Summer 2010
Travel can be stressful enough without having to worry about whether your own or your kids’ passports will be ready and are in date for holidays.
The best advice is to apply as early as you can, so that your holidays documents are in order by the time you jet off.
British passports
Renewing an adult passport
You can apply to renew your passport, if you still have their last passport and it was a standard UK adult ten-year passport, it is undamaged and you do need need to change your name or national status.
You do not need to wait until your passport expires before renewing it. If there is any time left on the old passport, the Identity and Passport Service will add the time to the new version, up to a maximum of nine months.
The standard processing time for getting a renewed passport from filling in the documents to receiving it, is usually three weeks, excluding postage time but bear in mind that the summertime is always going to be extremely busy and you are recommended not to make any travel arrangements without having a valid passport.
Urgent applications
If time is not on your side, then the IPS advise applicants to use the Check and Send service offered by a number of Post Office branches. You usually get your passport quicker this way, with a turnaround time of two weeks. Staff will check your documents, application form and forward your details securing to the IPS. The handling fee for this is currently £8 and for more information on this service visit www.postoffice.co.uk
If you need to renew your passport within two weeks, IPS state that you should use their Fast Track one-week service or the Premium one-day service. For either of these options, you have to make an appointment and with the one-day service, appointments before 12 noon, will receive their passport the same day. Your holiday spending money will take a hit if you go down these two routes. The current fee for the one-week Fast Track service is £112.50 and £129.50 for the Premium.
Track your application
The 10-digit number on the front of your application form is important to note down. Or if you used the Check and Send service or applied in person, use the barcode number on your receipt. Telephone the passport advice line on 0300 222 0000 and unless your travel plans change, wait the two weeks before enquiring about your passport’s progress.
First adult passport - £77.50
Replacement passport - £77.50
First child passport - £49
Replacement child passport - £49
Passport renewal - £77.50
Renewal child passport - £49
(All fees relate to standard postal applications only, excluding any outside handling fees)
Irish passports
How to apply for an Irish passport
All children, regardless of age, must obtain an individual Irish passport in their own name. Children under three, can apply for a three-year passport and those aged three to 17 can apply for a five-year passport. Every passport application for a passport of a child under 18 must be accompanied by the full birth certificate showing the name of the child’s parents.
Replacement passports are no longer issued. So, if for example, you have got married and wish to change your name, or you have lost your passport or damaged it, then you must apply for a new one.
Postal applications
Application forms for passports are available at all Garda stations, Post Offices which offer the Passport Express service and ordered from the passport offices in Dublin and Cork. They are not available online.
The recommended option when applying by post, is to use the Passport Express service. This costs £6 and covers express postage to and from the passport office. Up until recently, there was a ten-day turnaround time for receiving your passport, but that has been suspended until further notice. Current information on the Department of Foreign Affairs website states that there is a current waiting time of 25 working days.
Urgent applications
If you need your passport in a hurry, you can pay a Public Counter Urgent Fee, which is payable upon proof of urgent travel like airline tickets, that needs to be issued on the same day or next day. This costs €55 for adults and €30 for children, when applying in person.
Track your application
You can track your passport application through the Department of Foreign Affairs website at www.dfa.ie You need the number in the top left hand corner of the application form or if you received a receipt from the Post Office, it is under the barcode on the receipt.
Adult passport - €80
Issue of passport to child under three, valid for three years - €16
Issue of passport to child aged three to 17, valid for five years - €26.50
Public counter urgent fee - €55 adult, €30 child
Out of hours emergency administration fee - €110 adult, €55 child