Before I Apply

What do I need to complete an application?

You will need the following to complete an application:

  • A valid email address
  • The name(s) of one or two of the recipient’s ancestors that will appear on the Certificate
  • The year and place of birth of the recipient’s ancestor(s) are optional, but will appear if provided
  • The recipient’s ancestor supporting document – a scanned or downloaded image
  • The names of the people in the line of descent between the recipient and their Ancestor
  • A credit card – payment is accepted by MasterCard or Visa

What scanned image formats are acceptable?

File types accepted are jpeg, gif, tiff, png, wmf and pdf. The maximum file size 3.5MB.

Who qualifies as an ancestor?

An ancestor is a person from whom you are directly descended i.e. a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent etc. Cousins, uncles, aunts are not ancestors.

Does my ancestor name need to be in a particular format?

It must match the supporting document provided. You will be able to modify how the forename (first name) appears on the Certificate – for example “James” could be printed as “Jimmy” if desired.

I have more than one Irish ancestor. What do I do?

The Certificate allows for up to two ancestors. This reflects the practicalities of fitting the names onto a Certificate.  You will need to choose which ancestors to name – typically people will choose one each from the father’s and mother’s side.

Please note that documentary evidence is required for the first named ancestor only.