Step-by-Step Guidance

The course takes you step-by-step through engaging video lessons to trace your Irish-born grandparent and submit your citizenship application with confidence.

Focused Family Research

Practical family history research to find the Key Family Facts you need for your application.

Charts & Templates

Downloadable visual charts, fillable templates, and summary handouts to help you stay organized and monitor your progress.

Major Potential
Cost Savings

Some people choose to hire paid application support, and those services can cost thousands depending on provider and scope. Handle the process yourself with confidence.

Keep Vital
Records Secure

Keep your family’s vital records in your own hands. Gather what you need and submit your application directly to the Irish government, without handing documents over to a third party.

Flexible Learning

Access your lessons anywhere, anytime: learn at your own pace, on your own schedule.

Clarity & Convenience

Get free access to the first lesson of the five-module self-paced online course. In this preview, you will see how the course takes you from focused, practical genealogy to the Foreign Birth Registration application itself, whether you are starting from almost nothing or you already know your Irish-born grandparent’s story.

We encourage you not to be intimidated by the number of lessons. The course is comprehensive by design. Once you have gathered what we call Key Family Facts from U.S. records and what you already know, you can skip ahead to Module 4, where we review how to locate Irish vital records. If your family history is more complex, you can rely on the full set of lessons to guide you step-by-step.
EXPLORE The COURSE
01

Module 1: Course Overview

In the first module, we welcome you to Your Guide to Irish Citizenship by Descent, which is structured as a five-module self-paced online course. We explain the path ahead, while also highlighting the benefits of Irish citizenship.
02

Module 2: Irish Roots to Citizenship, Bridging the Past and Present

We’ll then take a look at how the citizenship process works and explore some helpful basic facts about Ireland’s history and geography.
03

Module 3: U.S. Genealogy Resources

Module 3 is designed to help you gather the information needed to locate your grandparent’s Irish vital records in Module 4. We will show you how to search online records from home to uncover small but important clues about your Irish family. We call these details your Key Family Facts.
04

Module 4: Locating Irish Records for Citizenship

In Module 4, we shift our focus to Ireland. You’ll learn to use online tools to find and confirm your grandparent’s Irish birth certificate and, if needed, their Irish marriage and death certificates.
05

Module 5: The Foreign Birth Registration Application

Once you’ve found the necessary information about your Irish-born grandparent and located their Irish vital records, you’ll be ready for Module 5. By the end of this module, you should have everything you need to complete and submit your application with confidence.

We’ll also provide downloadable templates for some of the key documents to make preparing your application as smooth and efficient as possible.

Your Journey

Your family's story is the roadmap. We'll help you follow it: through the records, the research, and every step of the Foreign Birth Registration application.

A Call From the Past

For some families, the records of earlier generations do more than preserve the past. They may also hold a path to Irish citizenship.

Your Clear Roadmap

You don't need a law degree – you need clear steps to explore your Irish-born grandparent's past, find required records, and prepare your Foreign Birth Registration application.

Your Gateway to Europe

One grandparent born on the island of Ireland can make you eligible to apply for Irish citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration. If you become an Irish citizen, you are also a European Union citizen.

A Window of Opportunity

As demonstrated by Italy’s 2025 changes, citizenship-by-descent programs can shift fast. If you are eligible to apply, we encourage you not to let this incredible opportunity pass you by.

A Smarter Path

Even if you hire paid support, do not expect a completely “hands-off” experience. Some steps still require your direct involvement. Our course helps you complete those same steps on your own time at a fraction of the cost, while keeping the journey meaningful.

Your Lasting Legacy

Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) can create a lasting legacy. If you successfully register before your child is born, your future children may also be eligible to apply through FBR.

An Example FBR Application Timeline

01

Discover and Confirm Family Details

Example timing: 1–3 weeks

You use our course to focus on the information that actually matters for an Irish citizenship application. Instead of building a sprawling twelve-page family tree, you gather what we call Key Family Facts from U.S. records and what your family already knows, so you can understand what details you already have and what still needs to be confirmed.

02

Collect Vital Records

Example timing: 3–6+ weeks

You order certified U.S. birth, marriage, and death records where needed, and work on locating your grandparent’s Irish birth record and other Irish vital records, if applicable. Your Guide to Irish Citizenship by Descent walks through how to search, what to order, and how to handle delays or inconsistent details from different record offices.

03

Prepare and Submit Your Application

Example timing: a few days once all records arrive

With your documents in hand, you complete the online Foreign Birth Registration form, print the application, and prepare all required documents for mailing. Using checklists and examples in the course, you assemble a clear, organized packet so you are not guessing about what to include or how to present it.
04

Wait for a Decision and Plan Next Steps

Complete and accurate submissions take around 12 months

After you mail your application, the Department of Foreign Affairs reviews your file. During this stage, you keep your contact details up to date, respond promptly if the office asks for clarification, and use the course to understand what to expect next. If your application is approved, you become an Irish citizen, and you can apply for an Irish passport.

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Disclaimer:
Irish By Descent, LLC is not affiliated with the Government of Ireland or any Irish government agency. We are a U.S.-based education company; our materials are for educational purposes only and are not legal advice.

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