Order official birth, marriage, and death certificates from government agencies for your Irish citizenship application.
For Irish citizenship applications, you must provide original documents issued by the relevant government agencies.
Don't worry – you don't need the actual certificate from decades ago! An "original" document simply means a certified copy ordered directly from the official government registrars listed below.
These newly issued certificates are legally equivalent to the historical documents and are fully accepted for citizenship applications. Photocopies or scanned documents are not acceptable.
General Register Office (GRO)
Processing Time: Usually 2-3 weeks for standard service, faster options available for additional fees.
ScotlandsPeople
Processing Time: Standard service is usually 15 working days, with express options available.
Health Service Executive (HSE)
Processing Time: Usually 2-3 weeks for standard service, with priority options available.
Identità
Processing Time: Standard processing time varies, check the portal for current estimates.
Department of Internal Affairs
Processing Time: Usually 10-15 working days for standard service, with faster options available.
Order extra copies of important documents as you may need them for multiple applications or as backups.
Processing times can vary, especially during busy periods. Order documents well in advance of your application deadline.
Verify what specific information you need before ordering. Some applications require full certificates, others may accept short versions.
Save receipts and confirmation emails as proof of your application, especially if you need to track your order.