South Africa
Irish Embassy in Pretoria: citizenship by descent guide
What to know before you contact the Irish Embassy in Pretoria about Irish citizenship by descent or a Irish passport.
This is not the official embassy website. For appointments and official information use the official website ↗.
Mission details
- TypeEmbassy (consular section)
- Address2nd Floor, Building A, OMK House, 238 Florence Ribeiro Avenue, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Pretoria 0181
- AppointmentsTel: +27 12 452 1000 or the contact page.
- Official websiteOpen ↗
Irish citizenship by descent: what to prepare
Original civil (state-issued) certificates for you, your parent and your Irish-born grandparent.
- Your long-form civil birth certificate (not hospital or commemorative copies)
- Your parent's long-form birth certificate
- Your parents' and grandparents' civil marriage certificates
- Your grandparent's Irish birth certificate (we can search Irish civil and church records)
- Witnessed photo ID and proof of address
US documents are in English, so no translation is needed. Check the current Foreign Births Register document guide before ordering apostilles.
How the process works
- With an Irish-born parent you are already Irish and apply straight for a passport.
- With an Irish-born grandparent you register on the Foreign Births Register (FBR), online, then post the originals to Ireland.
- Citizenship starts on the date of registration, not your birth, which matters for your own children.
- Great-grandchildren qualify only if their parent was registered on the FBR before they were born.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules and procedures change, so check the official website.
Before you book
Check if you qualify for Irish citizenship
Answer a few questions first, so your consular appointment is not wasted.
Full Irish citizenship guide →Ireland | Question 1 of 1
Who is your closest ancestor born on the island of Ireland?
Northern Ireland counts too.
FAQ
Which areas does the Irish Embassy in Pretoria cover?
Check the official website for its current consular jurisdiction before booking.
Can I apply for Irish citizenship by descent through the Irish Embassy in Pretoria?
Irish citizenship applications from abroad usually involve your local mission at some stage, for example to submit documents, sign declarations or apply for a passport. Exactly which steps happen there depends on your route.
Do I need an appointment?
The official website says: Tel: +27 12 452 1000 or the contact page.
Is this the official consulate website?
No. RootPassport is an independent citizenship services company. Use the official website linked on this page for appointments and official information.
Let us handle it
Get your Irish Eligibility Report
We find the records, prepare the file and tell you exactly what to bring to the embassy.