Answer

The Civil Registration Act 2004 requires both people getting married in the Republic of Ireland to provide evidence of their identities, civil status, age and nationality. If either person was born outside of the State, an authenticated birth certificate is required. Since you were born in the United Kingdom, you need such a birth certificate, even if you are entitled to an Irish passport.

The Hague Convention (1961) specifies how a document issued in one of the signatory countries can be authenticated or certified for legal purposes in all the other signatory states. Such a certification is called an apostille (in French this means certification). An apostille stamp is an international certification, like a notarisation in domestic law, which authenticates or legally certifies a document.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (including staff in Irish embassies, consulates and honorary consulates overseas) can authenticate documents for Irish-born people getting married abroad.

In the UK apostille stamps are issued by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). Visit fco.gov.uk/legalisation to find out more about the process. You can also email legalisationenquiries@fco.gsi.gov.uk or telephone +4420 7008 5959.