(Data provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs on February 9th 2026 in response to a Freedom of Information request from Creeore.com)
Applications for Irish citizenship through the Foreign Births Register (FBR) have increased by 95% between 2022 and 2025, reaching record levels.
Under Ireland’s citizenship-by-descent framework, individuals born outside the State may claim Irish citizenship if their grandparent was born in Ireland, even where both the applicant and their parent were born abroad. Registration in the Foreign Births Register confers full Irish citizenship and eligibility for an Irish passport.
The scale and persistence of recent growth suggests structural, not temporary, change.
Total Applications Nearly Double in Three Years
Applications rose from 27,694 in 2022 to 54,097 in 2025 — an increase of 26,403.
Year-on-year growth has remained strong:
- 2023: +27%
- 2024: +22%
- 2025: +26%
This consistent acceleration indicates sustained global demand rather than a single event-driven spike.
Ireland’s Passport Ranked Strongest in the World in 2025
Ireland’s appeal is reinforced by the strength of its passport. In 2025, the Irish passport was ranked the strongest in the world by the Nomad Passport Index, reflecting its combination of visa-free travel access, taxation environment, global mobility rights, and personal freedoms.
This ranking enhances the strategic value of Irish citizenship, particularly for applicants seeking international mobility and long-term optionality.
Great Britain: Brexit Continues to Shape Demand
Great Britain remains the largest source of applications:
- 2022: 15,573
- 2025: 26,083
The surge in UK applications was initially driven by Brexit, which removed automatic EU citizenship rights from British nationals. Under the EU Withdrawal Agreement of 2021, British citizens who were lawfully resident in an EU country on January 1st 2021, continue to have broadly the same rights to live, work, study and access benefits as they did before Brexit.
Post Brexit British Retirees to Southern Europe Face Onerous Visa Qualification Obligations
However, deeper structural effects are now visible, as British nationals who want to retire and reside permanently in Southern Europe are obliged to fulfill more onerous criteria when applying for a long-stay visa.
British nationals who retired to Spain, Portugal and other EU destinations now face more onerous long-stay visa requirements, including:
- Mandatory private medical insurance (covering €30k if moving to Spain)
- Proof of minimum income thresholds (€30k for a single person if moving to Spain)
- Working/Self Employed Visas (require a valid approved job offer or a detailed business plan)
- Administrative renewal procedures
For individuals with Irish-born grandparents, reclaiming EU citizenship through Ireland provides a permanent solution to residency uncertainty.
Employment Barriers in Transport and Shipping
Brexit has also affected occupational mobility. British workers in:
- Passenger transport
- Merchant shipping
- Road haulage and freight
have encountered restrictions when seeking fixed-term contract roles within EU member states. Irish citizenship restores full EU labour market access.
Growth from Great Britain remains significant, although annual increases have moderated since the initial Brexit spike.
United States: Fastest Growth and Oldest Applicants
The United States has recorded the fastest growth:
- 2022: 6,984
- 2025: 18,910
- Growth since 2022: +171%
Annual acceleration has intensified:
- 2023: +11%
- 2024: +50%
- 2025: +63%
Demographic Profile
US applicants are also the oldest cohort:
- Female: 42 years
- Male: 40 years
This suggests that American applicants are typically mid-career professionals or established adults seeking long-term geopolitical diversification.
Several drivers appear relevant:
- Shifts in the US political landscape
- Growing interest in EU mobility rights
- Increased remote working flexibility
- High-profile awareness generated by public figures such as comedian Rosie O’Donnell, who publicised her own application
Additionally, word-of-mouth effects are significant. Successful applicants frequently inform extended family members and social networks, creating multiplier effects within Irish diaspora communities.
Canada, Australia and New Zealand: Younger Cohorts Planning Early
Canada and Australia show strong growth (+160% and +133% respectively since 2022), with Canada growing strongly in 2025, while New Zealand experienced an early spike before stabilisation.
Average applicant ages are notably lower:
- Canada: approximately 31 years
- Australia / New Zealand / EU (excl. Ireland): 23–26 years
These profiles suggest early-career mobility planning and long-term EU access strategies.
“Rest of World”: Evidence of Parental Applications for Minors
The “Elsewhere” category has the lowest average age at approximately 20 years.
Given that minors may be registered by parents, this strongly implies that many applications are being made on behalf of children under 18.
This reflects an increasingly strategic approach: securing EU citizenship early to guarantee future education, employment and residency rights.
Administrative Reform: Processing Times Reduced to Nine Months
In response to increased demand, the Irish government has expanded staffing and resources within the Foreign Births Register unit.
Processing times, which previously extended up to two years in some periods, have improved significantly. The current target processing time has been reduced to approximately nine months.
This operational improvement may itself reinforce demand by reducing uncertainty and encouraging eligible applicants to proceed.
Network Effects and Diaspora Momentum
An important secondary driver is informational diffusion. As more individuals successfully obtain Irish citizenship, awareness spreads organically among families and diaspora communities.
Given Ireland’s extensive emigrant history, this creates compounding demand dynamics. Each successful registration increases the likelihood of additional applications within extended family networks.
Conclusion: A Structural Shift in Diaspora Citizenship
The 95% increase in Foreign Births Register applications between 2022 and 2025 reflects overlapping forces:
- Brexit and its regulatory consequences
- Political and economic uncertainty in the United States
- Ireland’s top global passport ranking
- Improved administrative processing
- Demographic shifts toward earlier citizenship planning
- Word-of-mouth amplification within diaspora communities
Taken together, these factors suggest that demand for Irish citizenship by descent is likely to remain elevated in the medium term.
Ireland’s citizenship-by-descent provisions, once viewed primarily as a heritage mechanism, are increasingly functioning as a strategic mobility instrument in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.
Are You Eligible to apply for Irish Citizenship via the Foreign Birth Register?
You are entitled to apply for Irish citizenship by having your birth registered on Ireland’s Foreign Birth Register if you and your parents were born outside the island of Ireland but you have an Irish born grandparent.
You are also entitled to apply for Irish citizenship if your parent’s birth was added to the Foreign Birth Register before you were born.