Current Irish passports face delays in renewal, children and postage. The Irish Passport Service advises applicants not to book flights until they have received their passport
This time of year can be particularly busy for the Irish Passport Service as people rush to renew their passports ahead of the busy tourist season. The Passport Service advises not to book flights until all applicants have received their passports, but they have published average turnaround times to give you an idea of how long you'll be waiting.
Turnaround times vary depending on whether you are an adult simple renewal, first-time application or postal application. Here's everything you need to know about applying for your passport this summer:
Simple online renewal
When renewing your adult passport online, it takes only 10 working days on average. The Passport Service usually does not require any supporting documents for these applications.
First time applicants
It takes an average of 20 working days for first-time applicants as it is "the most complicated as all documents need to be verified". The Passport Service advises that you do not book any travel until you have received your passport as these applications cannot be expedited. For first-time applicants, you will need to submit additional documentation, and for children, consent from all parents will need to be verified.
Complex renewals/child renewals
The current turnaround time for online complex renewals is 15 working days. A complex renewal is when you renew a passport and you submit additional documentation or change information on your passport.
This includes changing your name and notifying the Passport Service of a lost or stolen passport. All applications for children are considered complex renewals, as consent from all parents must be verified.
Post Passport (Paper) Applications
Applying for your passport by post takes significantly longer than the passport online service. The average turnaround time for paper applications is eight weeks but the Passport Service cautions that this is not a service guarantee.
They advise you not to book flights until you get your passport. Once you have submitted a paper-based application, it cannot normally be expedited and the Passport Service cannot return your supporting documents to you before the application is complete.