Can I Get Irish Citizenship If My Great-Grandparents Were Irish?

Irish citizenship rules are generous, but they do not automatically extend to great-grandparents. However, there are limited scenarios where you might still be eligible.

1. Standard Rule

You cannot claim Irish citizenship directly from a great-grandparent.

Ireland recognizes:

• Parents

• Grandparents

Not earlier generations.

2. The Exception: The “Chain of Citizenship”

You may be eligible only if:

• Your parent was registered in the Foreign Births Register

• Before you were born

In this situation:

• Great-grandparent → grandparent → parent (registered) → you

Your parent becomes the “Irish citizen” link that you inherit from.

3. When This Applies

You qualify if:

• Great-grandparent born in Ireland

• Grandparent born abroad

• Parent registered their own FBR before your birth

This is the only legal pathway through a great-grandparent.

4. When You Do NOT Qualify

You cannot qualify if:

• Your parent has not registered

• Your parent registers after your birth

• You try to skip missing links in the chain

Ireland does not allow retroactive citizenship transmission.

Bottom Line

Great-grandparents alone are not enough, unless your parent legally restored the chain before your birth.

Use CitizenIR to streamline your application.

Download the CitizenIR app for generation checks, FBR rules, and expert guidance.