who was born in Ireland, however I unfortunately do not have his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I DO however have my mothers birth certificate with my grandfathers name on. Has any else been in a similar situation? I have search all online databases including Ancestry, to try to locate his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I am really worried if I cannot find this marriage certificate then my application will not be processed. Surely the fact his name is on my mothers birth certificate proves the lineage?

I would welcome any comments or feedback from anyone else who is/has been in a similar situation. Thank you in advance.

A confirmation of details email?? Is that not what they send you when you have been accepted onto the FBR? Or am I confusing it for something else.

Valo wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 11, 2022 10:30 pm

jdh174 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 10, 2022 7:34 pm

Hi all, an update on my application which was received 10 October 2019. I just received a confirmation of details email from the FBR department.

I am applying through descent to my grandfather who was born in Ireland, however I unfortunately do not have his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I DO however have my mothers birth certificate with my grandfathers name on. Has any else been in a similar situation? I have search all online databases including Ancestry, to try to locate his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I am really worried if I cannot find this marriage certificate then my application will not be processed. Surely the fact his name is on my mothers birth certificate proves the lineage?

I would welcome any comments or feedback from anyone else who is/has been in a similar situation. Thank you in advance.

A confirmation of details email?? Is that not what they send you when you have been accepted onto the FBR? Or am I confusing it for something else.

I think you're confusing this with "confirmation of address", which is sent when you are essentially approved, but they want to make sure that the certificate and original documents will be received by you when sending to the original address on file, which often changes, especially post-covid. I believe the other is the subject header if there is something else about your application that needs more evidence before approval.

Online application submitted: 15/11/2021
Documents sent via recorded post to Dublin: 29/12/2021
Royal Mail reported as delivered: 11/01/2022
Confirmation email from DFA that docs have been received: 12/01/2022

The wait officially begins. And yes, I received an email from the DFA stating that they have received my documents, so it looks like the automated email system is back up again. Good luck all.

jdh174 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 10, 2022 7:34 pm

Hi all, an update on my application which was received 10 October 2019. I just received a confirmation of details email from the FBR department.

I am applying through descent to my grandfather who was born in Ireland, however I unfortunately do not have his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I DO however have my mothers birth certificate with my grandfathers name on. Has any else been in a similar situation? I have search all online databases including Ancestry, to try to locate his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I am really worried if I cannot find this marriage certificate then my application will not be processed. Surely the fact his name is on my mothers birth certificate proves the lineage?

I would welcome any comments or feedback from anyone else who is/has been in a similar situation. Thank you in advance.

My application was received in Dec 2019, a bit after yours and I’m still waiting for any news but perhaps I may end up in the same situation as you.

I don’t think I included the marriage certificate of my grandfather and grandmother in my application because it said “if applicable” or (other change of name document) and since my grandfather wouldn’t have changed his name I assumed it wouldn’t be applicable. My grandmother wasn’t Irish so I wasn’t applying through her only him.

It does however say on both my mums marriage certificate and birth certificate my grandmothers maiden name and her current married name so hopefully that will be enough!

Who knows. 25 months and counting!

Does it seem like the process is slowing down again? Back in November 2021 it looked like they started to finish the November 2019 submissions, so about 2 years turn-around. But since then I don't even think that they've really moved on to 2020 submissions. I'm February 2020, so I'm hoping they keep that 2 year rate, but I'm not really sure whether I should expect it anymore?

mmccarthy404 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 12, 2022 4:14 pm

Does it seem like the process is slowing down again? Back in November 2021 it looked like they started to finish the November 2019 submissions, so about 2 years turn-around. But since then I don't even think that they've really moved on to 2020 submissions. I'm February 2020, so I'm hoping they keep that 2 year rate, but I'm not really sure whether I should expect it anymore?

I emailed them yesterday and received a reply within a couple of hours. I’m a January 2020 applicant so thought it would be near enough time to hear from them but because I’ve moved abroad and now changed phone number I wanted some reassurance that they can still contact me as I’ve heard of many people getting a phone call instead of an email. They said they are currently working on November 2019 and to expect the process to take minimum 2 years now. I know someone else who received an email yesterday saying they were working on October 2019 but I also know of people from December 2019 who have had a confirmation of address email. I think what this means is it’s the luck of the draw and seems kind of random to me. Yes I think they seem as if they’ve slowed right down although Christmas holidays won’t have helped as they only went back to work last week. It’s very frustrating as I’m one week off from a two year wait and looks like it will be another couple of months at the earliest before I hear anything.

jdh174 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 10, 2022 7:34 pm

Hi all, an update on my application which was received 10 October 2019. I just received a confirmation of details email from the FBR department.

I am applying through descent to my grandfather who was born in Ireland, however I unfortunately do not have his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I DO however have my mothers birth certificate with my grandfathers name on. Has any else been in a similar situation? I have search all online databases including Ancestry, to try to locate his marriage certificate to my grandmother. I am really worried if I cannot find this marriage certificate then my application will not be processed. Surely the fact his name is on my mothers birth certificate proves the lineage?

I would welcome any comments or feedback from anyone else who is/has been in a similar situation. Thank you in advance.

My reply to your query does not pertain to a current FBR registration, which I do have pending for my two children. My answer pertains to my own FBR, which I received in the 1990s. My own FRB application did not include my grandparents' marriage certficate because I have searched high and low, back then and in the decades since, and I cannot locate it anywhere!

I did receive a copy of the church record of my grandparents wedding, which I received by writing to the church directly. I included a letter explaining my situation, and my FBR was processed without delay. I have no idea why there is no civil record of my grandparents marriage, but I've sought a government certificate several times from Wayne County, Michigan, and they can find nothing. Perhaps because they were both fresh off the boat from Ireland, they didn't realize they were supposed to file a record of their marriage with the government?

Jojo1904 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 12, 2022 4:26 pm

mmccarthy404 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 12, 2022 4:14 pm

Does it seem like the process is slowing down again? Back in November 2021 it looked like they started to finish the November 2019 submissions, so about 2 years turn-around. But since then I don't even think that they've really moved on to 2020 submissions. I'm February 2020, so I'm hoping they keep that 2 year rate, but I'm not really sure whether I should expect it anymore?

I emailed them yesterday and received a reply within a couple of hours. I’m a January 2020 applicant so thought it would be near enough time to hear from them but because I’ve moved abroad and now changed phone number I wanted some reassurance that they can still contact me as I’ve heard of many people getting a phone call instead of an email. They said they are currently working on November 2019 and to expect the process to take minimum 2 years now. I know someone else who received an email yesterday saying they were working on October 2019 but I also know of people from December 2019 who have had a confirmation of address email. I think what this means is it’s the luck of the draw and seems kind of random to me. Yes I think they seem as if they’ve slowed right down although Christmas holidays won’t have helped as they only went back to work last week. It’s very frustrating as I’m one week off from a two year wait and looks like it will be another couple of months at the earliest before I hear anything.

I’d like to know what email address you used to contact the FBR team. I called the passport number a couple weeks ago because my documents were submitted June 2019 and I still have not heard anything. She gave me the same vague assurance that they are working the applications in order and I should hear soon. But if October and November are being processed something is not right here

That is such a long time to wait. I hope you hear something soon. It's clear the outstanding applications are NOT being dealt with in anything like date order. Like me, you were already waiting over two years before they changed the website expected processing time advice from 12-18 months. I'm getting very disillusioned with this process as there seems to be no way of making contact to check the progress of your application. Sorry to have a moan, but I think anyone applying now should manage their expectations that this process is very old-fashioned and they could be waiting for much longer than 2 years.

Pb300 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 13, 2022 5:24 pm

Jojo1904 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 12, 2022 4:26 pm

mmccarthy404 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 12, 2022 4:14 pm

Does it seem like the process is slowing down again? Back in November 2021 it looked like they started to finish the November 2019 submissions, so about 2 years turn-around. But since then I don't even think that they've really moved on to 2020 submissions. I'm February 2020, so I'm hoping they keep that 2 year rate, but I'm not really sure whether I should expect it anymore?

I emailed them yesterday and received a reply within a couple of hours. I’m a January 2020 applicant so thought it would be near enough time to hear from them but because I’ve moved abroad and now changed phone number I wanted some reassurance that they can still contact me as I’ve heard of many people getting a phone call instead of an email. They said they are currently working on November 2019 and to expect the process to take minimum 2 years now. I know someone else who received an email yesterday saying they were working on October 2019 but I also know of people from December 2019 who have had a confirmation of address email. I think what this means is it’s the luck of the draw and seems kind of random to me. Yes I think they seem as if they’ve slowed right down although Christmas holidays won’t have helped as they only went back to work last week. It’s very frustrating as I’m one week off from a two year wait and looks like it will be another couple of months at the earliest before I hear anything.

I’d like to know what email address you used to contact the FBR team. I called the passport number a couple weeks ago because my documents were submitted June 2019 and I still have not heard anything. She gave me the same vague assurance that they are working the applications in order and I should hear soon. But if October and November are being processed something is not right here

There is a urgent inquiry email for FBR, and I think 2 1/2 + years waiting probably qualifies for a query to them. Unfortunately I don't remember the email address, but I've seen it on it here before and hopefully someone else can provide you the email address. Good luck. I'm coming up on 2 years myself.

Pb300 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 13, 2022 5:24 pm

Jojo1904 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 12, 2022 4:26 pm

mmccarthy404 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 12, 2022 4:14 pm

Does it seem like the process is slowing down again? Back in November 2021 it looked like they started to finish the November 2019 submissions, so about 2 years turn-around. But since then I don't even think that they've really moved on to 2020 submissions. I'm February 2020, so I'm hoping they keep that 2 year rate, but I'm not really sure whether I should expect it anymore?

I emailed them yesterday and received a reply within a couple of hours. I’m a January 2020 applicant so thought it would be near enough time to hear from them but because I’ve moved abroad and now changed phone number I wanted some reassurance that they can still contact me as I’ve heard of many people getting a phone call instead of an email. They said they are currently working on November 2019 and to expect the process to take minimum 2 years now. I know someone else who received an email yesterday saying they were working on October 2019 but I also know of people from December 2019 who have had a confirmation of address email. I think what this means is it’s the luck of the draw and seems kind of random to me. Yes I think they seem as if they’ve slowed right down although Christmas holidays won’t have helped as they only went back to work last week. It’s very frustrating as I’m one week off from a two year wait and looks like it will be another couple of months at the earliest before I hear anything.

I’d like to know what email address you used to contact the FBR team. I called the passport number a couple weeks ago because my documents were submitted June 2019 and I still have not heard anything. She gave me the same vague assurance that they are working the applications in order and I should hear soon. But if October and November are being processed something is not right here

I had contacted them a few weeks ago regarding my payment which hadn’t been processed so I used the email of the person who replied back which was xxxxx@dfa.ie She has replied back to me a couple of times so hopefully she can help. Give them your application number and date they received your documents. Good luck and don’t tell her I’ve posted her email online!

Jojo1904 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 14, 2022 9:52 am

I had contacted them a few weeks ago regarding my payment which hadn’t been processed so I used the email of the person who replied back which was xxxxx@dfa.ie She has replied back to me a couple of times so hopefully she can help. Give them your application number and date they received your documents. Good luck and don’t tell her I’ve posted her email online!

Please do not post the names of FBR staff on the forum.

Hi all,

I am helping my mom apply for Irish citizenship. She has been married and divorced, so her current surname matches the one on her birth certificate. For this reason, I did not order a copy of her marriage certificate to submit with her FBR application. Is this a mistake? I don't know what use it would be, but don't want to omit it if her application will be rejected.

The instructions say to include it 'if married'/'if applicable', which I would interpret as "include if currently married/a name change causes current name to differ from birth name. Is that correct?

rehowarth wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 15, 2022 3:03 am

Hi all,

I am helping my mom apply for Irish citizenship. She has been married and divorced, so her current surname matches the one on her birth certificate. For this reason, I did not order a copy of her marriage certificate to submit with her FBR application. Is this a mistake? I don't know what use it would be, but don't want to omit it if her application will be rejected.

The instructions say to include it 'if married'/'if applicable', which I would interpret as "include if currently married/a name change causes current name to differ from birth name. Is that correct?

Think of a marriage certificate as a real piece of official evidence that a real person had a real connection with the state/government in front of real witnesses.

Hi everyone,

Delighted to say that completely out of the blue, I have received my 'confirmation of address' email from 'Team 7'.
No phone call received, just the email.

Updated timeline:

Application submitted: 17 Aug 2019
Documents received: 7 Oct 2019
Address confirmation: 17 Jan 2022
Congratulations email:
FBR cert received:

firefighter664 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 17, 2022 3:16 pm

Hi everyone,

Delighted to say that completely out of the blue, I have received my 'confirmation of address' email from 'Team 7'.
No phone call received, just the email.

Updated timeline:

Application submitted: 17 Aug 2019
Documents received: 7 Oct 2019
Address confirmation: 17 Jan 2022
Congratulations email:
FBR cert received:

Congratulations!

If I recall correctly, you were missing one piece of documentation so it's very encouraging to hear that you still got on. Good to hear that they seem to be flexible.

Thanks. I'm not fully across the line yet, but I was unable to locate a wedding certificate and included a covering letter to that effect, as they advised. I have not been contacted yet with any queries on this, which may still happen of course, but fingers crossed!

Great news to see more people get approved for the FBR.

I received my FBR certificate in the mail on January 14 so my FBR journey is officially over and I couldn't be more excited.

Last night I started my passport application and completed the online part and I am hoping today to get my documents in the mail. I am wondering if anyone on here who has applied for a passport if they sent a certified photocopy of their passport? It says to send original documents but I will need my passport so I am hoping a certified copy will be enough.

Does anyone who has gone through this experience know?

If resident outside of Ireland submit:

Original passport from another country, national ID card, social security card or a ****certified (by a solicitor or notary public) copy of your driver’s license****

Also, when you get the application form through from passport online, it states the following :-

Government issued photo identification (Copy of front and back of Public Services Card, or
original passport or National ID card from another country, or original Driving Licence). Please
note: If resident outside of the State, certified copies of ID are accepted. A copy can be certified
by a police officer, a solicitor, the witness who signs your Identity Verification Form, or by the
issuing authority.

AymanG wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 08, 2021 3:32 pm

Hi

Couple of data points that might help others with their applications. My two children applied a month apart.

Child One:
Application submitted online: 06/08//2019
Email acknowledging receipt of documentation: 03/11/2019
Confirmation of address email: 16/10/2020
2nd Confirmation of address email: 01/12/2020 (missed the first one)
Congrats email: 15/12/2020
FBR certificate received: 24/02/2021

Child Two:
Application submitted online: 09/09/2019
Email acknowledging receipt of documentation: 11/11/2019
Confirmation of address email: waiting
Congrats email: waiting
FBR certificate received: waiting

Huge delay between two applications submitted a month apart... Ironically, child two is the one that really needs it most... hoping for news soon.

Good luck everyone.

Update, Confirmation of address email for child 2 arrived today.