Irish Citizen by right?

Question

Alright, so this Irish Citizenship thing is giving me a headache. My dad was born in Ireland (technically Northern Ireland but on what I've read that qualifies him as both Irish and British... right? wrong?), I was born in Canada and my dad was married to my mom at the time, as that seems to matter... I would like an Irish passport as I am planning on moving over there and being an EU member would have its perks. What needs to happen? Some of what I read indicates I am an Irish Citizen by right, other things indicate that I'm an irish citizen by descent. Ahhhh!

Answer 1

For you to claim your Irish Citizenship your dad needs to claim his. All your dad has to do is apply for an Irish passport. Then he can request for your citizenship. You qualify because your father is Irish. My husband was born in Northern Ireland so he is both British and Irish. We got married in America but because he had his Irish passport after three years all I had to do is apply for an Irish passport. I am now an Irish Citizen. The laws have been changing there because of all the illegal immigrants having thier kids there and trying to claim themselves citiizens because of the kids. Look into  getting citizenship based on parent citizenship. It will be hard if your dad does not get an Irish passport proving his birth right. Good luck.

Answer 2

This has gotten a bit confusing, so here goes:

Not everyone on the island of Ireland is entitled to a Republic of Ireland (Eire to avoid confusion) passport.

Anyone born before 1921 is entitled to either Eire or UK (including N Ireland) citizenship.

Nowadays, you have to have a parent or grandparent with Eire citizenship to qualify. In your case, you may be entitled to be an Irish citizen by descent, but not by right.

You will only be entitled to this if your dad already had an Eire passport at the time of your birth. If he did not, your grandparent may qualify you. If your grandparents did not have Eire citizenship, you will not be eligible.

Northern Ireland (UK) & Republic of Ireland citizenships are not interchangeable.

UK and Eire citizenships are equally valuable in terms of coming to the EU.

I hope this helps. Check out the link below for the Eire Government website for a fairly lucid summary of the issues.

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Answer 3

You are entitled to a british citizenship, but not an irish one, northern ireland and the republic and completely different

Answer 4

If either of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, then you are automatically an Irish citizen, irrespective of your place of birth.  

So if your Dad is an Irish Citizen then you are too.

Answer 5

Well, the UK is also a member of the EU, so from that point of view it really doesn't matter.

You'll need a birth certificate for your father, in any case.

But I would suggest phone the Irish Embassy or Consulate in your country and asking THEM.  

Answer 6

Anyone born on the island of Ireland, regardless if they are i the North or the South is entitled to an Irish passport.  I have one as I was born Co. Antrim. In addition, children of anyone born in Ireland are allowed Irish passports too. I have multiple friends from the North who have had children born in the USA which means their children are dual irish/usa citizens.  You have the option in Northern Ireland to choose Irish or British citizenship.

I think you are entitled to an Irish passport.  I went to university in the UK with an american guy whose father was born in Northern Ireland...anyway....his father left when he was 10 but when my friend started looking at colleges he was able to get an irish passport and claim EU status even though he was American (it cut his university fees way down) and he had no contact with his father.  If he could do it there is no reason why you couldn't.  I'd try and lcoate an Irish Embassy near to you in Canada and ask them directly.

Look up your father's birth certificate.  If you cannot locate it you can order a new one through this website: http://www.groni.gov.uk/index.htm

Good luck