Emergency Notice
IMPORTANT NOTICE: CONSULAR SERVICES
The Cape Town office will be closed permanently from 31st October 2020. All queries should be made directly to the Embassy in Pretoria.
Level 5 lockdown in Ireland: As Ireland goes into a level 5 lock down from midnight on the 21st Oct 2020 for a six week period, the processing of passport applications in Ireland will be paused until further notice. FBR applications will resume at once the country reaches level 3.
Please note the Embassy's new consular service arrangements, which will remain in place on a permanent basis. Phone lines will operate between 9am – 12pm Monday to Thursday. The Embassy's public office is not open for walk-in customers. To submit an application, you are asked to arrange delivery of documents by courier between 9.00 a.m. and 12 noon, Monday to Thursday. If you have been advised that your documents are ready for collection, we also ask you to arrange collection by courier between these hours. If you are unable to use a courier service and must collect or deliver your documents in person, you can request an appointment. Appointments are available on Monday to Thursdays between 9.00 a.m. and 12 noon. Documents being delivered must be simply dropped off in a sealed envelope. Payments must be made by EFT.
Please note that all passport renewal applications, for adults and children, must be made online. First-time applications must be made on paper application forms, which you can request from the Embassy. Please note that the processing time for passport applications is significantly affected by COVID-19 response measures in South Africa and in Ireland.
Foreign Birth Registration applications for those resident in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe are processed in Ireland. When you make your online application you will be instructed to send your application directly to Ireland to the following address: Foreign Births Registration Section, PO BOX 13003, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, Ireland. It is extremely important that you check you have all the correct documentation requested before sending your application and that you send originals documents where indicated. Once your application has been processed, all documentation relating to your application will be returned to you via the Embassy in Pretoria. We recommend that you send your application to Ireland using a tracked international delivery service.
The Embassy can accept visa applications for long-stay visas only. Short-stay visa applications will only be processed for emergency or essential travel for a limited number of categories including medical personnel, immediate family members of Irish citizens, persons legally resident in Ireland, and persons entitled to avail of the provision of the EU Free Movement Directive. If this applies to you, submit your visa application online in the normal manner and contact the Embassy for instructions on completing your application. More information can be found here.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO IRISH CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS VISITING SOUTH AFRICA
The Government of South Africa has announced a national lockdown in South Africa in response to COVID-19. The lockdown measures will remain under review and will be adjusted from time to time. Information is available here. We advise Irish citizens in South Africa to respect lockdown regulations and follow public health requirements. If you are visiting South Africa and are in need of support, please contact us. All Irish citizens currently visiting South Africa are also asked to ensure that you have registered with the Embassy of Ireland and also ensure that you remain compliant with South African immigration requirements.
Irish public health advice is to avoid non-essential overseas travel to/from Ireland. Passengers arriving in Ireland from South Africa must restrict their movements for a period of 14 days on arrival. If you must travel to Ireland, you need to fill out a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form online before you travel. To fill out this form and for further information and advice go to https://gov.ie/locatorform.
The Government of South Africa has announced the reopening of its borders for international travel as of 01 October 2020, under certain restrictions. All passengers entering South Africa must show a recent negative COVID-19 test result or undertake a self-isolation period on arrival. Travellers from countries on South Africa's high-risk list, which is regularly reviewed, are subject to further restrictions and requirements. Further details can be found here. If you plan to travel to South Africa, you are strongly advised to confirm the eligibility criteria with the Embassy of South Africa in Ireland. Anyone undertaking international travel at this time should be aware that travel restrictions are liable to change at short notice.
