Passport Application Guidelines

ALL applicants must submit a completed and suitably witnessed passport application form and 4 photographs. The person (Garda if resident in the state) who witnesses your application must also sign, stamp and record the application form number on the back of 2 of the 4 accompanying photographs.

 Do not book travel arrangements until you have a valid passport - doing so is at your own risk.  Use form (APS1E) if you are resident in the State. Non–residents must use form (APS2E) which is available from the Passport Office, participating post offices in Northern Ireland or your nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate.  Your application must be submitted within six months from the date on which it has been witnessed.  If your application is not completed correctly or if your documentation and photographs are not in order your application may be delayed.  All passport applications are subject to the terms and conditions of the Passport Act, 2008.This provides that only Irish citizens may obtain Irish passports. Each application must, therefore, have documentary evidence that establishes your entitlement to Irish citizenship.

HOW TO APPLY

Passport Express is the most efficient and cost effective way to apply for a passport. Our current turnaround times can be found here

If you have insufficient time to apply through Passport Express you can submit your application at our public office in Dublin or Cork by appointment only at www.passportappointments.ie

PLEASE SEE CATEGORIES BELOW FOR ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Renewing your Passport

You must submit your most recent Irish Passport. A photocopy of the data page (page with your photograph) will suffice if your Passport has expired or has less than 12month’s validity remaining. Please note this passport will be cancelled on approval of the new passport and CANNOT be used for travel. Passport for a Child

 Section 7 of the application form must be completed by all parents/guardians. If only one parent/guardian is giving consent a sole guardian affidavit/court order will be required.

 You must submit your child’s Original Long Form Birth Certificate if: - This will be your child’s first Irish passport; - Your child’s previous Irish passport was issued before1st January 2005; - You are submitting a sole guardian affidavit/court order; - Your child’s birth has been re-registered since their most recent passport issued.

 Your child’s entitlement to Irish citizenship must be demonstrated through documentary evidence if this is their first Irish passport and they are: - born abroad; or - born on the island of Ireland on or after 1st January 2005.

1st Time Adult Applicant

 Original Long Form Birth Certificate.  Original Civil Marriage Certificate (if applicable).  Proof of entitlement to Irish citizenship if born abroad.  Photo Identification: e.g. Drivers licence (a certified copy of your driver’s licence will suffice if certified by the same person who witnessed your application form), Public Services Card, college identification, passport from another country.  Proof of Name: such as payslips, tax documents, college registration, social welfare receipts etc.  Proof of Address: such as utility bills, bank statements, government correspondence etc.

Replacing your Adult Lost/Stolen/Damaged Passport

By law, a passport is the property of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Passport Service takes all incidents of passport loss, theft and damage very seriously and thus validity of replacement passports may be restricted.

 Original Long form Birth Certificate.  Original Civil Marriage Certificate (if applicable).  Proof of entitlement to Irish citizenship if born abroad.  Damaged passport (if applicable).  Photo Identification: e.g. Drivers licence (a certified copy of your driver’s licence will suffice if certified by the same person who witnessed your form), Public Services Card, college identification, passport from another country.  Proof of Name: such as payslips, tax documents, college registration, social welfare receipts etc.  Proof of Address: such as utility bills, bank statements, government correspondence etc.

If your lost/stolen/damaged Passport was issued on or after 1 January 2005 and your new Passport will issue in the same name you are not required to submit the documents in the green text above – Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, entitlement to Irish citizenship. For a detailed step by step guide of all sections of the application form please read below:

NOTE 1: TYPE OF PASSPORT REQUIRED (SECTION 1) It is important to mark an “X” in the relevant box of choice for both Passport Service and Payment Method. If you overlook this detail on your form, payment of the fee cannot be taken by the Passport Office thereby delaying the processing of your application. It is important to ensure that the correct fees are paid in respect of the requested passport service. A schedule of fees is shown above. You should check at the time of your application the payable passport fees from notices that should be displayed in Garda Stations, Post Offices and Passport Offices. Details of passport fees are also available here. The payment of the wrong fee will delay your application. The large passport has 66 pages and is available for use to frequent travellers who are likely to need a greater number of pages for visa, entry stamps etc. Payment method (tick the relevant box on the form) Passport Express applications: Payable in total to An Post at the Post Office. Do not enter credit/debit card details on your form if applying by Passport Express. Credit/Debit card transactions will be processed by An Post when the application is lodged. Public Office: By cheque, bank draft, money order or postal order made payable to “Passport Office”.

Cash can be accepted at the public counter By credit/debit card - If more than one application is submitted in the same envelope (e.g. family applications) credit/debit card details and the total fee due should only be entered onto one application form. Please ensure that the cardholder has signed the authorisation portion on the form, including the card expiry date before submitting your application. It is important that the card expiry date is entered in Section 1 of the form. Laser – only 19 digit cards may be accepted. Credit Cards – only the 16 digits which appear on the front of these cards should be entered on the form. We do not require the 3 digit security code which appears on the reverse of these cards. The Passport Office reserves the right to charge your card with the correct amount for the service requested where an incorrect amount has been entered on the form. Cash is accepted for applications made at the public counter only and should not be sent through the post.

NOTE 2: APPLICANT DETAILS (SECTION 2)

Parts A, B and C of Section 2 must be completed. Titles Titles such as Mr, Mrs, Ms, Rev, Sr, Dr, etc. are not entered on passports and should not be included with the applicant’s details nor with his/her signature. Part A: Name to appear on the Passport Complete Part A in the name by which you are normally known. Enter forenames 1 and 2 (if applicable) in the order as indicated on the form. If the name by which you are now known differs from the version entered on your birth certificate, other than through civil marriage, civil partnership or adoption you will be required to produce documentary evidence of the constant use of that name for at least two years. It will be necessary to produce examples of such usage, e.g. tax/social welfare documents, bank statements, driver’s licence and insurance details, medical/PPSN cards, school registration/reports, etc. A passport may be issued in the married name of the applicant on production of a civil marriage certificate. Church certificates will not be accepted. Part B: Name on Birth Certificate Part B must be completed whether or not the birth certificate name is to be recorded on the passport. Enter forenames 1, 2, 3 and 4 (if applicable) in the same order as they appear on your birth certificate. Applicants are advised that difficulties may arise, for example, when an application is being made for visas or work permits abroad, where the name on the passport is not exactly the same as that on the birth certificate or, where relevant, the marriage certificate. To minimise these difficulties applicants may choose to have their birth certificate name entered on the observation page of the passport. To exercise this option place an ‘X’ in the YES box in Section 2 and enclose your long form birth certificate. If you do not require this, place an ‘X’ in the NO box. You can obtain details of where to apply for an Irish birth certificate at www.groireland.ie or from your local Health Board. Part C: Date of Birth, Gender, PPSN, Birth Surname of Mother Date of Birth Enter date of birth in the DD (day), MM (month), YYYY (year) format outlined below: - 7th March 1979 should be entered as 07031979 - 25th October 2003 should be entered as 25102003 Gender Please an ‘X’ in the appropriate box. PPSN (Personal Public Service Number) Applicants resident in the State must enter their PPSN. If you do not know your PPSN number please contact your local social welfare office. Birth Surname of Mother The surname of your mother as stated on her birth certificate must be entered.

NOTE 3: CITIZENSHIP (SECTION 3) Only an Irish citizen may obtain an Irish passport and appropriate evidence of citizenship must be submitted with each application. If you are renewing your passport (and making no changes), you need only submit your most recent Irish passport. Birth Certificates are not required for a child’s passport renewal if the child’s previous passport was issued on or after 1st January 2005. County of birth (or country if born abroad) . If born in Ireland please enter your COUNTY of birth. ( do not enter “IRELAND”) . If born outside Ireland please enter your COUNTRY of birth.

You should indicate your citizenship category by ticking the box in Parts A, B or C.

CITIZENSHIP CATEGORY

Part A: Born in Ireland Place an ‘X’ in this box if you were born in Ireland. If born in Ireland on or before 31 December 2004 If applying for the first time, enclose your long form birth certificate [i.e. the version of your civil birth certificate which contains the name(s) of your parent(s).]

If born in Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 Arising from the entry into force of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2004, the citizenship entitlement of every person born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 is governed by the citizenship of the person’s parents at the time of the person’s birth or the residency history of one of the parents prior to the birth. If born in Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 – the following documentation must be submitted (i) Where a parent is an Irish citizen or entitled to be an Irish citizen Documents: - The child’s long form birth certificate and - The long form birth certificate or Irish Passport of that parent. (ii) Where a parent is a British citizen Documents: - The child’s long form birth certificate and - The British Passport of that parent.

(iii)Where a parent is a National of an EU Member State, an EEA Agreement State or of the Swiss Confederation Documents: - The child’s original long form birth certificate; - The parent’s passport or national I.D card - A completed Declaration Form A by that parent. Form available here - Proof of residency from one parent. This residency must accumulate a minimum of 3 years (36) months out of the four years immediately prior to the birth of the child. - Acceptable documents: P60, P45. P35L certificates, letter from Social Welfare/Revenue Commissioners outlining exact period of residency. *Please note all documents must be originals* The following documents i.e. payslips, utility bills, bank statements, official rent/lease book can be used in conjunction with the above primary documents to merge any minor gaps in your residency history.

(iv) Where a parent is a National other than an EU/EEA/Swiss national:

Documents: - The child’s original long form birth certificate; - One of the parent’s passports which have the residency stamps granting permission to remain in Ireland. It should be noted that periods of unlawful residence, periods of residence which were for the sole purpose of having an application for refugee status determined, periods of residence where the study or where one parent was at the time of the birth of the child entitled to diplomatic immunity in the State are excluded from the Passport Service’s determination of periods of reckonable residency. Please note it may be necessary for the parent to submit previous passports if their current passport does not reflect three years of stamps before the birth of the child. - A parent’s GNIB card - Any letters from the Department of Justice or GNIB that may be relevant to a parents claim of lawful residence in the State.

(v) Where a parent is a National other than an EU/EEA/Swiss national and has been granted Refugee Status in the State prior to the birth of the child Documents - the child’s long form birth certificate - the passport(s) of the parent - the original letter from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform declaring the parent to be a refugee - registration books or cards issued by the Garda National immigration Bureau (vi) Where a parent is a National other than an EU/EEA/Swiss national but who is entitled under the immigration laws of the United Kingdom to reside in Northern Ireland without any restriction on his or her period of residence Documents: - the child’s long form birth certificate - the passport(s) of the parent containing the relevant permission to remain in the UK without any restriction. Part B: Born abroad to a parent born in Ireland If you are applying for the first time you must be submit your long form birth certificate and that of your Irish-born parent. Your parents’ civil marriage certificate, if applicable, should be submitted. Please ensure that details of your Irish born parent are provided in the spaces in Part B. Part C: Naturalisation, Foreign Birth Registration and Post Nuptial (Tick ONE box only) If you are applying for the first time, enclose your Certificate of Naturalisation/Foreign Birth Registration/ Post Nuptial along with your long form birth certificate and, if applicable, your civil marriage certificate. Born abroad and adopted under Irish law by an Irish citizen If you are applying for the first time, enclose your certificate of entry in the Adoption Authority of Ireland’s Register of Foreign Adoptions plus full documentary evidence (birth/marriage certificates, Irish passport) that establishes the Irish citizenship of an adoptive parent at the time of adoption.

NOTE 4: CONTACT DETAILS (SECTION 4) Clearly print your name and the full postal address

It is important to include phone numbers and e-mail addresses in the event that it is necessary to contact you about your application.

Enter your home address if the address if it is different to the stated postal address.

NOTE 5: PREVIOUS IRISH PASSPORT (SECTION 5)

Mark “X”, as appropriate, to indicate whether or not you previously held an Irish passport. If “Yes”, enter the number of your most recent Irish passport. This passport must be submitted for cancellation. Your cancelled passport may be returned to you.

If your most recent Irish passport is lost/misplaced, stolen or damaged, you must complete Section 6 -Statement of Loss or Damage – of the application form and have it witnessed and stamped by a suitable witness (Garda if resident in the state). Full evidence of Irish citizenship must be submitted where the last issued passport has been lost/stolen.

It is important to declare that you had a previous Irish passport even if you don’t have the passport itself or the passport number. Failure to do so will be detected and queried by the Passport Office.

NOTE 6: STATEMENT OF LOSS OR DAMAGE (SECTION 6) A passport is a valuable document. By law, a passport is the property of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Passport Service takes all incidents of passport loss, theft and damage very seriously and thus validity of replacement passports may be restricted. An explanation of the circumstances for its loss or theft or damage should be given. In all cases, Section 6 must be witnessed and stamped by a Garda (if resident in the state). The loss of two or more passports will mean that the period of validity for your next passport may be restricted. Once a passport is reported to as stolen or lost, it is invalidated for travel. The details of each lost or stolen passport are reported to the relevant international authorities. If recovered it should be sent to the Passport Office for cancellation. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to travel on it. The “Damaged” box should be used to indicate that a passport has been damaged rendering it unusable for international travel. The manner in which the passport was damaged should be explained in the space provided in this section. The damaged passport must be submitted with your application to the Passport Office.

NOTE 7: CONSENT OF PARENTS OR GUARDIANS (SECTION 7) The consent of parent(s)/guardian(s) is required under s.14 of the Passports Act, 2008 in respect of passport applications for each child under 18 years of age. The “Applicant Name” in Section 7 should match the name to appear on the passport. Accordingly, Section 7 of the passport application form must be fully completed and signed in the presence of a listed witness. The witness must also sign this section and provide contact details in the event that consent verification is required by the Passport Office. Where applicable, the marriage certificates of parents must be provided. Where parent’s are married and named on child’s birth certificate Section 6 (1) of the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964 provides that married parents are the joint guardians of their child. The written witnessed consent of both married parents must, therefore, be given. This requirement remains valid in the event that the married parents separate or divorce. However if one parent is unwilling or is unavailable to give consent or is deceased, the following are the consent requirements: (i) Where one parent is unwilling or unavailable to give consent, the other parent should submit his/her witnessed consent but must also apply to the local District Court, under the Guardianship of Infants Act, 1964 (Section 11), for a Court Order dispensing with the consent of the unwilling/unavailable parent and directing that the Passport Office to issue a passport facility to the child. (ii) Where one parent is deceased, the surviving parent must give their witnessed consent and complete an affidavit (Form AFF1) which is available here. On this form the surviving parent must swear that he/she is the sole legal guardian of the child. This affidavit must be witnessed by a solicitor/commissioner for oaths. An original death certificate for the deceased parent must be provided. Where parents are unmarried and named on child’s birth certificate The written witnessed consent of both parents may be submitted to support the child’s passport application. However, under the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, the mother is the sole legal guardian even though the father’s name may appear on the child’s birth certificate, unless the father has been granted guardianship by the courts. In these cases, if the mother wishes to give consent, the mother’s sole witnesses consent along with her sworn affidavit stating her sole guardianship of the child is required. If the parents are unmarried and only the mother is named on child’s birth certificate The mother of the child is the sole guardian unless a court order has been issued to the contrary. In these cases, the mother’s witnessed consent along with her sworn affidavit stating her sole guardianship of the child is required. Non-parental guardianship In all applications the guardianship of the child must be clearly established. There will be situations where a child may be in the care of persons other than his/her parent’s i.e. family relative, Health Board. It is recommended that the carers should contact the Passport Office for information and advice.

NOTE 8: DECLARATION BY APPLICANT (SECTION 8) This section must be completed in the presence of a suitable witness (Garda if resident in the state). The box on the left hand side must contain the normal signature of any applicant aged 7 and over. You must sign using black ink and your signature must be kept within the white signature box on the left hand side. In the case of children who cannot sign their name, the parent or guardian should sign their OWN signature in the right hand signature box.

NOTE 9: CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY (SECTION 9) A suitable witness (Garda if resident in the state) must sign and stamp this section. By doing so, s/he is certifying her/his satisfaction as to your identity and to your true likeness to the submitted photographs. The witness should sign and stamp the back of two of the four photographs and insert the form number displayed under the witness signature box in this section on both signed photographs. In some cases, an applicant may be asked to attend the Passport Office for identity verification purposes or provide photographic identity (work photo ID, driver’s license etc) to support the witness certification of his/her photograph.

OFFENCES The Passports Act 2008 provides for offences and penalties, ranging from fines of €10,000 to terms of imprisonment up to 10 years, for the misuse or abuse of passports. Offences include the known provision of false or misleading information in respect of a passport application; the possession, control, use or attempted use of a false passport; sale, wilful damage or destruction of a passport; and making or possession of materials to make a false passport. The Act also makes it an offence for a young person to use a passport which was not issued to him/her to gain entry to a licensed premises.

PASSPORT OFFICE CONTACT DETAILS

To make an appointment to attend the Passport Office visit www.passportappointments.ie

Passport Office Dublin: (01) 6711633 Passport Office Cork: (01) 4944700 Recorded Information: (01) 6797600

Passport Office Dublin - Email: passportdublin [@] dfa.ie Passport Office Cork - Email: passportcork [@] dfa.ie

@passportIRL

ON-LINE TRACKING Using your 11 digit application barcode number you can track the progress of your application here

PASSPORT REMINDER SERVICE We can remind you by email when your passport is due to expire. You can register for this service here

PLEASE NOTE ONLY ORIGINAL DOCUMENTATION WILL BE ACCEPTED. WE DO NOT ACCEPT PHOTOCOPIES (UNLESS SPECIFIED) OR LAMINATED DOCUMENTS. APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION OTHER THAN THOSE LISTED. THE PASSPORT SERVICE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO INTERVIEW AN APPLICANT IF DEEMED NECESSARY