Ireland issues more than 1 million passports through online services

Written By: Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar is a Senior Journalist at Travel and Tour World with more than 10 years of experience in travel and tourism journalism. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, he combines strong research, industry knowledge and storytelling expertise to produce engaging, insightful and impactful travel news and fascinating feature stories.

See Full Bio

January 5, 2024 12:22 PM

Image generated with Ai

In 2023, Ireland achieved a significant milestone by issuing almost one million passports through its Passport Online service, a testament to the success of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs in streamlining and modernizing the passport application process. The daily issuance rate, ranging between 2,000 and 3,000 passports, reflects the efficiency and accessibility of the online service.

Notably, the Irish authorities implemented online changes in 2023, particularly benefiting first-time applicants and simplifying the process for obtaining a child’s first passport. Adult renewal applications were processed swiftly, often within two working days, showcasing the effectiveness of the Passport Service’s digital enhancements.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, praised the Customer Service Hub’s performance, which managed over 600,000 queries and calls from citizens in 2023. Looking ahead, Martin anticipates a busy year for the Passport Service in 2024 and encourages travelers to use the Passport Online service for renewals or initial applications.

The Passport Service also achieved success in reducing the processing time for Foreign Birth Registrations (FBR) by 75%, from over 2.5 years in 2022 to eight months in 2023. This improvement benefits individuals born abroad claiming Irish citizenship through descent.

Passport Online’s global reach expanded, offering first-time applicants the ability to apply in 175 additional countries. The service now covers 99.9% of global first-time and renewal applicants, making it a convenient and accessible option for citizens worldwide.

The age diversity of passport applicants ranged from four to 103 years old, highlighting the broad demographic served by the Passport Service. Dublin residents led in the number of applications, followed by citizens from Cork, Antrim, Galway, and Kildare. Internationally, the United States topped the list in passport applications, with Australia, Canada, France, and Spain following suit.

The Passport Service’s recognition in customer experience is noteworthy, ranking 18th among 150 public-facing organizations in a Customer Experience (CX) group survey. The Customer Service Hub’s nomination for the “Best Customer Service Team” award at the 2023 Customer Experience Awards further underscores its commitment to excellence.

Ireland’s passport currently holds the 19th position in the VisaGuide.World Passport Index, granting holders visa-free travel to 111 countries and passport-free access to 32 countries. The recent launch of an online platform for foreigners to apply for Irish citizenship further demonstrates Ireland’s commitment to accessibility and efficiency in immigration processes.