How to apply for a Passport
Our How to Apply for a Passport Guide takes you through each step of your Irish Passport application. You can't apply online but the guide will answer some of the most common questions like:
- what form you need and where to get one
- documents you need to include
- photograph requirements
- witnessing an application form
- how to submit it
- passport fees
Application Forms
Application Forms
If you are resident outside of Ireland, you need to use an APS2 application form.
APS2 forms are available from the Embassy, Avenida Julius Nyerere, 3630, Maputo during consular services opening hours.
Applications must be made on an original APS2 application form. This application form is only available at Irish Embassies and Consulates; it is a different form to the form available from the Passport Office in Ireland.
Please read the notes and each section carefully before completing the application form. Application forms which are not correctly completed cannot be processed and this will cause delay.
Documents
Documentation
You will need to include:
- A completed, signed and witnessed APS2 application form. See the "Application Forms" tab for information on how to get a form
- 4 Passport Photographs (2 signed and marked with the form number by your witness)
- The correct fee in Mozambican Metical.
- Previous passport if you have had one
- Long form birth certificate. This must be included for all under 18s and for adults if you have lost your passport, or if applying for your first passport.
- Civil Marriage Certificate (if you are changing your name)
- Additional documents for first and/or lost passport applications. See below for information.
If you are applying for an Irish passport for the first time or have lost your passport you need to include the following:
- Your original long-form birth certificate and your original civil marriage certificate (if you've changed your surname).
- If these documents are not in English, you must also submit a certified English version of the originals, translated by a registered translator.
- A certified copy of your photo identification, such as your driver's licence, or the original copy of your passport from another country or your college identification card. You can get it certified by the person who witnesses your application form.
- An original document showing proof of your name, such as a pay slip, college registration correspondence or social welfare receipts.
- An original document showing proof of your address, such as a utility bill, bank statement or official correspondence from a public or private sector organisation.
Further documents are required in certain cases, please select from the option(s) below for information if:
- You were born outside Ireland to a parent born on the island of Ireland
- Neither of your parents were born in Ireland but you can claim Irish Citizenship by descent
- You are a Naturalised Irish Citizen
- You were born abroad and adopted under Irish Law
- You are a Post-Nuptial Citizen
If you were born outside Ireland to a parent born on the island of Ireland, you will also need:
- If the birth/marriage certificates are not in English, you must submit a certified English version of the original, translated by a registered translator.
If neither of your parents were born in Ireland but you can claim Irish Citizenship by descent, you will also need:
- Your original foreign birth registration certificate. Please see the citizenship section if you need to apply for this certificate.
- Your original naturalisation certificate. Please see the citizenship section for more information on this certificate.
- Your original long-form birth certificate and your original civil marriage certificate (if you've changed your surname).
If you are a naturalised Irish Citizen, you will also need:
- If the birth/marriage certificate is not in English, you must also submit certified English versions of the originals, translated by a registered translator.
Born Abroad and adopted under Irish Law
- Your certificate of entry by the Adoption Authority of Ireland in the Register of Foreign Adoptions.
- Your original civil marriage certificate (if you've changed your surname).
- A document that proves your adoptive parent was an Irish citizen at the time of your adoption, such as a long form birth certificate or an Irish passport.
- Your original post-nuptial certificate.
- Your original long-form birth certificate and your original civil marriage certificate (if you've changed your surname).
Post-Nuptial Citizen
- Your original post-nuptial certificate.
- Your original long-form birth certificate and your original civil marriage certificate (if you've changed your surname).
Photographs
Photo Guidelines
What are the guidelines for passport photographs?
The information below serves only as a general guide. Please see the more detailed instructions and examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos that accompany the application form.
Size
- Minimum: 35mm x 45mm
- Maximum: 38mm x 50mm
Lighting and focus
- Photos must be in sharp focus and correctly exposed
- Shadows from the head must NOT appear in the background
- Good colour balance and natural skin tones are essential
- 'Red eye' in photographs is not acceptable
- A clear contrast is needed between facial features and background
Photo quality
- Photos must be printed on photo-quality paper at a high resolution
- There should be no ink marks or creases
- Digital enhancements or changes are not acceptable
- The reverse of the photos must be white and unglazed
- Black and white photos are recommended as they're digitally printed onto the passport in black and white. But we also accept colour photos.
Passport photo do's and don'ts
Pose
- Do centre your head in the photo
- Do look directly at the camera
- Do make sure your facial features are clearly visible, from the bottom of your chin to the crown of your head
- Don't tilt your head up/down or left/right
Expression
- Do keep your facial expressions neutral (no raised eyebrows, frowns)
- Do keep both eyes open and your mouth closed
- Don't smile
Glasses, head covers and clothing
- Do wear your glasses (if you normally wear them) but make sure there's no reflection on the lenses and the frames don't obscure your eyes
- Don't wear sunglasses or glasses with tinted lenses, unless they're prescription
- Don't wear a head covering unless it's for religious or medical reasons
- Don't wear a uniform, civil or military (e.g. showing epaulettes, insignia)
Infants
Infants or very young children who can't support themselves should be photographed lying down on a plain, white surface. No one else should appear in the photo, so make sure that hands or arms used to support the child are not visible.
People with disabilities
If you have a disability that prevents you meeting all of these requirements, please use our contact us page to let us know and we will offer you further advice.
Witnessing your application
How to get your passport application witnessed
Identification (Section 9 of your application form)
Consent of parents/guardians (Section 7 of your application form)
Lost, stolen or damaged passports (Section 6 of your application form)
Identification
A member of one of the professions listed below can witness your passport application form as long as they are satisfied as to your identify and that your four photos are a true likeness of you. Make sure you bring photo identification with you and be aware that the witness may ask you for more proof of identification - this is at their discretion.
- Police officer
- Member of clergy
- Medical doctor
- Lawyer
- Bank manager/assistant bank manager
- Elected public representative
- Notary public/commissioner for oaths
- Peace commissioner
- School principal/vice principal
- Accountant
- Sign Section 8 of the form in the presence of the witness. Everyone aged seven and over must sign their own form
- Complete Section 9 of the form, including a work landline phone number - mobile phone numbers will not be accepted
- Insert the form number from Section 9 on the back of two of your four photos
- Sign and stamp the back of those two photos
You must:
- Sign Section 8 of the form in the presence of the witness. Everyone aged seven and over must sign their own form
The witness must:
- Complete Section 9 of the form, including a work landline phone number - mobile phone numbers will not be accepted
- Insert the form number from Section 9 on the back of two of your four photos
- Sign and stamp the back of those two photos
Remember...
Your application form is only valid for six months from the date your witness signs Section 9.
Consent of parents or guardians
This is an additional requirement for children. Everyone under the age of 18 must have the consent of their parents/guardians to get a passport and this consent must be witnessed.
The only exception to this is if the child is married.
Parents/guardians must:
- Fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 of the passport application form in the presence of a listed witness
- Find out what to do if both parents/guardians are unable to sign Section 7
- This is the same witness list as the Section 9 identification requirement.
- Complete, sign and stamp Section 7, including a work landline telephone number - mobile telephone numbers are not acceptable
- Sign each column separately if they witness both parents/guardians' signatures
The witness must:
- Complete, sign and stamp Section 7, including a work landline telephone number - mobile telephone numbers are not acceptable
- Sign each column separately if they witness both parents/guardians' signatures
Lost/stolen and damaged passports
If your passport has been lost, stolen or damaged, you must:
- Complete Section 6 of the application form, explaining how your previous passport was lost, stolen or damaged
- Have it witnessed and stamped by the same person who witnessed Section 9 of your application
If you have a poor passport record, e.g. have lost two or more passports, it is likely that only very limited passport facilities will be given for specific travel purposes. On each occasion on which a passport is issued, even when this is a limited validity passport, the full passport fee will be payable.
Remember...
Do not, under any circumstances, try to travel on a passport that has been reported as lost or stolen.
Fees and Where to apply
Fees and Where to apply
Passport Fees
|
Type |
Eligibility |
Fee |
|
Standard 10 Year |
Available only to those aged 18 years and older |
€80 |
|
Large 10 Year (66 pages) |
Available on request to very frequent travelers aged 18 years and older |
€110 |
|
Standard 3 Year |
Issued to children under 3 years |
€16 |
|
Standard 5 Year |
Issued to youths aged between 3-17 years inclusive |
€26.50 |
How to Pay:
For passport applications made at the Embassy of Ireland in Mozambique, passport fees must be paid in Mozambican Metical. As exchange rates vary on a weekly basis, please contact the Embassy before you apply to find out the correct fee in Mozambican Metical for that month.
The fees above relate to applications submitted at the Embassy of Ireland in Mozambique. Details of methods of application and applicable fees for applications submitted in Ireland are available in our Top Passport Questions.
Where to apply
The Consular Office at the Embassy of Ireland in Mozambique is open Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, and Friday from 8.30am to 1.00pm.
You can lodge your application in person at the Embassy from Monday to Friday between these hours.
Remember....
Read all sections of the passport application form to make sure you've filled it out correctly, including photo requirements and how to get it witnessed properly.