Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
723. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if documentation (details supplied) is sufficient in order to fully consider an application for a first Irish passport for a naturalised Irish citizen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42565/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 7(1) of The Passports Act 2008, as amended (the 2008 Act), provides that the Minister shall be satisfied that a person is an Irish citizen and as to their identity before issuing a passport. Section 7(2) of the 2008 Act provides that the Minister may require a passport applicant to provide such information and documents as he considers necessary or expedient to enable him to issue a passport.
The Irish passport was recently ranked 6th in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 187 countries. This is something we can all be proud of. However, in order to maintain this ranking and to protect the integrity of the Irish passport, the Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship, as outlined above. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place for first time applications. While detailed checks are necessary for such applications, once citizenship and identity has been verified and a first passport has been issued, all subsequent passport applications for the applicant are processed as renewal applications.
As outlined on the Passport Service section of my Department's website, the documents listed below are required for a first time passport application for a naturalised Irish citizen currently living in Ireland. The Passport Service may request additional documents at any point in the application process, as provided for under the 2008 Act.
- Identity verification form.
- Original Naturalisation Certificate.
- 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.
- Photographic identification:
- The Public Services Card is the most efficient way for you to verify your identify. This ensures that your application can be processed quickly. We only need a photocopy of your PSC card.
- If you do not have a Public Services Card, you must submit an original government issued photographic identification. This could be an original passport from another country or a certified copy of your driver’s licence (certified by a solicitor or notary public).
