Guide
Irish passport renewal: how long it really takes and when to apply
Most people check their passport when a trip is already booked. The renewal itself is straightforward — the risk is discovering the expiry date too late.
This guide sets out the current turnaround times, when you are allowed to apply, what it costs and how to renew without losing a holiday to paperwork.
How long a renewal takes
These are the Passport Service's stated average turnaround times and they exclude postal delivery, which adds more time from overseas. Where supporting documents are needed, the clock starts when the Passport Service receives those documents, not when you submit the form.
- Simple adult renewal: around 10 working days.
- Complex adult renewal: around 15 working days.
- Child renewal: around 15 working days.
- First-time online application, adult or child: around 20 working days.
- Passport card only: around 10 working days.
- Passport Assist application: around 6 weeks.
When you can apply
An Irish adult passport is valid for 10 years, and you can apply for a new one when your current passport is due to expire within the next 12 months. Applying early does not waste validity in the way people fear — but note that if you apply before the current one expires, the new passport runs from its date of issue.
If your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago, or you have never held one, you must apply as a first-time applicant, which is a longer process.
Renewing online
Passport Online is the fastest route and is available from anywhere in the world. An adult renewal does not usually require supporting documents, and you do not need to verify your identity again.
You need a digital photo meeting the guidelines, a card, an email address, and your current passport details. If your passport expires within the next 12 months you do not have to send the old one — the previous passport is cancelled within about four weeks of the new one being issued.
What it costs
A standard 10-year adult passport applied for online is €75, with an additional €15 postal fee if you live outside Ireland. Large passports, passport cards and other routes are priced differently.
If you need it urgently
There is an in-person Urgent Appointment Service for renewals, available at the Passport Office in Dublin, in Cork and in London. It exists for genuine urgency, and it is slower and more expensive than simply applying in good time.
Once submitted, an online application can be followed through the Passport Tracker.
The date worth saving today
Many countries require several months of remaining validity on arrival, so the useful reminder is not the expiry date itself but a point some months before it.
In MiRicordi you can save the expiry with an alert six months ahead, photograph the passport page so the number and dates stay attached to the reminder, and keep the whole household's passports in one list. Alerts arrive even when the app is closed.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Irish passport renewal take?
A simple adult renewal averages about 10 working days, a complex adult renewal about 15, a child renewal about 15 and a first-time online application about 20. Postal delivery is additional, and where documents are required the time starts when they are received.
How early can I renew my Irish passport?
You can apply when your current passport is due to expire within the next 12 months. If your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago, you must apply as a first-time applicant.
How much does it cost?
A standard 10-year adult passport applied for online is €75, plus a €15 postal fee if you live outside Ireland.
Do I need to send my old passport?
Not if your current passport is due to expire within the next 12 months. It is cancelled within about four weeks of your new passport being issued.
Can I get a passport quickly if I have a trip booked?
There is an in-person Urgent Appointment Service for renewals in Dublin, Cork and London. Applying in good time is cheaper and less stressful.
How do I avoid finding out too late?
Set a reminder several months before the expiry date, since many destinations require months of remaining validity. In MiRicordi you can save the expiry with a six-month notice period and keep every family passport in one list.