Written Answers Nos. 271-290
275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress that has been made to date in the determination of an application for a passport in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35515/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress that has been made to date in the determination of an application for a passport in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35517/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 277 together.
With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documents were received for these applications on 15 March 2022. On 1 May 2022, prior to the applications' estimated issue by date, the Passport Service contacted the applicants' parent to advise of further documents required to progress the passport applications. The Passport Service issued further communication to the parent on 10 May requesting this documentation. Further to two Parliamentary Questions submitted by the Deputy on 13 June 2022, the Passport Service sent the same communication again to the applicants' parent, reminding them of the documents that remain outstanding on the applications. The Passport Service is unable to process these applications until the required supporting documents are received.
281. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application for a child (details supplied) will be examined and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35577/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service were unable to identify it within our systems as no application number, name or date of birth was shared by the Deputy in the details supplied. The Passport Service made several attempts to contact the Deputy's office to obtain further details but unfortunately did not receive a response.
290. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if information will be provided in relation to an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35653/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. In order to meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement when making a first time passport application.
For a person born outside the island of Ireland who does not have British or Irish parents or grandparents, citizenship can be established by obtaining a naturalisation certificate from the Department of Justice. Once a person has obtained a naturalisation certificate they can then apply for an Irish passport, submitting the original naturalisation certificate along with the following supporting documents:
- Identity verification form.
- Full original civil birth certificate (version that includes the name(s) of the parent(s)).
- Original Civil marriage or Civil Partnership certificate (if applying for a passport in your married name).
- Proof of address such as Government correspondence, such as a letter from the Department of Social Protection or the Revenue Commissioners. If you do not have these, original utility bills, or bank statements can be considered.
- Proof of name such as Government correspondence such as a letter from the Department of Social Protection or the Revenue Commissioners. If you do not have these, original utility bills, or bank statements can be considered.
- You must submit one document as proof of name and one document as proof of address. It cannot be the same document.
- Government issued photographic identification.
In relation to the applicant's children, if they were born on the island of Ireland before 2005 they are automatically an Irish citizen.
The citizenship of persons born on the island of Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 is determined by the citizenship or residency status of one of their parents at the time of the person’s birth. If both parents are non-Irish citizens at the time of the child's birth and if neither of the parents are a British citizen, the citizenship of a child born in Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 is determined by the residency status of one of the parents at the time of the child’s birth. A child born on or after 1 January 2005 may claim citizenship by birth where a parent has been lawfully resident in the State for three years of the four years preceding his/her birth (a total of 1,095 days).
In order to prove this residency period of one of the parents when applying for a passport on behalf of their child, the parent must provide acceptable documentary evidence. The documents required to prove the residency period vary depending on whether the parent was an EU or non-EU citizen at the time of the child’s birth.
If the parent was an EU citizen at the time of the child’s birth, as in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, it is necessary to rely on the following list of documents to prove the parent’s residency in Ireland for three of the four years before the child’s birth (not all of the documents on the list may be required in every case):
- Tax records (P60 / P45 / P35L / Employment Detail Summary) for each year showing at least 35 weeks insurable employment.
- Notice of Assessment / Self Assessment records for each year and supporting documentation e.g. bank statements / domestic bills for each month
- Letter from Social Welfare/Intreo confirming type of benefit payment received and the dates to and from when the benefit was paid directly, this must be accompanied by a photocopy of parent’s PPS card front and back
- Rent Lease (must include contract page and signature of the parent whose residency is being considered) with receipts / utility bills/ rent book to confirm payments for each month
- Bank statements for each month showing regular transactions in and out of the account
- School/college letters confirming dates of attendance, full time courses undertaken and proof of exam results
- Declaration Form A: This is a sworn statement by the parent, giving details of their period of residency in Ireland.
Information on what is required for all first time passport applications, including details on documentary requirements, guardianship and consent, are available at my Department’s recently updated website (www.dfa.ie/passports/documentary-requirements/).
I advise all first time applicants to apply online, as it is by far the quickest and fastest way to make an application. The current processing time for first time online passport applications is 25 working days. Turnaround time starts from the date that supporting documents are received by the Passport Service, not the date the online application is made.
