GLASGOW’S Brexit Day message is class, makes you proud of the city…
Since it is the Day of Infamy it might be worthwhile reminding you all of that it could be possible to maintain your status as an EU Citizen by applying for an Irish passport. Obviously the other way to get it back is via Scotland voting for Independence and re-joining the EU and that no doubt is a battle that will be fought sometime over the next few years.
It looks like the momentum is swinging in favour of a Yes vote judging by the most recent polls.
At the start of October last year I asked my sister to write for The Celtic Star – remarkably she’s the only female to have done so to date (come on Ghirls, let’s be hearing from you – you could start by emailing editor@thecelticstar.co.uk if you fancy giving it a go) – about her experience in applying for an getting an Irish passport.
Here’s how to go about it and there’s also a follow up when we received some feedback, from rather unexpected sources!
My new Irish Passport, ‘I first became aware of Europe as a concept in May 1967’ – Did you have an Irish Grandparent?
My older sister has just successfully applied for an Irish passport, so sickened is she with the entire Brexit shambles and this little Englander Government backed up by their DUP sidekicks. She is a top lawyer and her advice doesn’t come cheap but today it’s available to members of the wider Celtic family who are readers on The Celtic Star absolutely free of charge.
If like many Celtic Supporters, you have an Irish grandparent then you could get yourself an Irish passport to go alongside your current one, which many of us will want to change to a Scottish one in the not too distant future. There are of course tens of thousands of Celtic Supporters who are English and have a grandparent who was Irish – they don’t have the prospect of an Indy Ref 2 to save the day! This article might not be for you, but you may know someone who could be eligible and interested in pursuing this Brexit busting option which will allow you to remain an EU citizen.
There will be Celtic Supporters reading this in Britain who have a grandparent from other EU countries – Poland for example – and they can pursue this option via the relevant Embassy, as the rules below specifically relate to Ireland.
One other point to mention, as we all know there are two distinct communities in the six counties and both are actually eligible to get an Irish passport. So if for instance you have a Rangers supporting friend (or spouse) and they have a grandparent from the Unionist side of the place they call Northern Ireland then that person is also eligible to apply for an Irish passport. It’s a funny old world!
Anyway, I’ll hand over to my sister, Ann, who will talk you through the process of getting your Irish passport. If this is of assistance to a few fellow Celtic Supporters then it will be well worth publishing. If anyone has any questions drop me an email to editor@thecelticstar.co.uk and I’ll try to get you an answer…
Three Steps to an Irish Passport and why you should consider doing this…
My grandfather was Irish and like so many of his generation from across Europe, he unwittingly left an important right to his children and grandchildren. The right to his nationality. In the current political crisis, this right is proving to be a lifeline to many of my generation. Why?
Well, I first became aware of Europe as a concept in May 1967, like a lot of children in the Glasgow conurbation. I then grew up during a period in which Europe provided the framework for our collective national identities, our laws, our culture and our security. I feel deeply that I am European and I want to protect that identity. The world feels a lot less secure now so I am very grateful to have had the option of obtaining Irish citizenship.
Many UK citizens want to retain their European status for various reasons. They may already live in Europe, or have family and close friends there. They may own property in Europe. Their work may involve frequent European travel. They may enjoy holidaying, travelling for business or to watch Celtic or working in Europe. They must simply resent losing their ‘European’ rights for no obvious benefit. And so the descendants of Irish immigrants, German refugees and others find themselves reconnecting with their personal histories.
Celtic fans in Rennes last month
As time passes, you become more interested in and connected to your family history. What my grandfather’s generation faced and endured in the early 20 century as economic migrants to Scotland. We are still managing the consequences of the hostility that they suffered, as most economic migrants still face today. I think Europe was good for Ireland so I will carry my Irish passport with pride, not only as a proud European but as a proud descendant of my grandfather’s generation.
Besides, is it an old Irish saying that it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it? And who knows what we might need in the future?
So if you are thinking of applying for Irish citizenship, here are some practical tips about navigating the application processes.
Step 1: Gather the Documents
You should start by collecting the documents you need to establish your right to Irish citizenship under the Foreign Birth Registration(FBR) process, which, once granted, entitles you to apply for an Irish passport.
Birth, marriage and death certificates need to be the originals or official copies from the relevant National Records Office.
Registration Links:
Ireland
http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/General-Register-Office.aspx/Pages/VariationRoot.aspx
Scotland
http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/
England/Wales
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/
Some of your documents have to be certified and signed by a lawyer (or other professional – see list on application form). Whoever certifies your documents will be telephoned by the FBR Department before your application is approved.
You will need 6 identical passport photographs.
For the FBR application, you need:-
Grandparent’s birth certificate,
Grandparent’s marriage certificate,
Grandparent’s death certificate,
Parent’s birth certificate,
Parent’s marriage certificate,
Certified copy of parent’s passport (if none, a certified copy of their current bus pass) or their death certificate,
Your birth certificate,
Your marriage certificate(s),
Any divorce certificates(s),
Certified copy of your passport,
Proof of UK residence – Council Tax Notice and 2 x Utility Bills (within 6 months prior to your application date), and
2 passport photos, signed by your lawyer.
For the passport application, you need:-
Your FBR certificate,
Your birth certificate
Your civil marriage certificate (if married name is different to your birth name),
Official photo ID – certified copy of your passport or driving licence,
Proof of name, eg Utility Bill,
Proof of address, eg recent bank statement, and
4 passport photos, 2 of which to be signed by your lawyer
Step 2: Application for Foreign Birth Registration (FBR)
The FBR application is submitted on line. Follow the link below to
Complete the application form;
Pay the fee (mine was €278);
Submit the form; and
Print a copy of the submitted form.
Your printed copy of the form includes a checklist of the documents to be submitted by you . Review the checklist against your documents and if ok, sign and date the checklist.
You then take the printed application form, the signed checklist and all of your documents to a lawyer who must:
Witness you signing section D of the form;
Complete section E of the form;
Sign your 2 passport photos;
Certify copies of documents (eg passports) against the originals;
Indicate on the form that you are personally known to him;
Provide his business address and phone number.
The completed and witnessed hard copy of the application form, together with all of your documents are then posted to
Foreign Births Registration
PO Box 13003
Balbriggan
Co Dublin
T +353 1 408 2555
Don’t hand in your application to the Irish Embassy in Edinburgh as it takes much longer.
When the application has been accepted, you will receive an email advising when a decision is likely, possibly 6 months. If they are granting your FBR, they will call your lawyer and email you to check your current address. You will then receive your FBR, your documents and a passport application form by registered mail.
Step 3: Passport Application
You complete the hard copy of the passport application form and take it to your lawyer with the documents listed in step 1 above. Your lawyer must:
Witness your signature in section 8;
Complete section 9;
Provide a business card if he doesn’t have a professional Stamp;
Certify your photo ID (eg copy of passport)
Sign 2 of the 4 passport photos – but all 4 photos to be submitted.
Retain the barcode sticker from the application form for reference purposes. My fee for the express service below was £81.
Your application form with the documents and photos can be posted to
Cork Passport Office
PO Box 907
South City DSU
Cork
Ireland
T12 C825
Alternatively you can use the express service which is available at 2 post offices in the UK:
Glasgow Post Office
140 West Nile Street
Liverpool Post Office
1-3 South John Street
Only Glasgow and Liverpool? Now why would that be?
Ann
4 October 2019
After that was published we got loads of enquiries and put together a follow up article. However I should point out that the headline we used (below) was incorrect. We stated that the two people we were referring to were from each side of the Glasgow Derby divide. It turned out that wasn’t right at all – both were supporters of the Rangers!…here goes.
Irish Passport – A Rangers fan’s Insight and a valuable update from a Celtic supporter
YESTERDAY’S article by my sister on The Celtic Star, ‘My new Irish Passport, ‘I first became aware of Europe as a concept in May 1967’ – Did you have an Irish Grandparent? has been widely read and I’ve had great feedback from readers.
Thought that there are two responses worth sharing, one from a Rangers supporter from Belfast now living in Australia and another from a Celtic supporter who has just gone through the process and has some additional information that is a valuable addition to the advice that was given to you yesterday.
Let’s start with a message from Michael Williams who now lives in Brisbane, Australia…
I grew up in Belfast (as a ‘Rangers supporter’ as you delicately put it) before moving to Australia.
Everything associated with the sectarian nonsense quickly disappeared (not the case with a lot of others, I have to say).
I was appalled by brexit and applying for an Irish passport this year. My eldest daughter (whose mother made her a ‘Celtic supporter’) will get one too, which will make travel in Europe and spending time living in Ireland incredibly easy.
It feels wonderful that the ingorance in and around the brexit debacle will have no effect on my or my children’s freedom.
My Dad still recommended not flashing the passport to my relatives when visiting Belfast next week.
Thanks for the article.
Michael Williams
Brisbane, Australia
Next is some important additional advice from Ian Reynolds, who has also just completed the process of getting his Irish passport. Here’s what Ian has to add to the overall advice…
I refer to the write up by your sister about getting an Irish Passport.
Having just completed the process there are a few discrepancies which you might like to note.
Processing time for entry into the Foreign Birth Register is currently circa 12 months for applicants submitting their application direct to Dublin. It can be shorter for those applicants living in relatively small countries where the Irish Embassy is permitted to process FBR applications.
Issuing of a passport once the FBR has been issued is quite a short process. Typically 3 weeks (mine was done by post and took 16 days in total). No real need to use Passport Express.
My total time from receipt of my submission to Dublin for my FBR and getting my passport was 402 days (1 year 1 month and 6 days).
I think you perhaps could have included this important point. Anyone who has a parent born on the Island of Ireland is automatically an Irish Citizen. They simply just apply for a passport – no FBR is required.
Additionally, please note children born to people already on the FBR will have their Irish heritage line protected. Children born before the applicant is admitted to the FBR will not. This is important and the subtlety of this is lost on many. My advice on this point is that parents should put their children on the FBR BEFORE the children grow up and they have children.
Females who are pregnant when they apply for FBR should flag this point up on their application in order that the process is shortened to protect the heritage line of the unborn child.
Your sister says “Whoever certifies your documents will be telephoned by the FBR Department before your application is approved.”
Suggested amendment: “Whoever certifies your documents may be telephoned by the FBR Department before your application is approved.”
Also a new one on me is the requirement for the parents death certificate to be certified. Not seen this.
Further advice
FBR applicants should not procrastinate. Sooner your application is lodged the sooner the process will be completed. The online application is quite straightforward and logical (easier to follow than the explanation notes).
Just make sure all the required documents are to hand. If you are short of a certificate or two don’t wait for a relative to give you it. Just go online and buy a fresh cert. This is the biggest cause of delay waiting for a brother/sister/mum/dad/aunt/uncle to dig out a certificate.
There is quite a useful discussion thread here.
https://www.immigrationboards.com/ireland/foreign-birth-registration-t277641-1320.html
Regards
Ian
As mentioned yesterday, I understand that this subject may not be of interest to everyone, but judging by the emails received yesterday, a significant numbers of our readers – including some Rangers fans – have found this to be useful.
Many readers on here will be looking to have an Irish and a Scottish passport over the next few years. Perhaps our day will come…any questions or comments, please email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk
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