Irish Services
ICS provides assistance and guidance for Irish passport applications, Foreign Births Registration applications, and advice and assistance to those seeking to return to Ireland on a permanent basis. Assistance with Irish based services is handled on a rolling basis. Please contact Michael Collins at mcollins@irishchicago.org or call 773-282-8445 if you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment. An overview of ICS’s Irish services is provided below:
Irish Passport Assistance:
Online Renewal: If you are a previous Irish passport holder and your passport expired within the past five years, you are eligible to renew your Irish passport through the online portal. You can access the Online Irish Passport Passport Services by Clicking Here.
Paper Application: Paper applications must be submitted by all other applicants, including:
All first time applicants- First time applications cannot be submitted online
Holders of a passport which expired more than 5 years ago
Holders of a passport with a passport book number that does not begin with a P or L
Passport Services and Additional Information:
To request a paper passport application form (Form APS2) or to schedule an appointment to have your passport application witnessed, please contact Michael Collins at mcollins@irishchicago.org or call 773-282-8445
For complete list of required supporting documentation, please click here.
For further reading, please visit the Consulate of Ireland, Chicago website here.
For detailed information on eligibility, please call our office or watch our Irish Passport Tutorial available on our YouTube Page.
Foreign Births Registration:
Eligibility: If you were born outside of Ireland, you can become an Irish citizen if:
One of your grandparents was born in Ireland, or;
One of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, even though they were not born in Ireland.
In these cases, you can become an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration.
Once a person is entered onto the Foreign Births Register they are an Irish citizen and entitled to apply for an Irish passport.
Supporting Documentation: Detailed list of supporting documentation can be found in the link below by expanding the “Adult Applicant” and “Minor Applicant” subsections.
Irish based certificates and documentation can be ordered online through the www.certificates.ie website.
US based certificates and documentation can be ordered through the county records office where the life event took place. For Cook County Illinois, the records office can be found here.
To Apply: All FBR applications must be submitted online with supporting documentation and a print off of the application form being mailed to Ireland for processing. The FBR application link is available here.
FBR Services:
ICS can assist with FBR applications in an advisory capacity and with the witnessing process. For questions about the FBR process, eligibility, or to schedule an appointment, please contact Michael Collins at mcollins@irishchicago.org or call 773-282-8445.
A detailed tutorial on the FBR application process is available on our YouTube page.
Returning to Ireland:
ICS can provide assistance and information to individuals seeking to return to live in on a permanent basis. We encourage all that plan to return to live in Ireland to conduct their research ahead of time to ensure the smoothest possible transition. For general inquiries about returning to Ireland please contact Michael Collins or Paul Dowling at info@irishchicago.org or by calling 773-282-8445.
Returning to Ireland Resources:
Making a planned return and conducting research is a vital first step to a successful return. Below are a list of organizations and resources that will help to make you return as smooth as possible.
Crosscare Migrant Project: is a Dublin based NGO providing information and advocacy support to Irish emigrants and people who have moved to Ireland. You can visit Crosscare’s website here.
Citizens Information: Citizens Information is an Irish nationwide service that offers resources and information for a variety of Irish based matters. You can visit Citizens Information’s website here.
Safe Home Ireland: Safe Home Ireland is an Irish based NGO that provides outreach and advocacy services to recently returned Irish emigrants of all ages and circumstances. You can visit Safe Home Ireland’s website here.
You can contact Safe Home Ireland at":
Email: info@safehomeireland.com
Phone: +353 98 36036