Irish passport: Know how to apply

The Department of Foreign Affairs reported on November 3 that they hit the landmark of one million passports in the current calendar year with two months left to spare. The growth is due to UK's planned exit from the European Union. With an Irish passport, you can travel to 27 European countries without a limit on stays.

Who are eligible for an Irish Passport?

People who are natives or whose parents were born in Ireland before can apply for a passport directly with less hassle. If you were born in Ireland after 2005, it depends on multiple factors like the period of your parent's stay and more.

You can claim citizenship by descent if your grandparents were from Ireland. Anyone of your parents is from Ireland? Then you qualify for "Foreign Birth Registration" even if you were born elsewhere. The processing time for such people is almost two years.

How can one apply for an Irish passport?

The Foreign Birth Registration costs €278 for citizenship. After which you can apply for a passport. The Passport book costs €75. You can find a list of supporting documents on their website that varies for the type of application. You should keep a credit or debit card handy for payment.

FAQs:

1. Can I apply for an Irish passport if I am not from Ireland?
   Yes, you can apply for it if anyone of your parent or grandparent was from Ireland.
2. Why should I apply for an Irish passport?
   It will give you access to 27 European countries with no limit on the time spent there.