Tanaiste has announced that over 230,000 passport applications were received to date in 2019
News
16 March 2019The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D.,
has announced that over 230,000 passport applications were received to date in 2019
You can renew your Irish passport online on St. Patrick’s Day - or any other day of the year!
The demand from Irish citizens for passport services continues to grow. The Passport Service has received more than 230,000 passport applications to date in 2019, a 30% increase compared to the same period last year.
2018 saw over 860,000 Irish passports issued - the highest number of Irish passports ever issued in one year.
There are a number of reasons for this increase in demand, including a tendency towards early renewal and an increase in the number of Irish people travelling. Over 70% of all passport applications last year came from the island of Ireland.
To meet demand, and improve its customer service, the Passport Service continues to innovate. The award-winning Online Passport Renewal Service was expanded in late 2018, to allow both children and adults to renew online.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., said:
“Check your passports, including the children. Every year we get hundreds of cases of the parents being ready to go on holiday, bags packed, but the night before they realise one of their children’s passports is out. The quickest and most convenient way to get a passport is to use the award-winning online service.”
“Given the demand we are experiencing significant extra resources have been given to the passport service including hundreds of extra staff for processing and customer service.”
The Online Passport Renewal Service has significant benefits for citizens with faster turnaround times of just 10 working days and lower prices. Fees for all online applications are reduced by €5 across all application types, making it the fastest and most economical method of passport renewal.
Irish passport holders can renew their passport from anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.dfa.ie/passportonline. The online service is very popular with 70% of all eligible applicants now applying on line.
During St. Patrick’s weekend in 2018, over 2,500 people applied using the online service. Based on current trends, we would expect to see that number double this year.
Sign up for the Passport Reminder Service, it’s easy and takes only 2 minutes. Don’t get caught out with an expired passport when you are planning on getting away.
Interesting fact: Patrick remains one of the most popular Irish baby names for a boy, ranking in the top 20 names in 2018!
ENDs
Press Office
16 March 2019
