Róisín Shortall
Ceist:175 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the documentation required when applying for an Irish passport; if a birth certificate is always required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9533/02]
Written Answers. - Passport Applications.
Only Irish citizens may obtain an Irish passport. Documentary evidence in the following forms must be provided to confirm entitlement to Irish citizenship by first time passport applicants: If born in Ireland – long form birth certificate; and born outside Ireland to an Irish born parent – long form birth certificate, Irish parent's long form birth certificate and parent's civil marriage certificate.
Additional documentary evidence is required from persons who have acquired Irish citizenship by naturalisation, foreign births registration or post nuptial declaration.
In cases where such documentary evidence is not available, for instance where a birth in Ireland has not been registered, the passport office may provide temporary passport facilities on the basis of alternative evidence of birth in Ireland such as a baptismal certificate. In such cases the Passport Office requests that the person arrange for late registration of his or her birth with the registrar of births so that full passport facilities may subsequently be provided.
Where a person has already been issued with full passport facilities and requires a new passport, for example, an existing passport is out of date, the Passport Office does not require to be supplied with the applicant's birth certificate again. In such cases the applicant's existing passport along with a fresh application should be submitted in order for the new passport to be issued.
Details of passport procedures, including the documentation which is required, may be found on passport application forms copies of which are available from all Garda stations, most post offices and the passport offices in Dublin and Cork. This information may also be found on the Department's website www.irlgov.ie/iveagh.