My Grandparent Was Irish – Can I Get a Passport?
- misssdavis7
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
A Genealogist’s Guide to Tracing Your Irish Roots for Citizenship
As a genealogist, one of the most common enquiries I receive these days goes something like this:
“My grandparent was Irish—I’m trying to get an Irish passport. Can you help?”
The short answer is: probably—but you'll need proof. The good news is that if your grandparent was born in Ireland, you're likely eligible for Irish citizenship through descent. The slightly trickier part is gathering the documentation to prove it.
Whether you're just curious or seriously pursuing a passport, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you start your own research into Irish family history. If things get complex, that's when someone like me can step in—but you can certainly begin the journey yourself.
Step 1: Understand the Rules – Are You Eligible?
To qualify for Irish citizenship by descent:
If your parent was born in Ireland – you're automatically an Irish citizen, even if born abroad.
If your grandparent was born in Ireland, and your parent (their child) was born outside Ireland – you can apply for citizenship through the Foreign Births Register.
Great-grandparent links? You can only claim through them if your parent registered as an Irish citizen before your birth.
So, before diving into records, make sure your connection fits the eligibility criteria.
Step 2: Identify the Irish-Born Ancestor
Start by confirming who in your family tree was actually born in Ireland.
Ask yourself:
Was it your mother or father?
Or was it one of your grandparents?
Do you know where in Ireland they were born?
Do you have their full name, date of birth, or an approximate location? Even just a rough year or county is helpful.
Step 3: Search for Birth Records in Ireland
You’ll need proof of your ancestor’s Irish birth. Fortunately, many Irish civil records are online and free. Here’s where to start:
Useful Sites:
IrishGenealogy.ie – Official Irish government site. Search for birth, marriage, and death records from 1864 onwards.
Census.nationalarchives.ie – 1901 and 1911 censuses of Ireland.
FamilySearch.org – Free, global genealogy site with Irish collections.
RootsIreland.ie – Subscription site with parish records not on the free sites.
Findmypast or Ancestry – Both have extensive Irish collections.
Look for your ancestor’s civil birth record (ideally post-1864). If they were born before that, search baptismal or church records.
Step 4: Gather Other Documents
To complete a passport or citizenship application, you’ll also need to track down:
Your grandparent’s Irish birth certificate
Their marriage certificate (if applicable)
Your parent’s birth and marriage certificates
Your own birth certificate
The documentation trail must be clear and connected—each document proving the next step in the lineage.
Step 5: Can’t Find a Record? Try These Tips
Spelling matters – Names were often misspelled or anglicised.
Think phonetic – Search for variants of surnames.
Search by location if name searches aren’t working.
Check for parish records if civil ones are missing.
Use witnesses on marriage records or census households to confirm relationships.
And don’t overlook that people moved—your Irish-born ancestor may have lived in England, Scotland, the US, or elsewhere. Broaden your search.
Step 6: DNA (Optional but Helpful)
If paper trails run cold, DNA testing (like AncestryDNA or MyHeritage) can help you identify Irish relatives or confirm a connection to a particular county or region.
Need Help?
If you’ve hit a wall, are unsure about a document, or want help navigating Irish archives, that’s where we come in. We can locate hard-to-find Irish records and help build a documented lineage suitable for passport or citizenship applications.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're ready to explore your Irish roots—or need help confirming them for a passport application—head to www.unearthedhistory.co.uk and fill out the Contact Us form to get started.
Let’s bring your Irish story to light!
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