Passport Support

While it is possible to apply for an Irish passport with a paper form (APS2E), the passport office have advised that it is much faster to apply online. We are very happy to help with such applications.  Below, you will find some answers to commonly asked questions. 

If you have a question about passports you can also contact us on 0208 4596 655. 

I am trying to renew my passport. What should I do? 

Renewing an existing passport is very simple. You can renew an expired passport up to 5 years after it has expired. 

You will need: 

• Your old passport (unless you have lost it) 
• A digital photo (if you want to come to our office, we can take one for you) 
• A bank card to pay for your passport. The current price is 75 euros for the passport and another 15 euros for delivery to the UK. 

You can apply through the passport online service. Your passport should arrive within two weeks of you applying. 

I want to apply for my first Irish passport and I was either born on the island of Ireland or one of my parents was. What should I do? 

Good news! You are already an Irish citizen, so you are entitled to a passport. You will need to prove your identity and you will need to show your connection to Ireland. 

You will need: 

• Proof of ID such as an existing passport or a driving licence. If you do not have this, contact us. 
• A digital photo (if you want to come to our office, we can take one for you). 
• A bank card to pay for your passport. The current price is 75 euros for the passport and another 15 euros for delivery to the UK. 
• Your birth certificate (not a photocopy).
• If you were born outside Ireland, your parent’s birth certificate (not a photocopy).
• If you have changed your name, proof of a name change, such as marriage certificate or deed poll. 
• If your parent changed their name, proof of their change of name, such as marriage certificate or deed poll. 
• Proof of your address, such as a bank statement or council tax bill. This must have your full name on it, not initials. 

You can find more information about the ID requirements on the passport office website. 

After you have applied for the passport online, you will be given a verification cover sheet to print out.  It will tell you what documents you need to provide.  You will need to also get a witness to sign your cover sheet.  

The passport office says I need a witness.  Who can I use? 

You can use anyone on the list below as your witness so long as they are not related to you. 

 Witnesses can be: 

• Principal/Vice Principal
• Teacher/Lecturer
• School Secretary
• Pre-School Manager/Montessori Teacher
• Medical Doctor
• Dentist
• Vet
• Nurse
• Physiotherapist
• Speech Therapist
• Pharmacist
• Manager/Assistant Manager of Bank/Credit Union
• Police Officer
• Elected Public Representative
• Commissioner for Oaths/Notary Public
• Peace Commissioner
• Engineer
• Lawyer
• Accountant
• Member of the Clergy

Make sure that your witness sees you sign the form and signs it themselves at the same time. 

I want to apply for an Irish passport for my child (under 18). What should I do? 

This depends on whether you were an Irish citizen when they were born. There is guidance available on the passport office website. 

If your child is already an Irish citizen, then you will need: 

• Their birth certificate. 
• Your birth certificate (or the other Irish parent) or your Irish passport. 
• Proof of change of name if the name of the parent has changed between when they were born and when they had their child. 
• A digital photo of your child (if you want to come to our office, we can take one for you).
• A bank card to pay for the passport. A passport currently costs 20 Euros for a child plus 15 Euros for delivery. 

After you have applied online, the website will give you a verification cover sheet to sign. All guardians of the child must sign this form. You will also need a witness. See above for the list of witnesses that are allowed to sign the form. 

More information about children’s application can be found at the passport office website. 

I want to get my first Irish passport because one of my grandparents were born on the island or Ireland. What should I do? 

At the moment you are not an Irish citizen, so the first step is that you will need to become one.  This is done through a process called Foreign Birth Registration. There is information about this on the Foreign Birth Registration website. 

At the moment, the Department for Foreign Affairs is advising that Foreign Birth Registration is taking two years. 

You will need: 

• Your birth certificate. 
• Documents showing if you have ever changed your name such as marriage certificate or deed poll. 
• Photo ID, such as your existing passport or driving licence. 
• Proof of address, such as a bank statement or utility bill, with your full name on it (not initials). 
• A digital photo (if you want to come to our office, we can take one for you).
• Birth certificate of your Irish parent 
• Change of name documents if your parent changed their name between birth and you being born. 
• Photo ID for your Irish parent such as passport or driving licence (or death certificate if they are deceased). 
• Birth certificate of Irish born grandparent. 
• Change of name documents if your grandparent changed their name between birth and your parent being born. 
• Photo ID for your Irish grandparent such as passport or driving licence (or death certificate if they are deceased).
• A bank card to pay for the application. The current fees for Foreign Birth Registration are 278 Euros. 

After you have applied online, the website will give you a verification cover sheet to sign. You will need a witness to sign this. See above for the list of witnesses that are allowed to sign the form. 

After you have been accepted as a foreign birth registration, you can apply for your passport as a first time applicant, as above. 

For any other queries or if you have any questions about passports, please contact us on 0208 4596 655.