> How to apply

To hold an Irish passport you must be an Irish citizen.

Important Change to Passport Application Processing in 2005

A new Irish passport has been introduced on a phased basis since early 2005. The new passport incorporates a polycarbonate data page with enhanced security features. Changes have also been made to the design and security features of the paper pages.

Production of the new passport has been centralised in Ireland using the most advanced production techniques. The new passport will be a highly secure document that will offer increased protection to Irish travellers.

It is extremely important to take care of your passport while in China. If your passport is lost or stolen, you will not be able to leave China without first obtaining a replacement passport (issued by the Embassy or Consulate) and a replacement visa (issued by the Chinese authorities) as well as a police report. This can take more than a week. You will not be permitted to take an internal flight in China or check into a hotel without your passport, but you can travel by train

It is advisable to take a copy of your passport and a copy of your Visa.

What this means for Irish citizens in China

Emergency travel documents will be issued by the Embassy or Consulate for absolute emergencies only . Emergency travel documents have 4 pages for stamps and visas and a validity period to cover the emergency but no longer than 1 year in any event. This is the only type of passport that can be issued in the event of an emergency.

Processing of passport applications will take a minimum of 4/5 weeks.

What you need to do

Keep your passport in a safe place and know where it is at all times. Do the same with your children's passports.

Check how many pages are left for entry-exit stamps. Consider your future travel plans and apply well before you run out of pages for stamps.

Check the expiry date of your passport and that of your children and apply in good time for a new passport. Some countries require that your passport has six months validity remaining before you travel there.

A new passport can be applied for at any stage during the lifetime of your current passport. You can retain your current passport until your new one is available.

If your current passport is handwritten it continues to be valid until its date of expiry. However, a machine-readable passport is required for entry into the United States under the Visa Waiver program ( for more information click here ).

How to Apply

Passport application forms (APS 2) are available on request from the Embassy, Consulate and Honorary Consulate.

In addition the following should accompany your application:

- two recent passport-sized photographs (should not be more than six months old, 35mm x 45mm in size), signed on the back by the witness of identity named at Section 9 of APS 2 form;
- proof of Irish citizenship
- If you are applying for the first time for an Irish passport and you were born in Ireland, you must provide the original long form of your birth certificate.
- If born outside Ireland to an Irish-born parent, you must provide the original long form of your birth certificate, the original long form certificate of your Irish parent as well as the original of your parent's civil marriage certificate
- your most recent Irish passport (if applicable)
- the appropriate fee
- long form birth certificate in all cases where the application is for a child "  

The following Passport Fees will apply from 11 April 2011

1.For applicants in Taiwan , Mongolia

Fees for Passport applications lodged in Beijing may be paid in cash, by Chinese postal order or by bank draft

Please carry the exact change if you intend to pay by cash.

Postal orders should be made out to: 爱尔兰使馆 ( The Embassy of Ireland). The applicants name and date of birth should be written in the comments at the bottom of the postal order.
Bank drafts must be made out to: Department of Foreign Affairs,Ireland. The applicants name and date of birth should be written on the back of the bank draft.

In the event the applications is for a child please have the name of the buyer of the postal order or bank draft written on the back.

The Embassy cannot accept Personal Euro Cheques.

Also.

Applicants from outside the Beijing area, Should include cost of Courier fees for when the passport is being returned.