All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 (“The 2008 Act”).Under Section 14(1) of the Act, the consent of a child’s guardian(s) must be given before the Passport Service can issue them a passport.
In order to protect the integrity of the Irish passport and the rights of the child and their guardian(s), it is important that the Child Identity and Consent form is correctly completed and validated by the Passport Service for both first time and renewal applications for children.
When completing a child's application online, applicants will be instructed to print the identity and consent form. This form has the child’s photo and their details watermarked through the page to safeguard the child's information and identity.
A very small number of applicants experience issues when printing the form. This could be due to the browser, the device or printer used in the process.
The Passport Service has public education materials, including video tutorials on completing and submitting identity and consent forms for children and detailed instructions on the application process, available online: www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/how-to-apply-for-a-passport/first-child-passport/. These materials are regularly communicated to citizens via our social media channels.
Additionally, should assistance be required with an application, our Customer Service agents are available through phone and webchat services from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. They can be contacted at +353 1 671 1633, or via the WebChat service: www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/passports/contact-us/#webchat.
The Passport Service continuously reviews ways to make the application process easier for all applicants. We will review our website to ensure that all relevant information and steps are recorded.
The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport was recently ranked 3rd in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to over 190 countries.
