Foreign Birth Registration?

[Court2]

Completed my online application & paid my 278 euros yesterday.
Final screen was as below.
Posted my documents direct to Ballybriggan today.
Hopefully, the process will speed up now that UK applicants no longer have to send everything to the Irish Embassy in London.

“Foreign Birth Registration
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade processes applications for Foreign Birth Registration (citizenship by descent).
Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process often involving official documentation related to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Along with an increase in the number of applications received, an increase of incomplete applications has also been seen. Approximately 50% of applications received are not complete. Applications requiring clarification or further documents take longer to process. In addition, these incomplete applications delay the processing of the complete applications.

Applications generally take 5-6 months to process from the time all the required documentation has been submitted to the Foreign Births Registration team. In 2018, 88% of applications for Foreign Birth Registration were processed within six months.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has responded to increased demand by creating a new, dedicated Foreign Birth Registration team, by reviewing and streamlining our processes, introducing improvements for efficiency and security. The new processes being introduced will create efficiencies to allow us to manage the increased volume of applications. These improvements will be rolled out in the coming weeks and months.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade recently established a centralised Customer Service Hub to manage all queries related to foreign birth registration/ citizenship by descent, and passport applications. To improve our service to our customers, and to ensure that we are compliant with GDPR and Data Protection legislation, communication with our customers is now received via our LiveChat service and by phone instead of by email.

Our Embassy in London and Consulate General in Edinburgh no longer process Foreign Birth Registration, as these have been centralised to the Foreign Birth Registration team in Dublin. Queries regarding applications for Foreign Birth Registration should be directed to our Customer Service Hub, where they will be handled by telephone or LiveChat.

7 February 2019”

If anything, the process has significantly slowed down before and after the move. No one has reported good news on this site for months now and several members including myself are at the 6 month mark now having received no email notification and when contacting the DFA via phone or webchat receive generic replies that our applications are in the system.

[moodor]

Hi there,

Just an update from me having today spoken to the FBR team on the phone.

I applied on 14th November 2018 and sent in all paperwork straightaway. My application was formally acknowledged on email on 20th February 2019.

The guy on the helpline told me that it should be around 10-11 months in total, from the moment you apply (for me, Nov) to being on the register.

Not sure if that helps.

[accountname]

Excellent news, in a sense! Of course, bumping to a 10/11 month figure eats up the difference anyway, but at least that phrasing sounds like it's not an extra 3 months for the delay in acknowledging receipt. Was probably going to be a while until I got round to contacting them so thanks for sharing.

[Besha]

Long time lurker, first time poster adding my story to the all-too-common pile!

Applying via paternal Grandfather, sadly deceased long before I was born.

02.12.18 - application submitted
*minutes later* - the horrible realisation that we didn’t have civil certificates of my grandparents’ marriage and my Dad’s birth
12.12.18 - replacements received (marriage certificate from Ireland, birth certificate from the UK)
13.12.18 - photos taken, application witnessed and posted off
14.12.18 - documents received at London Embassy
15.01.19 - sent off web enquiry to confirm documents had been received
22.01.19 - email response received to confirm everything had been sent to Dublin
22.02.19 - email confirmation that application has been received for processing

And here we are! I’m not expecting to get anything prior to July/August and am trying to remain chill despite having a bit of a need for it; my other half lives and works in Stockholm and I’m expecting to move from the UK to Sweden this year. I’d quite like for it to be as stress free as possible!

I think it’s utterly ridiculous people who applied months before me got confirmation the same day I did but I totally appreciate that they’re doing their best.

I was financially in a position to do this about a year ago (before I was with my other half) and chose not to. I’m definitely kicking myself now but this is the position I’m in and I guess there’s not much point in stressing too much! Hopefully they’ll get into a groove and we’ll get a wave of good news soon!

[pistashio]

I have been following this forum to see how other peoples FBR journey compares to mine. It seems I am not the only one who has been waiting since July last year. I thought I'd sign up to share my experience.

End of July 2018 - Application submitted online and posted to the embassy in London.

Early November 2018 - Email received from dfa requesting the post office receipts from when my ID documents were certified. My brother who had his application approved at the beginning of 2018 never submitted these. I do not recall ever seeing anything that stated they were required. If anyone is using the post office it may be wise to include the receipt to avoid any further delays.

Early December 2018 - Emailed dfa to check whether the documents were received. Received a response to say they were and that my application was submitted for decision on 30th November.

I heard nothing throughout December or January.

Early February 2019 - I emailed to check on the status of my application to be given some good news. I was told my registration was successful and I am a citizen as of 13th December 2018. However due to pressure from increased applications my certificate has not yet been printed. I was assured my certificate and documents would be back with me soon.

Well here I am, early March, still no certificate or original documents. I intend on chasing them up again this week. How can it take so long to print a certificate?

[Michael123]

Called to see if any updates.. was told will not be added to the FBR until Aug or Sept, that is now 12-13 months. Considering an application withdrawal, I could use the money for something else rather than play cat and mouse with these people. I was told up to 6 months, then 8, 10 and now a min of a year?!? Not worth it, I can still go there without an Irish Passport, I can use the FBR money towards airfare.

[Court2]

They claim that their office move has improved efficiency. Certainly nothing seen to evidence that on this forum, if anything it’s got worse.

[Michael123]

They claim that their office move has improved efficiency. Certainly nothing seen to evidence that on this forum, if anything it’s got worse.

Agreed. When I applied in Aug the wait was 4 months, now according to the latest its triple that.

[Sulla]

Michael,

That's just appalling. I feel annoyed just reading of your plight. There is no doubt in my mind that staff in the department have not been doing their job properly. This is quite clear from the massive discrepancy in the processing times for applications received on or around the same date. It is compounded by the fact that they do not follow their own procedures for quickly returning incomplete applications and instead choose to use their time to deal with helping applicants who failed to follow a very simple set of instructions. That this is to the detriment of all other applicants does not seem to factor into their decision making process.

As to the notion of withdrawing your application, I urge you not to. You are already in the system and the FBR will come through eventually. Second nationalities and passports are to be valued. It may come in very useful one day for work or travel purposes. Admittedly, there is little current difference between the visa free access afforded by the US and Irish passports - entry to Iran and Mongolia not being high on most folks priority list. However, things could change in the future and don't forget that career wise the Irish passport allows you to live / work anywhere in the EU. The fee for FBR is minuscule compared to what CBI schemes (like St. Kitts) involve. It's really worth holding on.

[Sulla]

As a general update on my own situation, I still await the arrival of the FBR certificate. It should be in the post from Dublin either already or in the next 2-3 days. If the embassy was accurate in their communication, it ought to be with me in a week or so.

It has been observed previously that they seem to print FBR certificates in batches. Therefore, it is probable that this forum may see quite a few applicants receive their certificate at approximately the same time.

Fingers crossed.

[WillQR]

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd add my timeline:

Submitted my application to the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi July 2018.

In January 2019 I was told the DFA had told all foreign embassies to stop processing applications in December 2018. As of today that advice still stands. So far my application has not even begun processing.

Applications made at foreign embassies are seemingly on-hold until new guidelines are issued by the passport office.

[spiderplants]

In January 2019 I was told the DFA had told all foreign embassies to stop processing applications in December 2018.

Oh, dear. That's a new plot twist. I can fully understand that their priority is current Irish citizens and extra applications shouldn't create delays for them. But I've not heard this line before.

Wish I'd done it all a year earlier when I had the paperwork.

[pistashio]

Following on from my post yesterday, I have just got off the phone with the FBR team. My certificate was printed on the 4th March and will take approximately 3 weeks to be posted back to the UK. Hopefully many more of you here have had your certificates printed in this batch

[Larran2019]

I've seen a fair few people mention status tracking and I just wanted to know at what point in the process are you able to view status/tracking? I posted my FBR application off in December 2018 and had the confirmation email from Dublin in February 2019 - so just wondering if you're then emailed a tracking link some time after?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

[PasadenaTom]

I've seen a fair few people mention status tracking and I just wanted to know at what point in the process are you able to view status/tracking?

There is no online tracking status view for FBR. That only exists for passport applications. I received an email when Dublin received my FBR application. The next "update" was when my certificate arrived in the mail.

[Larran2019]

I've seen a fair few people mention status tracking and I just wanted to know at what point in the process are you able to view status/tracking?

There is no online tracking status view for FBR. That only exists for passport applications. I received an email when Dublin received my FBR application. The next "update" was when my certificate arrived in the mail.

That's a shame..thanks for letting me know!

[DanaMarie]

Hi everyone! Adding my info to this post for tracking. I submitted my application and supporting docs based on my grandmother's citizenship, my application is complete but I expect a request for additional documents as my grandparents were never married but my grandmother took my grandfather's last name and presented herself as married/widowed for the duration of her life beginning shortly prior to the birth of my father's eldest brother. Apparently this was not terribly uncommon in the early 1900s but may complicate things? My attorney crafted an affidavit stating our belief that they were never legally married and presented the evidence to that effect. I supplied my grandfather's birth certificate in lieu as specified. Furthermore my parents were not married (seems to be a trend in the family!) so I submitted my mother's birth certificate as specified as well. The application is based on my paternal relatives. Fingers very firmly crossed!

FedEx to Dublin from US with application and docs: 23 January 2019
Receipt email from DFA: 29 January 2019. States processing time up to 6 months.

[nic123]

I phoned today to be told they are approving a batch at the end of March and to call back beginning of April if I haven't received an email & told how busy and inundated with applications. (I applied June 2018).

In February I was told if I hadn't heard in 2 weeks to call back.

Not holding my breath.

[james_mcfc]

Hi James,

I'm afraid the status is no more useful than the progress bar...

My application was received 25/1/19 - estimated issue date 15/2/19.

Since 15/2/19 to date, the status of my application has remained as "Processing Application", and the estimated issue date is unchanged.

I had a webchat with the DFA on 26/2/19. After checking my details, they said that there was a MINIMUM wait of 48 working days for 1st-time GB applicants, which correlates with the statement on waiting times on their website.

It would appear that their passport checking service just consists of a simple timer & progress bar which counts 3 weeks from the received date, which is the usual period taken to process uncomplicated applications and therefore is of no use to those of us who don't fit that profile.

48 days would mean that the earliest I mght receive my passport is the first week of April.

Zippy12

HI Zippy,

Just in case you’d not had any more info I thought I’d share a small update of my own re my application, my witness just contacted me to advise that the Passport Service had contacted him to verify his details and that he witnessed my application. No idea how advanced this means my application is at this stage (the tracking hasn’t changed) but I’m hopeful that it might be before the 50 working days they stipulate for 1st time GB applicants.

James

[Jaxx22]

In January 2019 I was told the DFA had told all foreign embassies to stop processing applications in December 2018. As of today that advice still stands. So far my application has not even begun processing.

^ this is interesting, I submitted my application last month and I had to send it to the local embassy, I wonder why they are still getting people to do this if they are not dealing with them any longer as this just wastes more time surely?

I have heard nothing, I only know the embassy collected the documents because I tracked it online but I was supposed to get an acknowledgement of this from the local post office - well that is the service I paid for anyway but didn't get that either.

I wonder how long I should wait before I contact the embassy to check they received it and do they still have it or have sent it to Ireland to sit in a queue.

Micheal123 - Don't withdraw your application, you have waited this long so far it would seem a shame to give up on it now. I do understand how frustrated you are about it and how you could use the fee for something else - I do agree that it does cost a lot of money and that isn't including getting all the documents and signatures needed - that is why is it so frustrating that there is no way of tracking the application with current technology and the fact you can only apply online!

It does seem that their move has slowed down the process rather than improve things.

I should have done all this earlier but because I moved countries (hence needing to keep my EU status) I had to delay applying for it.

I am quite stunned at how people have been told they have been added on to the FBR but are still waiting for a return of documents and a certificate weeks later.

[zippy12]

HI Zippy,

Just in case you’d not had any more info I thought I’d share a small update of my own re my application, my witness just contacted me to advise that the Passport Service had contacted him to verify his details and that he witnessed my application. No idea how advanced this means my application is at this stage (the tracking hasn’t changed) but I’m hopeful that it might be before the 50 working days they stipulate for 1st time GB applicants.

James

Hi James,

I have some news too I checked my application yesterday (6th March) and the status has changed to "Your application is complete" When I clicked on the Status History button ... I found that it was "printing" on the 4th - so that phase would seem to take 2 days.

and more ...

" Your passport has been dispatched on 06/03/2019
Track your passport directly using your An Post reference code: PPxxxxxxxxxxx (link)"
When I clicked on the link today, I was taken to the ANpost website tracking service https://track.anpost.ie/. I put in the ANpost tracking number, but it wasn't recognised. I guess it hasn't been put on the system yet, or it could be like our not so useful Royal Mail tracking system where it doesn't recognise the tracking number until it's been delivered! But, at least my passport is on it's way. I'll let you know when it arrives.

So despite what I was told via Webchat enquiry about GB 1st-time applications taking at least 48 working days minimum - now 49 I see, there does seem to be some advantage in using the Passport Express service after all!

Sounds as if your application is moving now and shouldn't be too long behind mine - hopefully we'll both have our passports in time for St. Patrick's Day!

Zippy

[Court2]

Contacted DFA via web chat today, as their website states is 1 of 2 methods of communication (the other is phone) to get in touch with them regarding FBR.

After waiting around 20 minutes, got through to an 'Agent' and he said flat out 'no we only deal with passport enquiries here, FBR enquiries have to call us. I repeatedly told him that your own website states this is a form of contact and I have previously used web chat successfully to get the 'it's in the system' standard reply.

So if anyone is thinking of wasting 20minutes+ waiting for a web chat with these people then please be advised it may be for nothing and they simply tell you to call.

The wait is infuriating, but when it is compounded by seemingly disinterested and non-joined up communication, is it any wonder that there are people waiting on this forum for over 9 months now!? Starting to have serious concerns about whether I will even get my original documents returned one day given their inefficiencies and attitude.

[james_mcfc]

Hi James,

I have some news too I checked my application yesterday (6th March) and the status has changed to "Your application is complete" When I clicked on the Status History button ... I found that it was "printing" on the 4th - so that phase would seem to take 2 days.

and more ...

" Your passport has been dispatched on 06/03/2019
Track your passport directly using your An Post reference code: PPxxxxxxxxxxx (link)"
When I clicked on the link today, I was taken to the ANpost website tracking service https://track.anpost.ie/. I put in the ANpost tracking number, but it wasn't recognised. I guess it hasn't been put on the system yet, or it could be like our not so useful Royal Mail tracking system where it doesn't recognise the tracking number until it's been delivered! But, at least my passport is on it's way. I'll let you know when it arrives.

So despite what I was told via Webchat enquiry about GB 1st-time applications taking at least 48 working days minimum - now 49 I see, there does seem to be some advantage in using the Passport Express service after all!

Sounds as if your application is moving now and shouldn't be too long behind mine - hopefully we'll both have our passports in time for St. Patrick's Day!

Zippy

Lo and behold, checked my status an hour after I sent that and now I'm also at the printing stage! So it looks like I'm spot on for my expected issue date of tomorrow (8th March). Just so happens that tomorrow is my birthday too so that'll be a nice present!

Enjoy your passport!

[PasadenaTom]

Contacted DFA via web chat today, as their website states is 1 of 2 methods of communication (the other is phone) to get in touch with them regarding FBR.

If you click on the link for the "Customer Service Hub" in the Foreign Birth Registration section of the Citizenship page, they state the following:

"Please note that queries relating to Foreign Birth Registration can only be handled via phone, Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm"

(underline added by me)

I noticed that change was made several days ago. Some here were able to use webchat in the past. But DFA apparently discontinued that. It wouldn't surprise me if they did it to manage their workload. No doubt a heavy volume of status update requests would interfere with their ability to actually work on processing applications.

[Aston13]

The same thing happened to me as Zippy. I queued up in the web chat for 30 minutes on two separate occassions. When I was finally connected I was only very bluntly told to 'Phone up' with what felt like an attitude from them, they then swiftly disconnected without a word. Very frustrating, but I do feel sympathy for them with the amount of applications they must be dealing with.

It was then that I noticed the web chat isn't an option for FBR enquiries anymore. I found it impossible to get through on the phone also.

So if anyone reads this, don't use the web chat for FBR enquiries, you'll only be wasting your own time and be left frustrated.