Foreign Birth Registration

[moodor]

Hi everyone,

I received my certificate yesterday, capping a journey of approximately one year from sending off my application.

Final stage is getting my passport within the next few weeks..

Application sent 15th Nov 2018, recorded delivery
Application acknowledged: 20th Feb 2019
Confirmation of address: 18th Oct 2019
Certificate received: 13th Nov 2019

[kkjak]

Hi Everyone
congratulations to whom recieved their certificate 🖐
I applied for my daughter last year in September 18
Today I received email from fbr asking for pictures of my daughter and mine, attested by the witness,
I am sure I submit the Picture but maybe they looking for new one ?

[jgclancy]

Hi Everyone
congratulations to whom recieved their certificate 🖐
I applied for my daughter last year in September 18
Today I received email from fbr asking for pictures of my daughter and mine, attested by the witness,
I am sure I submit the Picture but maybe they looking for new one ?

I'd say yes -they want more recent photos is all

jgclancy

[Lee2521]

Hi Kkjak

Second that just like JGClancy said and also most visas or passport photos normally
need to taken in the last 6 months incase your appearance changes I believe

[ChrisBKC]

Hello all,

Long time lurker here but first time poster. Thanks to all the contributors that offered useful help and advice.

Just wanted to share my good news, yesterday I officially became an Irish citizen after a 10 month wait.

A friendly chap called just before lunch to confirm my address and inform me that my application had been successful and i'd be added to the register that afternoon. (13:22 to be precise).

He apologised for the wait, explained they were now getting through the backlog and applications submitted now should see a waiting time of 6 months once again. However, they do expect demand to increase once again in the new year, due to the obvious.

It may give hope to those still waiting that applied around a similar time to me, here is my timeline:

Online application started: 17/12/2018
Application and supporting documents received (Dublin office): 22/1/2019
Address confirmation call and email confirming addition to the FBR: 14/11/2019
Certificate and documents expected back in 3-4 weeks, but should be sooner.

Next stop, Passport!

[kkjak]

They request to re-witnessed the application from with new photos,
(No photographs for applicant or parent enclosed on application form. The application form will have to be re-witnessed)

[jgclancy]

They request to re-witnessed the application from with new photos,
(No photographs for applicant or parent enclosed on application form. The application form will have to be re-witnessed)

With a different witness? Did they specify?If they want a different witness that does occur. And did you attach photos last time---DON'T?!

jgclancy

[kkjak]

I attached the photos first time 2 because without photos your application isn't complete, and the witness was Garda the local police of Ireland but they Probably lost the Pictures so

[spiderplants]

Just a heads up, a few have commented about the application form included in the FBR certificate. It looks like you can apply online now if you are in GB for the first Irish passport. I think this is a recent change because it was not available when I sent off my application.

It's €5 cheaper to apply online too, covers the postage I guess.

https://www.dfa.ie/passportonline/

Thank you. That is interesting as I've not applied for mine yet. Couldn't continue past the photos page but, presumably, you still need to get something witnessed?

[jgclancy]

I attached the photos first time 2 because without photos your application isn't complete, and the witness was Garda the local police of Ireland but they Probably lost the Pictures so

It states in the instructions NOT to attach the photos - I placed them in an envelope with backsides of a signed & unsigned photo facing each other so signatures wouldn't smear or anything.Don't attach them. They'll want the two of photos and application signed/dated/stamped(or business card) by the witness /2 unsigned photos.

jgclancy

[spelga50]

Sent my passport form off today via Passport Express in Glasgow.

Does anyone know how long it takes to start tracking online?

Currently seeing this message when I try to track it:

"The application number entered does not exist in our database. Please enter your passport application number again."

I assume it takes a few days before it arrives in Cork to start tracking the process... I hope.

Currently waiting time is 15 working days.

Applied for FBR via Edinburgh - November 2018

Email receipt - March 2019

Asked for address by FBR office - 27th September 2019

FBR certificate received (signature required) - 23rd October 2019

Posted off my Passport Application via Passport Express Glasgow - Monday 28th October

Appeared on Irish Passport Tracker - Friday 1st November

Dispatched from Passport Office in Cork - Wednesday 6th Nov

Arrived by regular post (no signature) - Saturday 9th November 2019!

That’s me all done! Best of luck to everyone.

One final note - I was given An Post tracking number for my passport but it never worked as it was actually sent by regular post so didn’t require a signature.

However, my FBR certificate came by signed post. No idea why I was given a tracking number for passport that didn’t work - Irish Post Office & Passport Office were not great help when I got worried.

Passport Express Glasgow got my passport back to me in less than 2 weeks, highly recommend.

[asamp]

Just a heads up, a few have commented about the application form included in the FBR certificate. It looks like you can apply online now if you are in GB for the first Irish passport. I think this is a recent change because it was not available when I sent off my application.

It's €5 cheaper to apply online too, covers the postage I guess.

https://www.dfa.ie/passportonline/

Thank you. That is interesting as I've not applied for mine yet. Couldn't continue past the photos page but, presumably, you still need to get something witnessed?

Yeah theres still a witness form to fill in. I still did the paper route for mine but the convenience of not having to pay for photos (which I had to get redone because they were too dark) and not having to post things twice plus the cost saving. I wish it was live when I sent my app off. That and not needing to go to the irish centre if you mess up the form is pretty super too

Oh, I guess I'll use this to say that my passport arrived today so my part of this journey is over for now. Time to sort out the fbr for the baby. Pressure is officially off though. Huge relief.

[seanhodges]

It's so reassuring to have found this forum after sending off all my precious documents into the void!

Three people in my team applied at the same time (Mar 2019). One had an Irish parent so was going straight for passport. My team leader and I were both relying on a grandparent so applied for FBR certificate.

The first guy became Irish a couple of days ago. Would have been much quicker but for a problem with marriage certificate and some crossed wires due to him using the wrong date. When finally resolved things moved quickly.

In my case I started the online process on 12 March 2019, and the receipt email for the package of documents came on the 19th March. Since then absolutely nothing, which I now am reassured to discover from this site, is normal.

I have pencilled in 19th March 2020 as the likely date for getting the FBR cert. If lucky maybe earlier!

[Lenny1463]

Hi guys, so for me finally the wait is over. Today I received an email asking me to return an email with proof of current address as I had moved house since applying back in February. I emailed back soon after and was pleased to have a reply almost immediately saying thanks and that everything is sorted and I will receive my congratulations email shortly. Within 2 minutes of that email I did receive my congratulations email and informed I will receive my cert and original Doc's back in 2 to 3 weeks. Happy to finally be at the end of that first hurdle with gaining the FBR cert.
My timeline:
06 Feb 2019 documents received in Dublin
18 Nov 2019 email to say I have bee added to the FBR register.

[Lee2521]

Hi guys, so for me finally the wait is over. Today I received an email asking me to return an email with proof of current address as I had moved house since applying back in February. I emailed back soon after and was pleased to have a reply almost immediately saying thanks and that everything is sorted and I will receive my congratulations email shortly. Within 2 minutes of that email I did receive my congratulations email and informed I will receive my cert and original Doc's back in 2 to 3 weeks. Happy to finally be at the end of that first hurdle with gaining the FBR cert.
My timeline:
06 Feb 2019 documents received in Dublin
18 Nov 2019 email to say I have bee added to the FBR register.

Great news Lenny ,
I thought you would get some great news very soon and congrats to you


Lee

[Asdf1234]

Just wanted to give an update on my son’s FBR application. My last update I had indicated that I got a confirmation of address email. I decided to phone FBR to get a tracking number for the certificate and returned documents. The agent provided me with a tracking number and informed me that my son was entered into the FBR on Oct 17. So as of right now the details are as follows:

Application received in Dublin: Dec 6, 2018
Confirmation of address email: Oct 11, 2019
Date entered into FBR: Oct 17, 2019
Certificate mailed (per tracking #): Nov 5, 2019
Date received in mail: ????

As you can see above, I still have not received my documents in the mail. I live in Western Canada so it’s to be expected that it will take a big longer. However, I am starting to get a bit nervous.

The tracking indicates that it left the Dublin mail center on Nov 5 but has not updated since then. I tried entering the tracking # into the Canada Post system but no information.

Has anyone on this message board that is Canadian received their documents in the mail? If so, how long did take?

Also, a general question for anyone, did your tracking get frequent updates? Or is it similar to mine in that it updated went the item was initially sent and then only updated on conformation of delivery?

[DebF]

This is my first post - but thanks for all the messages providing updates and reassurance!

I am proud to report that I received my FBR certificate today.

My timescales were:
- Online application submitted 20th December 2018
- Application documents posted to Dublin 28th December 2018
- DFA email acknowledgement of receipt 9th January 2019
- DFA email received 25th October 2019 advising application nearing approval and asking me to confirm my address
- Royal Mail registered delivery 19th November 2019 - collected from Royal Mail collection centre 20th November 2019
- FBR registration date confirmed as 25th October 2019.

Like the previous person, I had no communications between acknowledgement and checking my address.

Good luck to everyone who is still waiting.

[kmosfet]

Just wanted to give an update on my son’s FBR application. My last update I had indicated that I got a confirmation of address email. I decided to phone FBR to get a tracking number for the certificate and returned documents. The agent provided me with a tracking number and informed me that my son was entered into the FBR on Oct 17. So as of right now the details are as follows:

Application received in Dublin: Dec 6, 2018
Confirmation of address email: Oct 11, 2019
Date entered into FBR: Oct 17, 2019
Certificate mailed (per tracking #): Nov 5, 2019
Date received in mail: ????

As you can see above, I still have not received my documents in the mail. I live in Western Canada so it’s to be expected that it will take a big longer. However, I am starting to get a bit nervous.

The tracking indicates that it left the Dublin mail center on Nov 5 but has not updated since then. I tried entering the tracking # into the Canada Post system but no information.

Has anyone on this message board that is Canadian received their documents in the mail? If so, how long did take?

Also, a general question for anyone, did your tracking get frequent updates? Or is it similar to mine in that it updated went the item was initially sent and then only updated on conformation of delivery?

Hey,

I received an email confirming my address Oct 29th and was put into the FBR as of Nov 6th. I called today to see when I would receive the package and was told mine will be mailed out mid next week. I then asked how long it would take and was told 3-4 weeks, but it depends on Canada Post. If thats the case then you've got about 1 or 2 weeks left.

Not sure if you plan on getting the passport quickly or not. But id suggest getting that all filled out now while you wait. The turn around there is supposed to be a bit long.

[Mikekally]

Woot! Phase 1 of journey is complete, my cert arrived today!

Timeline:

• Application received directly to balbriggan from Irish address, 30th January 2019
  Confirmation email received, 29th October 2019
  Date entered on register, 31st October 2019
  Cert received, 19th November 2019

So now on to the passport, and get all the documents sent back to them for my brothers application!

Thanks to all on the forum for sharing timelines and to Sulla for tracking so carefully

[kmosfet]

Update!

Logged into the passport tracker on the 31st, it said my passport was being printed. Logged in early this morning, it's been dispatched! I only sent my application on October 15th so that is lighting fast processing time and well before their estimate of November 28th.

Very impressive!

I forgot to mention that I got my passport last week (24th), then I went online for the passport card, it was dispatched on the 28th.

Hey Luke125SWalker,

I am trying to out together your turn around time for your passport application? It looks like you got it within 5 weeks?

[Larran2019]

IT'S ARRIVED!!!!!

I'm so pleased/excited! Here is my timeline:

4th December 2018 - Application received at the London Irish Embassy
22nd February 2019 - Confirmation/Receipt email from Dublin
23rd October 2019 - Confirmation of address email
19th October 2019 - Certificate received (no congrats email before)

24th October 2019 - Date added on to register.

I'll apply for my passport now, does anyone know if the online application still has to be witnessed?

Thanks so much for all of your help, and Sully for the list making. Congrats to all the other recent certificates that I've been watching

[Larran2019]

IT'S ARRIVED!!!!!

I'm so pleased/excited! Here is my timeline:

4th December 2018 - Application received at the London Irish Embassy
22nd February 2019 - Confirmation/Receipt email from Dublin
23rd October 2019 - Confirmation of address email
19th October 2019 - Certificate received (no congrats email before)

24th October 2019 - Date added on to register.

I'll apply for my passport now, does anyone know if the online application still has to be witnessed?

Thanks so much for all of your help, and Sulla for the list making. Congrats to all the other recent certificates that I've been watching

[Sulla]

IT'S ARRIVED!!!!!


Thanks so much for all of your help, and Sulla for the list making. Congrats to all the other recent certificates that I've been watching

Warm congratulations on becoming Irish. Best of luck with the passport process.

[MikeyLondon]

I have just received the email from the DFA asking me to confirm my address!

A big thank you to the moderators and all contributors.

The discussion board kept me informed and taught me things I did not know.

Hats off to Sulla! And great of Asamp to bring the online passport service to our attention. Until very recently you could not make a first time application online from the UK.

My journey so far (and I felt I was travelling along with you all):

1) Application and payment submitted online and received 7th February 2019. The additional documentation requested I posted on the same day.

2) Application and supporting documentation received by Balbriggan 11th February 2019 (apologies Sulla, I told you it was the 12th by mistake).

3) Email asking for confirmation of my address received 20th November 2019. It said my application for entry into the Foreign Births Register will be approved shortly and a Foreign Birth Registration Certificate and original documents will be returned by registered post. It did not say congratulations (or pass GO, collect $200 or Get out of Jail Free).

I’m not quite there yet and when I am, the next step will be the passport.

When I submitted my payment and documentation back in February 2019 I naïvely thought it would be a matter of weeks before I received Citizenship and a passport (particularly given all the costs involved!) How wrong I was. Discussions and posts here put me straight and told me what to expect.

Last month I phoned the DFA (and got through in three rings) to ask about progress…they told me it would be February 2020 before I received anything.

Earlier this month I enquired via the website and got an immediate response: February 2020 again!

But I could see things were moving forward from the posts on here. Mikekally told us that Balbriggan had recruited more staff…

Then Lee2521 received his confirmation email on the 11th November 2019….and I hoped that I might be in the next batch given his application was received by Balbriggan the 6th February not long before mine.

I kept my eyes peeled and checked the spam religiously…but nothing. Then yesterday, lo and behold, there the email was!

I am extremely proud to be on the way to Citizenship and have been celebrating – but also raising a glass to you all and thinking of other applicants who have been waiting longer than me. Congratulations to all who have received confirmations and certificates!

It’s been an emotional and a moving journey for me (as it might be/have been for some others) with the digging and the delving. Knowing your roots and your history is one thing, disturbing the known and loved predecessors (that’s what it felt like to me) is quite another. And I hesitated over a year before I submitted my request. The advice I have seen here has been sterling – particularly about not hesitating and submitting the request as soon as possible!

I think it might just be time for a group hug!

Cheers,

Mike

[ChrisBKC]

IT'S ARRIVED!!!!!

I'll apply for my passport now, does anyone know if the online application still has to be witnessed?

Thanks so much for all of your help, and Sulla for the list making. Congrats to all the other recent certificates that I've been watching

Congrats to you! Feels great doesn't it!

Just awaiting my cert in the post then i'll be getting on with my passport application too.

I'm also curious to know if the online application has to be witnessed, does anyone know?