Irish Passport Application

Irish Passport Overview

The Irish passport is one of the most powerful passports in the world which makes it one of the most sought-after. With an Irish passport, you can travel to 187 counties across the world. Furthermore, you enjoy free movement throughout EU member states.

Obtaining an Irish passport can be difficult due to its high value. You have to meet a lot of requirements and provide lots of evidence to stand a chance. Most importantly, you must be an Irish citizen before you can apply.

How To Apply For An Irish Passport?

You have multiple options to apply for an Irish Passport. You can use the Passport Online service, submit your application at the post office via Passport Express, or fill the form at a Passport Office counter service. The best option is using the Passport Online service – it’s fast and cheap.

It’s not advisable to use the post office option; however, you can apply via Passport Express to get a fast-track passport. It’s possible to track your application with the Irish passport tracker.

The Passport Office counter service is popular for those applying for urgent renewals or replacements for lost passports. If it’s the first time you’re applying for an Irish Passport, it’s not advisable to use the counter service. In addition, applying via the counter service is expensive.

Requirements For Irish Passport Application

Meeting the requirements is a crucial part of your Irish Passport application. Most of it involves your supporting documents, and generally, you’ll provide documents to prove your identity, address, and age.

The documents you have to provide include:

• Official photo identification – this can be your driver’s license, passport, or National ID from a foreign country
• Proof of Irish citizenship – this will depend on the type of citizenship you have
• 4 photographs of yourself
• Notarized consent by parents or legal guardians if the applicant is under 18 years
• Bank statements, utility bills, or other forms of government correspondence

Generally, your Irish citizenship will determine the documents you’ll submit. For example, Irish citizenship by marriage, naturalization, descent, or adoption requires different documents for different circumstances.

Furthermore, you need an eligible witness to verify your identity. Your witness must hold a position of authority, and they’ll sign and date 2 of your 4 photographs. Each requirement requires a separate document.

You must submit your documents along with your application, and only original documents are accepted. You can’t submit photocopies or laminated documents.

To avoid delays and increase your chances of getting an Irish Passport, you should make sure all your evidence is complete before submission.

Irish Passport Waiting Times

Processing can take some time, so it’s recommended to apply at least six weeks from your intended date of travel. You can view the current waiting time for your passport application on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ website.

Irish passport renewals take a shorter time. It takes about 10 working days from the submission date to process a simple adult passport. However, it can take 6 to 8 weeks to process for complex renewal, especially for children’s passports.

Irish Passport Application Cost

The cost of your Irish Passport application depends on how you submit the application and the type of passport you’re applying for. A standard Irish Passport has 34 pages and lasts for 10 years; the associated fees include:

• €75 via Passport online. You’ll pay an extra €15 postage fee if you reside outside Ireland
• €80 via Passport Express + €9.50 postage fee
• €95 if you’re applying in person at a Passport Office counter service

How to prove Irish citizenship for passport application?

According to Irish law, anyone born on the isle of Ireland before January 1st, 2005 is an Irish citizen. If you were born on the isle before the above date and you reside outside Ireland, you must register to the nearest Irish Embassy to approve your citizenship.

Hence, before you can apply for your first Irish Passport, you need to first register with the Foreign Births Register and obtain citizenship. Nevertheless, no matter where you reside, you must provide all documentation that supports your citizenship claim.

Generally, you can prove your Irish citizenship in any of the following ways.

• If your Irish citizenship is through your birth parents, you must provide your Irish parent(s) marriage certificate. The certificate must show the names of both parents.
• If your Irish citizenship is by descent, you must provide your Foreign Birth Registration certificate.
• If your Irish citizenship is by naturalization, for example, citizenship via marriage, you must provide your naturalization certificate. In addition, you’ll provide an original copy of your passport from your birth country.

Documents you provide must be in English or Irish. Otherwise, you must submit the original copy along with a certified translated copy.

Getting first Irish passport for a child

Minors cannot apply for Irish passports on their own; an adult must apply on their behalf with legal consent and extra witnesses. Aside from the standard passport application requirement, the main evidence for a child’s passport application is proof of the parent’s citizenship.

For children born in born in Ireland before January 1st, 2005, the requirements include:

• Child’s civil birth certificate showing the names of the parents.

For children born outside Ireland to Irish citizen parent(s), the requirements include:

• Child’s civil birth certificate showing the names of the parents.
• Parent’s Irish passport or birth certificate to prove citizenship.
• Marriage certificate if the Irish citizen parent(s) is married

For children with citizenship by descent, the requirements include:

• Child’s civil birth certificate
• Child’s Foreign Birth Registration Certificate

For children with citizenship by naturalization, the requirements include:

• Child’s civil birth certificate
• Child’s naturalization certificate

Child’s passport from country of birth, if born outside Ireland