Citizenship Applications

Wednesday, 27 May 2026

Ceisteanna (151)

John Paul O'Shea

Ceist:

151. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by Irish citizens residing abroad in obtaining official written confirmation that a child adopted overseas by an Irish citizen would be entitled to Irish citizenship under section 11 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956; if a mechanism exists through the passport service, Irish embassies, or another appropriate authority to issue such declarations or confirmations for use by foreign adoption authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40429/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Citizenship may be obtained in a number of ways, including by birth, descent, naturalisation and, also, adoption. Section 11 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 provides for citizenship of adopted children. Section 11(1) provides as follows:

“Upon an adoption order being made, under an adoption order within the meaning of section 3 (1) of the Adoption Act 2010 or an intercountry adoption effected outside the State being recognised within the meaning of that Act in a case in which the adopter or, where the adoption is by a married couple, either spouse is an Irish citizen, the adopted child, if not already an Irish citizen, shall be an Irish citizen.”

Irish adoptive parent(s) are required to register an intercountry adoption with the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) as the adoption needs to be recognised and shown to be compliant under Irish law. More information is available on their website at: https://aai.gov.ie/en/who-we-are/inter-country.html.

Following the registration, Irish adoptive parent(s) may then apply to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for an Irish passport for the adopted children.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the above outlined process is not a matter for my Department and the issues raised have not come to the attention of my Department.