Advertisement

Readers like you keep news free for everyone.

More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.

Support us today
Not now
Monday 20 March 2023 Dublin: 14°C

# Passports

Last year
2022
# Papers Please
Over one million Irish passports issued in 2022, setting new record
The previous all-time high was 935,000 passports in 2019.
# Delays
Nearly fivefold increase in the number of complaints to the Passport Office this year
Complaints relate to the long delays as well as citizenship issues.
# How's the form?
Passport Office to increase staff and tweak child application process in response to surge
The requirement for children to get parental consent forms witnessed by gardaí has been an issue.
# Passports
Almost 60,000 children's passport applications remain outstanding, says Dept of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said that there had been over 500,000 passports issued in 2022 so far.
# Delays
Passport Office 'upscaling' to respond to massive increase in demand, says Coveney
Last month, 170,000 passports went out successfully, said Minister Simon Coveney.
# passport delays
'Significant delays' in processing new passports caused by a surge in demand
First-time passport applications and children’s passports, particularly for foreign-born children are seeing the longest delays.
All time
# Afghanistan
Taliban government resumes issuing Afghan passports in Kabul
The international community has so far not recognised the present Taliban government that was formed soon after the chaotic withdrawal of US-led foreign troops.
# Passports
'Pent-up demand' could see a record 1.75m passport applications to process next year
The number of passports has never even reached 1 million in a year before.
# Passport Office
Woman's passport renewal in limbo after a five-month Covid delay, a tech glitch and 'no one to help'
The Galway woman is planning to leave the country next month, and has waited five months for her 10-year-old son’s passport to be renewed.
# minister for foreign affairs
Cabinet to consider making Passport Office an essential service amid backlog of 90,000 requests
About a third of the Passport Office staff are currently working on site.
# level 5
'Enough is enough now - I need my passport back': Months of frustration as Passport Office backlog stands at 83,000
Applicants who submitted documents as far back as November and December are still waiting to get them back.
Passport Office to begin processing some applications as categories of 'reasonable excuses' for travel expanded
Passport Office unable to say when people who sent their passport in pre-lockdown will get it back
# level 5
Passport Office to begin processing some applications as categories of 'reasonable excuses' for travel expanded
People have expressed their frustration at having to wait since Christmas for their passport application to be processed.
# level 5
Passport Office unable to say when people who sent their passport in pre-lockdown will get it back
The Passport Office has said it won’t resume normal service until the end of Level 5 restrictions.
# Passports
Department of Foreign Affairs dismisses worker for issuing fraudulent passports after five-year paid suspension
The worker was eventually dismissed in December 2019 after the suspension.
# Department of Foreign Affairs
Number of Irish passports issued this year fell by 60%
The most popular baby girls’ names were Olivia, Mia and Saoirse, while Noah, Adam and Cillian topped the baby boys’ list.
# Passport Office
Making PSC mandatory for all passport applications would have meant 'significantly' longer waiting times
The Department of Foreign Affairs was unwilling to make it a requirement.
# PSC
Public Services Card no longer needed to apply for a passport
The Taoiseach says the Data Commissioner has declined to meet with Minister Doherty.
# Brexit
Over half a million people have applied for Irish passports so far this year
The Passport Office has been receiving more than 100,000 applications each month.
# handle the pressure
€13 million contract for new IT system and 230 new staff as Passport Service aims to cope with demand
It comes as part of the passport reform programme and, despite the rise in complaints in recent years, Coveney is confident it’ll make a difference.
# Brexit
British passports are now being issued without the words 'European Union'
The change came into effect from 30 March.
# Travel plans
More than 230,000 people have applied for Irish passports so far this year
Over 5,000 people are expected to apply this weekend.
# turnaround times
Number of complaints against Passport Service increases almost fivefold in two years
Coveney has previously said the Passport Office experienced some “real problems” last year.
# common travel area
Travel Identity cards and Free State passports: how Irish people travelled to the UK before free movement
The two countries have enjoyed free movement between them since 1952.
# CONSTITUENTS
Tánaiste says TDs using their offices for passport deliveries is 'unhelpful'
Coveney insisted it is not quicker for people to go through their TD compared with applying online or through the normal channels.
# austerity measure
'A recovery for whom?': Government slammed for refusal to reintroduce free passport for pensioners
Free passports for pensioners were done away with under austerity measures, but there are calls now to bring it back.
# Golden Ticket
Irish passports issued to UK increase, while numbers fall in France, Germany and Spain
There’s been a huge jump in passport applications from Northern Ireland since Brexit.
# Passport Office
Parents to be able to renew their children's passports online by end of the year
Significant improvements are planned at the Passport Office.
# crisis
Venezuelans rush to Peru to beat passport deadline as mass exodus continues
Local churches have been handing out food to the weary and hungry migrants as they wait.
# coombe
Drugs, cash, and fake passports seized in Dublin raid
Two men were arrested in connection with the investigation.
# pettigo post office
A post office on the border has seen a 15 fold increase in passport requests from Northern Ireland citizens
Pettigo is the only town on the island of Ireland that’s split down the middle by the UK-Irish border.
# summer peak
TDs inundated with requests for passports due to the summer backlog
TDs can make representations to the Passport Office on behalf of distressed constituents whose passport applications are taking longer than expected.
# Prime Numbers
How many passport applications took up to eight weeks to process? It's the week in numbers
Plus: The number of people affected by sex trafficking that Ruhama supported last year.
# Holiday Plans
A missed wedding and missed phone calls: Passport Office apologises for delays
It is “a matter of immense frustration” for staff that it’s taking longer than planned to process some applications, the Public Accounts Committee has been told.
# Passports
'I surpass any requirements for a passport' - Mother faces being split from children in citizenship wrangle
Megan Crowley lives in Belfast and has two young daughters.
# Passports
Politicians made nearly 5,000 representations to the Passport Office on behalf of their constituents
Five TDs – including a minister – made over 100 representations to the Passport Office on behalf of individuals in the last two years.
# Venezuela
'I felt totally lost': Department in u-turn over decision to deny Venezuelan man a Public Services Card
He was denied a PSC as a result of having an expired passport due to Venezuela’s printing shortage crisis.
# Brexit demand
More people now want Irish passports in Britain than the North
Demand from the UK has reached record levels.
# record year
20% of Irish passports issued this year were for people in Northern Ireland and Great Britain
Ths year saw the highest number of Irish passports ever issued in one year.
# sun wot won it
'Stunning Brexit victory': The Sun claims credit for UK passports becoming blue again
In its story announcing the news, The Sun said that the UK government had agreed to its demands.
# passport problems
Some migrants left in limbo in Ireland over struggle to prove their identity
Ireland’s immigration authorities face difficulties processing migrants because of handwritten passports and translation gaps.