Irish Passports

Passport Information

Do I qualify for an Irish Passport

I live in Britain, can I qualify for an Irish passport?

  • If you were born on the island of Ireland before 1 January 2005, you are automatically an Irish citizen. You can apply for a passport.
  • If you were born on the island of Ireland to at least one parent who was an Irish citizen, you are automatically an Irish citizen. You can apply for a passport.
  • If at least one of your grandparents was born on the island of Ireland, you can become an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration.
  • If one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, even though you were not born on the island of Ireland. You can become an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration. 

After you have successfully applied for the Foreign Birth Registration, you can apply for an Irish passport. 

How to apply for an Irish passport from Britain

You can find out how to apply to the Foreign Birth Register here.

You can find out how to apply for an Irish passport on the Irish Embassy website here. This page has details on fees, documents, photos and witnesses. 

You can renew your Irish passport online here. 

First-time passport application for adults

Apply for your passport or passport card, from anywhere in the world, on a smartphone, tablet or personal computer. This secure and convenient service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, 

Applications will be processed within the current processing times. If you need to submit documents, the processing time will only start when we receive them.

Adult passports are valid for 10 years. If your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago, you need to apply as a first-time applicant.

You can also apply for a passport card along with your passport book when you apply online.

How to apply online

To apply using Passport Online you will need:

When online application is not possible

If you are resident in Britain and applying for your first passport you must submit an APS2E application form to the Passport Service. You can pick up an APS2E application form from:

  • Your nearest Irish centre 
  • The Irish Passport Office in London, 114A Cromwell Road, SW7 4ES
  • Consulate of Ireland, Edinburgh
  • Consulate of Ireland, Cardiff
  • Contact the Embassy here and they will send a form to you.

Post Passport: Available at some UK Post Office branches, including: 

  • Cardiff Post Office, 83 - 85 Queen Street, Cardiff, CF10 2NX 
  • Glasgow Post Office, 140 West Nile Street, Glasgow, G1 2RD 
  • Liverpool Post Office, 1 – 3 South John Street, Liverpool, L1 8BN 

You can read all the latest passport information on the Embassy website here