How long does Irish Foreign Births Registration take, and when do I become a citizen?

A completed Foreign Births Registration application generally takes in the order of nine months to process, though timelines vary with demand and the completeness of your file. Incomplete documentation is a frequent cause of delay.

You are considered an Irish citizen from the date you are entered on the register, not from when you first applied. This entry date is what matters for passing citizenship to children born afterward, which is why it is wise to apply well ahead of any family plans.