Irish citizenship by descent and the Foreign Births Register
Here is the honest answer most sites get wrong: Ireland’s Foreign Births Register does not ask for an apostille — it asks for original civil certificates. You usually only need Irish-related apostilles for other processes, such as marrying in Ireland or using Irish documents abroad.
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If you qualify for Irish citizenship through a grandparent, you register on the Foreign Births Register (FBR) run by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs. Their published requirements ask for original, government-issued civil records — your birth certificate, your parent’s and the Irish-born grandparent’s certificates, marriage certificates linking the names — not apostilled copies. Photocopies and church baptismal records are not accepted.
So why is this page here? Because people assume every foreign document process needs an apostille, order one they do not need, and delay themselves. We would rather tell you plainly: for a standard FBR application, you do not need us. Keep your originals clean and legible and follow the Department’s checklist.
Where we do help is the adjacent paperwork. If you are getting married in Ireland, using a Canadian document inside the Irish system, or a specific office has asked you in writing for an apostille, then an Ontario apostille is the right tool and we can file it same-day. If you are unsure whether your situation is FBR or something else, call before you order.
Documents this situation needs
- Your original long-form birth certificateFBR wants the original, not an apostille
- Your Irish-born grandparent’s birth certificateoriginal civil record
- Linking marriage certificatesto connect the names down the line
- Apostilleonly if a specific Irish process — not the FBR — asks for one
Realistic timeline
- FBR application (handled by you, not us)
- Processing times set by Ireland’s DFA
- If you genuinely need an Ontario apostille
- Same business day when dropped before 10 AM
All-in cost
For a standard Foreign Births Register application there is nothing for us to bill — you do not need an apostille. If a separate Irish process requires one, Ontario authentication starts at $170 for the first document.
Before you order — confirm your specifics
Requirements can change and edge cases exist — a registrar or solicitor in Ireland may ask for an apostille in a situation the general FBR guidance does not cover. Always follow the written instruction you were given, and call us if it mentions authentication or an apostille.
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Number of documents
First document included · $50 each additional
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FAQ
Irish citizenship: common questions
Sources
We cite the authorities that set these requirements. Rules change and edge cases exist, so always confirm the current checklist with the authority handling your file before you order.
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- Emailken@speedyapostille.ca
- HoursMon–Fri 9:00–18:00 · Sat by appointment
- Service areaToronto & Greater Toronto Area
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Text us a photo of your document and we'll reply with the exact price and turnaround — from $170, government fee included, often the same business day. No call required.