IMPORTANT NOTICE: CONSULAR SERVICES

The Embassy's public office is not open for walk-in customers. The Embassy can accept delivery of documents by courier only 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 during these hours.  If you must collect your documents in person, you can request an appointment.  Appointments are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, between 9.00 a.m. and 12 noon.  From 5th October, appointments will be available Monday to Thursday, between 9.00 a.m. and 12 noon.  Please note that the Consular Liaison Office in Cape Town is currently closed. 

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 ask Irish visitors remaining 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.  

All commercial international and domestic flights are currently suspended and it is not clear when they will resume.  A number of airlines are operating occasional repatriation flights to Europe, with the approval of the South African authorities.  Any Irish citizens or residents currently in South Africa should monitor airline websites for information on repatriation flights and make contact with the airlines directly in order to book tickets.  The Embassy has no role in the flight booking process.  Airlines with approval to operate flights in the coming weeks include KLM, Air France and Lufthansa.   

If you are a South African passport holder normally resident in Ireland, or you hold an employment or study permit or you are otherwise entitled to reside in Ireland, and you have procured a seat on a flight from South Africa to Ireland, you can download this Letter Eligibility to Enter Ireland to accompany your application to the Department of Home Affairs for permission to depart South Africa.  

Irish public health advice is to avoid non-essential overseas travel to/from Ireland. If you must travel to Ireland, you need to fill out a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form online before you travel. To fill out form and for further info and advice go to https://gov.ie/locatorform