There are two steps that you can take to begin the process.

Step 1:

A good first step in this process is to join the Contact Preference Register. By joining the register you will be able to:

• Make it known that you are open to contact
• Lodge information for the person you have named on your application
• Lodge an item for the person you have named on your application, such as a photograph or family heirloom
• Make it known that you would like your privacy respected

Please see our section on the Contact Preference Register for more information.

Step 2:

The second step would to request a trace for the person you are seeking.

From October 2022, the Birth Information and Tracing Act allows those affected by adoption, including those who may have been boarded/nursed out or whose birth may have been illegal registered, to begin the tracing process. If you would like to avail of this service in October, please visit the following website for further information:

www.birthinfo.ie

Information for Birth Parents

A good first step in this process is to join the Contact Preference Register. By joining the register you will be able to:

• Make it known that you are open to contact
• Lodge information for the person you have named on your application
• Lodge an item for the person you have named on your application, such as a photograph or family heirloom
• Make it known that you would like your privacy respected

Please see our section on the Contact Preference Register for more information.

The second step would to request a trace for the person you are seeking.

From October 2022, the Birth Information and Tracing Act allows those affected by adoption, including those who may have been boarded/nursed out or whose birth may have been illegal registered, to begin the tracing process. If you would like to avail of this service in October, please visit the following website for further information:

www.birthinfo.ie

Information for other family members:

If you are not a birth parent but you believe a family member was adopted or boarded/nursed out, we would suggest you join the Contact Preference Register. By joining the register you can make your contact preferences known should your family member come forward in the future. You can also share any background or medical information that could be of importance to your family member.

You can find out more about the CPR and how to join under the Contact Preference Register (CPR) section.

Alternatively you can visit the Birth Information and Tracing website for further information:

www.birthinfo.ie

The Contact Preference Register

The Contact Preference Register (CPR) is a statutory register for a people who would like to make their contact preferences known, share or seek information, or lodge an item for a person.

 
The Adoption Authority can accept CPR applications from the following:

• An adopted person (a legally recognised adoption).
• A person who was nursed or boarded out (a care arrangement that may have been organised by the State).
• A person who may have spent time in a Mother and Baby Home or other institution. This may have been before a formal adoption took place or a care arrangement was organised. It includes mothers and children.
• A person whose birth may have been illegally registered (where a birth was illegally registered and no formal adoption took place).
• Mother or father of an adopted person (where either parent placed a child for adoption either formally or through a care arrangement).
• Sister or brother of an adopted person (where a brother or sister has been placed for adoption either formally or through a care arrangement).
• Grandparent, aunt, uncle or first cousin of an adopted person (where a relative has been placed for adoption either formally or through a care arrangement).
• Adoptive parent of an adopted child under 18.
• Adoptive parent of an adopted person or child who is deceased.
• A friend of an adoptee or mother or father who is deceased.
• Guardian or caregiver of an adoptive person or a person placed through a care arrangement.

How to join the CPR:

There are a number of ways you can join the CPR. If you have access to a computer you can complete an online CPR application form here:

https://www.birthinfo.ie/what-options-do-i-have/register-or-update-my-contact-preferences 

• an adopted person
• a person who was nursed or boarded our
• a person who may have spent time in a Mother and Baby Home or other instution
• a person whose birth may have been illegally registered

• a mother or father of an adopted person
• a sister or brother of an adopted person
• a grandparent, aunt, uncle or first cousin of an adopted person
• an adoptive parent of an adoptive child (under the age of 18)
• an adoptive parent of an adopted adult or child who is deceased
• a guardian or caregiver of an adopted person
• a friend of an adopted person

By email:

You can email a copy of your application form and a copy of photographic ID to:

 records@aai.gov.ie

 
Using our Post office box address:

 You can complete an application form and post it, together with a copy of your photographic ID to:

 
PO Box 9957, Dublin 4.

If you are having trouble with our online forms please email us your postal address and we will happily post a form out to you.

If I joined the National Adoption Contact Preference Register (NACPR) do I need to join the CPR:

If you previously joined the NACPR, we will automatically move your details to the CPR. This includes the contact preferences you chose on your application form for the NACPR. For example, if you chose the no contact option on the NACPR, this preference will be carried over to the CPR.  

If you would like to update your contact preferences or any other details, like your address or phone number, please join the CPR by filling out an application form and returning it to the Adoption Authority. When we receive it, we will update your details accordingly.

Please read our CPR information leaflet for further information.

Records and Information

The Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 is now signed into law and will be rolled out in 2 phases.

The first phase is currently active and includes the opening of the new Contact Preference Register (CPR). We would recommend that you join the CPR as it is a good first step toward beginning some of the processes that will be opening in phase two of the rollout.

Please see our section on the Contact Preference Register for more information.

From October 2022, the second phase will come into effect. This includes the release of records and information. Applications can be made through the birth and information website:

www.birthinfo.ie

Until the second phase of the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 takes effect in October 2022, the following applys to requests for an original birth certificate. 

Steps followed by the Adoption Authority where an adopted person has requested a copy of their original birth certificate (prior to October 2022). 

When the Adoption Authority receives your request for the release of your original birth certificate and has verified your ID, we will acknowledge your request in writing and provide you with the contact details for the adoption agency that will be assisting us with your request.  Where the original adoption agency is closed we will give you the contact details for the agency which now holds the files for the closed agency.  In most cases this will be one of the offices of Tusla - Child and Family Agency (CFA). You will need to contact the adoption agency directly to inform them that you have lodged a request with the Adoption Authority to release your original birth certificate request. 

The Adoption Authority will also write to the adoption agency and ask them to provide us with a report which will assist us in making a decision about the release of your birth certificate. A social worker in the agency will be assigned to your case.  Their report to us will include the following:

• Details of their contact with your birth mother and with you and your birth mother's views on the release of the birth certificate;
• Details of your hopes and expectations about getting your birth certificate and the information which may be on the certificate. This is of particular importance in cases where your birth mother may not be open to contact, or where she may be opposed to the release of identifying information;
• A recommendation from the social worker about the release or non-release of your birth certificate based on their findings during the process.

If your birth mother cannot be located the report must outline all the efforts that have been made to find her. If it is discovered that your birth mother is deceased, a copy of her death certificate must be provided with the report.

Generally, the Adoption Authority will release birth certificates where a birth mother has agreed in writing to the birth certificate being released, or where it has been confirmed that she is deceased and there are no other issues arising.

In all other cases the request and social work report is referred to the Board of the Adoption Authority for a decision.

The Adoption Authority may refuse to release a birth certificate where a birth mother has been consulted and is opposed to the release of the birth certificate or where it considers a birth mother’s privacy or safety might be put at risk by the release of the birth certificate.

When a decision has been made by the Adoption Authority the social worker who has provided the report will be informed of the decision. If the birth certificate is being released the social worker will post the birth certificate directly to you.