Irish Passport Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Process of Getting Irish Passport by Investment

You can obtain residency in Ireland by investing in the country through the Ireland Immigrant Investor Visa Program. Once you invest in the nation’s economy, you will be provided with a Stamp 4 visa that will allow you to stay there as a resident.

You can apply for Irish citizenship after maintaining your residency for five years. Suppose you have any queries regarding your application. In that case, you might want to contact the Immigration Service Delivery at the Department of Justice and Equality or consult with a Golden Visa specialist.

Applicants need to keep in mind that they need to be physically present and tax resident of Ireland to obtain citizenship in the country. After obtaining your citizenship certificate, you can apply for your passport through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Ireland.

Eligibility

If you are planning to obtain Irish citizenship, you need to fulfill the following criteria:

• You need to be 18 years old or above.
• You are not an EEA national.
• You have no criminal record.
• Your net worth is at least €2 million.
• You will be investing without applying for any loan.

Investment options under the Ireland Golden Visa Program

As per Ireland’s Golden Visa program, you can place your investment in the country and qualify for residency via four routes:

• Enterprise Investment
• Approved Investment Funds
• Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
• Endowment

Enterprise Investment

Under this option, you must make a minimum investment of €1,000,000 in an enterprise or business in Ireland. Applicants must ensure they maintain this investment for at least three years.

Investment Fund

You can also make a minimum investment of €1,000,000 in an approved investment fund in Ireland and sustain it for at least three years to qualify for the program.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

If you are planning to make a low-risk investment in Ireland, you can choose to invest in a Real Estate Investment Trust. Please note that the minimum investment under this option is €2,000,000, and you need to maintain the investment for at least three years.

Endowment

Under this option, you can donate to a qualifying philanthropic project in the country. In this case, you have to make a minimum charitable donation of €500,000.

You need to collect and submit the following documents when you apply for Ireland’s Golden Visa program:

• Your full civil birth certificate
• Proof of your address and name
• A copy of your Public Services Card or original government-issued photo identification document.
• Proof of your net worth of at least €2,000,000, declaring your business and investment endeavors from the last year, and showcasing general income, financial investments, and loans under your name.
• Proof of having the minimum required funds for investment and your capability to invest it in Ireland.
• Proof of the source of your funds, highlighting how you have received the funds and where you want to use them for investments.
• Deeds of Sale
• Inheritance and Gifts (if required)
• Divorce Settlement (if required)
• Proof of your good character. You can get statements of character from every country you lived in for more than six months in the last ten years and submit those statements with your application as proof of your moral standing.
• You must also provide a statement of character for any of your children included in your application form who are over the age of 16.

Residency

Investors can become eligible for Irish citizenship by fulfilling specific residency requirements over a five-year period:

• Year before application: You must have completed 365 days (one year) of continuous reckonable residence in Ireland immediately before applying for citizenship.
• Eight-year period: Over the eight years preceding your application, you must have accumulated 1,460 days (four years) of continuous reckonable residence in Ireland.

“Continuous reckonable residence” implies that you should not spend more than six weeks outside of Ireland in any given year. If you exceed this six-week limit in any year, that year cannot be counted towards your “continuous reckonable residence.”

Naturalization

After your application is verified and approved, a letter will be shared with you affirming that you have been given the certificate of naturalization. You will be required to be present at your citizenship ceremony in Ireland. Once you complete all these steps, you will be eligible to obtain an Irish passport. Applicants must keep in mind that only adults are required to attend the citizenship ceremony.

Citizenship ceremony

This is the last step of your naturalization process. At the citizenship ceremony, you reaffirm your loyalty and commitment to Ireland. After you declare, complete your naturalization process and get your certificate. Applicants must note that this step is crucial and mandatory to complete their naturalization process.

Get your Irish passport

Once your naturalization process is complete, you become an Irish citizen. You will also receive your Irish passport after applying for it through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Processing Time for the Irish Citizenship by Investment

The processing time for Irish citizenship by investment typically ranges from nine to twelve months, starting from the application submission to the point of approval. This timeframe is an estimate and can vary depending on several factors.

During this period, the application undergoes a comprehensive review process. This involves a thorough assessment of the documentation provided, ensuring that all the requirements for the investment program are met. The authorities verify the legitimacy and source of the funds being invested and conduct background checks on the applicants to uphold security and legal standards.

Dual citizenship

Ireland permits dual citizenship. Even if you are a citizen of a different country, you can obtain Irish citizenship and maintain your original citizenship if both countries allow it.

Irish Passport Renewal

Irish citizens can renew their passports from any location globally using the Passport Online service. Adult passports, issued to those 18 and over, are valid for 10 years. If your current passport is set to expire within the next 12 months, you are eligible to apply for a renewal.

A first-time adult passport application is necessary for individuals who have never had a passport or whose last passport was issued over 15 years ago. Alongside the passport book, you can apply for a passport card when using the online service.

Online application requirements

To apply online via Passport Online, you will need:

• A digital photograph adhering to the specified photo guidelines.
• A credit or debit card for payment.
• An email address for communication and updates.
• Your current passport, unless it is lost or stolen.

If your passport expires more than 12 months away, you must submit your current passport to the Passport Service, except in cases where it is lost or stolen. Typically, an adult renewal doesn’t require additional supporting documents.

Application processing time

The time it takes to process a passport renewal, known as the turnaround time, is consistent regardless of the applicant’s country of residence. These times do not account for the duration it takes for the post to deliver the passport. The processing period for applications needing additional documents starts from the day the Passport Service receives these documents. If further supporting documents are requested by the Passport Service, the processing time may be extended.

Average processing times by application type:

• Simple Adult Renewal: Approximately 10 working days.
• Complex Adult Renewal: About 15 working days.
• Child Renewal: Typically 15 working days.
• First Time Online Application (Adult and Child): Around 20 working days.
• Passport Card Application: Between 3 to 5 working days.
• Post Passport (paper) Application: Estimated at 8 weeks.

Urgent renewals

For urgent renewals, an in-person Urgent Appointment Service is available at the Mount St office in Dublin, the Cork office, and the London office. More information about this service can be found on the official website.

Cost of passport application

The cost varies depending on the application method and the type of passport chosen. When applying online, the fees are as follows:

• €75 for a standard 10-year passport.
• €105 for a large 66-page 10-year passport.
• €100 for a standard passport and Passport Card bundle.
• An additional postal fee of €15 is applicable if you reside outside Ireland.

Lost, Stolen, and Damaged Passports

If your passport is lost or stolen, you should immediately apply for a new one through Passport Online. This ensures your lost or stolen passport is reported and prevents its misuse. For a lost, stolen, or damaged passport, the online application process requires:

• A digital photograph meeting the photo guidelines.
• A credit or debit card for payment.
• An email address.
• Access to a printer.

If your passport is lost, stolen, or damaged on holiday, you might need an emergency travel document to return home. Contact the nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate for assistance. Do not travel on a damaged passport; instead, apply for a replacement and return the damaged one.

Alternative application methods

While Passport Online is the fastest method, if you’re in Ireland, Northern Ireland, or Great Britain and prefer not to apply online, you can use a paper passport form. In these regions, paper applications are processed through the Post Passport service.

Is It Worth Having an Irish Passport?

Having an Irish passport is considered valuable for several reasons:

• Travel freedom: Irish passports are among the most powerful in terms of visa-free travel. This allows for easy travel and business opportunities in numerous countries worldwide.
• EU membership: As Ireland is an EU member, an Irish passport provides the right to live, work, and study in any EU country. This offers a significant level of flexibility and mobility within Europe.
• Global recognition and stability: Ireland is known for its stable political environment and positive international relations, contributing to the high regard for its passport.
• Access to education and healthcare: Irish citizens have access to high-quality education and healthcare systems, both in Ireland and across the EU.
• Business opportunities: With an Irish passport, conducting business in Ireland and the EU becomes more straightforward due to reduced regulatory hurdles and access to a vast market.

Do I Need to Stay in Ireland?

For residency leading to citizenship (not specifically ‘citizenship by investment’), Ireland has its own set of rules:

• Residency requirements for citizenship: Generally, to qualify for Irish citizenship through naturalization, you must have been a resident in Ireland for a certain period, typically five years out of the last nine. This includes one year of continuous residence immediately before your application.
• Investment and residency: If you’re considering residency through investment, Ireland offers the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP). This doesn’t directly grant citizenship but can lead to residency. Under the IIP, you’re required to maintain your investment and comply with residency rules, but these do not necessarily require full-time residence in Ireland.
• Path to citizenship: After fulfilling residency requirements, you may apply for citizenship through naturalization. This process is separate from the investment and requires you to meet all standard criteria for naturalization.

How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments. 

We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application. 

Frequently Asked Questions about the Irish Passport

How long to get Irish passport?

If you are applying online for your first Irish passport, it would take around 20 working days to get your application processed. On the other hand, if you are applying via post, it would take around eight weeks for your application to get processed.

How can you track the progress of your application?

Through the Irish Government Passport Service, you can check the status of your application online. Make sure to keep your application form number handy to use this service.

Where is the Irish passport office?

The Department of Foreign Affairs is located in Dublin at: 

Knockmaun House, 42-47 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, D02 TN83, Ireland.

Irish passport photo requirements?

You need to submit four recent photographs of yourself with your application form. Two of these photos must be signed on the backside by the person who has witnessed the application.

How powerful is the Irish passport?

With a mobility score of 172, the Irish passport ranks among the top 10 passports globally. 

How can you qualify for an Irish passport?

You must be an Irish citizen to qualify for an Irish passport. If you were born in Ireland before 2005 or if you were born abroad to a parent who was born in Ireland before 2005, then you are automatically an Irish citizen. If you don’t fall under any of these categories, then you need to obtain citizenship through investment in Ireland.

Can a non-Irish citizen get an Irish passport?

Non-Irish citizens can obtain an Irish passport if-

• One of their parents was born in Ireland (Citizenship by descent).
• One of their grandparents was born in Ireland/one of your parents was an Irish Citizen at the time of your birth (Foreign Birth Registration Certificate).
• They have a certificate of naturalization. 

How do I get an Irish passport by descent?

If you or your parents were born in Ireland before 2005, you can obtain an Irish passport by descent. 

What are the rights of Irish citizens?

The rights of Irish citizens are:

• Freedom to carry a strong Irish passport
• Live and work in Ireland indefinitely without restriction
• Vote in general elections, constitutional referendums, or presidential elections
• Be elected a member of the Irish government and Council of the European Union
• Live, travel, and work in any EU country

Is Irish citizenship valuable?

Ireland has one of the most valuable citizenships available. Irish passport holders enjoy freedom of movement throughout the EU, as well as visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to 174 countries worldwide. Ireland is considered one of the safest countries in Europe and the world, and Irish citizens have access to a high standard of education and enhanced social benefits.

How many generations can you go back for Irish citizenship?

You can acquire Irish citizenship by tracing your ancestry up to the third generation. This means that you are eligible if your parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth. However, it’s important to note that having ancestors beyond the third generation, such as great-great-grandparents, who were Irish citizens does not grant you eligibility for Irish citizenship.