- Irish passport renewals now open for online applications
- Ireland now world leader in passport technology
- Passport applications up 23pc in 2017
- Target is that 30pc of renewals wil be done onle by March 2018
Ireland’s new online passport application service is available to citizens who are over 18, currently hold an Irish Passport and are not changing the name on your current passport.
Applicants will need a digital photograph, an email address and a credit/debit card to apply online. A standard passport book online costs €80. A large passport book online costs €110. A passport card costs €35. It is cheaper when you apply for a passport book and card at the same time. Turnaround time wil be the same as prevously, two weeks.
Passport applications are up 23pc in 2017 meaning that Ireland wil be issuing an estimated 840,000 passports this year. The Deratment says that online applications will free up time to deal with the more security intensive issues of first time applicants and children;s passports.
The target is that children’s passports can be applied for online by 2019. It is envisaged that within one year from launch of the Online Passport Application Service up to 30pc of renewal applicants will use this service.
To renew, applicants must have less than 12 month’s validity remaining on your current passport and the passport must have experied less than five years ago.
The Department says 747,118 passport applications were processed in 2017 up 9pc on 2016. The busiest months were April (90,772), May (96,324) and June (80,975).
Of the 747,118 applications submitted in 2016, 404,749 (54pc) were applications for renewal and 69pc (278,422) of the renewal applicants submitted their applications through Passport Express, 8pc (33,549) submitted their applications at public counters in Dublin or Cork and another 8pc (33,592) applied through our Embassies and Consulates.
Passport Express Post to the north accounted for 7pc (27,712) of renewals and applications for Britain accounted for 8pc (31,474) of the number of renewal applications.
Between January 1 and March 16 2017 a total of 191,428 applications were received compared to a total of 155,163 for the same period last year. This represents an increase of over 23pc in volume. Of 69,425 applications submitted in January 2017, 59pc (40,900) were for renewals and of 77,801 applications in February 2017, 53pc (41,559) were for renewals.
The passports were developed by Limerick based Action Point, custom software developmers and information technology support services. Clients throughout the world rely on Action Point for business process automation, mobile application development, Internet of Things functionality, legacy system redevelopment, database management solutions, managed services, 24×7 helpdesk services, data storage, cloud hosting, virtualization, business continuity, disaster recovery and Azure.
Absolute Graphics is a marketing, design and print company founded in 2003 and based in Bray, Co Wicklow. They have previously worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the re-design of the Passport Book and the design of the Passport Card.
Photo-Me Ireland has been licenced by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to capture and transfer digital photos as part of the online passport application. There are currently 150 booths around Ireland and this number will grow to 300 by the end of the year. For more information on photo booth locations please visit www.passportphoto.ie.
- See here photograph guidelines
- Watch here Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan launching the online passport scheme in Dublin
- Watch here the Q&A session at the launch of the Irish passport online application service Q&A
- CAN I APPLY FOR A PASSPORT ONLINE?
Yes. You can apply online if you are over 18, currently hold an Irish Passport and are not changing the name on your current passport.
- WHAT DO I NEED TO APPLY ONLINE?
You will need a digital photograph, an email address and a credit/debit card to apply online. Visit www.dfa.ie/passportonline to apply.
- CAN I APPLY FOR A PASSPORT BOOK AND A PASSPORT CARD ONLINE?
Yes. You can apply for both a passport book and passport card online. They can be applied for individually or together as part of a bundle. If applying for a passport card on its own, you must have a valid passport book.
- HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO APPLY ONLINE?
A standard passport book online costs €80. A Large passport book online costs €110. A passport card costs €35. It is cheaper when you apply for a passport book and card at the same time.
- CAN I APPLY ONLINE IF MY PASSPORT IS LOST/STOLEN?
Yes, but your application may take a little longer to process.
- MY PASSPORT HAS BEEN DAMAGED, CAN I GET A NEW ONE?
Yes, if for example your passport data page has cracked or you have put your passport through the washing machine you can apply online.
- I HAVE MORE THAN 12 MONTH’S VALIDITY ON MY PASSPORT. CAN I APPLY ONLINE?
No. In order to apply online, you must have less than 12 month’s validity remaining on your current passport. This does not apply for applications due to lost, stolen or damaged passports.
- MY PASSPORT HAS BEEN EXPIRED FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS. CAN I APPLY ONLINE?
No. In order to apply online, your passport must have expired less than 5 years ago.
- MY PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED AND I WISH TO CHANGE THE NAME ON MY PASSPORT. CAN I APPLY ONLINE?
No. If you are changing your name, you must apply through Passport Express at a post office or by appointment at one of our offices
- HOW LONG WILL THE ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS TAKE?
The online application will take approximately 10 minutes, provided you already have your digital photo or photo code ready to upload.
