Getting Irish Citizenship has a number of advantages. For a start you will be able to pass Customs within the European Union much easier than before and if you are interested in working within the EU then having a passport of an EU country will make things a lot easier. There are potential Health and Welfare benefits also.
Eligibility: If you have 1 or more Irish born parents then you are automatically considered a citizen and can apply for a Passport straight away. A person will be eligible if one of their grandparents was Irish and possibly even if one of their great-grandparents was Irish. You can also apply for citizenship if you are the child of a naturalised Irish citizen, providing you were born after your parent was naturalized. Marrying an Irish citizen is another route whereby citizenship may possibly be obtained.
If you are a U.S. citizen you can apply directly to The Embassy of Ireland, 2234 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC, 20008, (202) 462-3939 or to any of the Consulate Offices of Ireland, a full listing of which is available by going here:
http://www.irlgov.ie/iveagh/foreignaffairs/embassy/altindex.htm
Documentation: You will need to supply the long version of your Birth Certificate and those of any relatives that you are claiming citizenship through. Marriage and Death certificates where applicable will be required. You will also need to provide extensive proof of you own identity (Passport, Driving License, Work Identification card, etc.). You will need 2 Passport size photographs.
There is a fee of up to US$179 for adults, US$64 for applicants under 18 years of age. The hardest part of the process is collecting the required documentation, especially the Birth certificates of relatives (Grandparents who may be deceased, etc.). You will not in any way jeopardise your currently held Citizenship or Passport status by holding 'dual' citizenship. To get the process started, contact the Irish Consulate in your country, (details from here: http://www.irlgov.ie/iveagh/foreignaffairs/embassy/altindex.htm ).
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