Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
437. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if consideration is being given to reducing the two year waiting time for a person to change their name on their passport after having their name changed by deed poll; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42256/21]
View answerAll passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and procedures that are applied by the Passport Service in the issue of passports.
Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on his/her birth certificate or naturalisation certificate. However, a name change for a passport from that which appears on a person’s birth certificate is permitted under the Act in situations such as marriage, civil partnership etc. where civil, or legal documents are available to verify this change
In cases where name change arises, other than by marriage or civil partnership etc, the Act requires evidence of the use of this new name over a two year period. In very sensitive cases there is discretion under the Act for accepting evidence of usage for less than two years.
The question of what a person’s name is at any given moment in time depends upon its usage and the evidence to support the constant and sustained use of this new identity. Evidence of this for at least two years’ through documentation such as bills/bank statements/official correspondence is required as a deed poll is not adequate evidence of the constant use of a new name. This policy seeks to protect the integrity and security of the Irish passport and guard against passport or identity fraud.
