If you are actively seeking to locate and make contact with a birth relative, a tracing service is available to you. The Tracing Service can assist with sharing information while supporting a level of contact (if any) that both you and the person you are seeking are comfortable with.

You can apply for a tracing service if you are a person in one of the following three categories:

1. “relevant person*”

- if you were adopted in Ireland and are over 18 years of age

- if you were born in Ireland but adopted outside of the state

- if you were in a mother and baby home, county home or institution

- if you were illegally registered

- if you suspect that you were illegally registered

- If you were boarded out or nursed out

2. A birth relative of a relevant* person

3. A relative

*A relevant person is the term used in the legislation to describe people who can apply for information.

To apply for a tracing service, click on the button below. This will bring you to a Tusla portal. Tusla will initially assess your tracing request and then either Tusla or the Adoption Authority of Ireland will carry out the trace, dependant on where your records are held.

For more information on the tracing service, please review our FAQs.

Completing the application online is the quickest and most secure way for you to apply.

Alternatively, you can send your application by post to: Tusla Birth Information and Tracing Contact Support Centre, PO Box 13018, Dublin 15 – Ireland.

If you need assistance filling in your application form, please contact Tusla on 0818 44 55 00

To print a copy of the tracing application form for a relevant person, please click here

To print a copy of the tracing application form for a relative of a relevant person, please click here