Many Irish people and people of Irish descent have chosen to live in Canada. Is it possible you're one of them?

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the government and numerous businesses have had to take safeguards. The advent of COVID-19 means fewer and fewer tasks are being completed in person.

This means to renew your Irish passport you’ll need access to a computer or a mobile device. Now 100 percent of renewals can be completed online. The steps you must complete are outlined below.

Here is a guide with some tips and advice on how to go about renewing your passport today.

How to get a paper application form

• You must obtain an APS2 Form.
• To obtain this form and submit it, contact your nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate. The main embassy in Canada is below:
• Embassy of Ireland, Suite 1105, (11th Floor), 130 Albert St, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5G4. Tel.: + 1 613 233 6281
• Your postal application must be submitted in the country where you now reside. It is not possible to apply by paper application form from Ireland if you live in Canada and are on vacation in Ireland.

For applicants who do not want to go through this process, it is easier to apply online.

Do You Meet the Requirements for Passport Renewal Online?

Checklist for passport renewals:

• You have your passport with you to submit with your application.
• Your passport was issued no more than 15 years ago.
• Your passport was either issued in your present name or you can show proof of a name change.
• Congratulations if you answered "yes" to all of these questions. Your passport can be renewed online.

Important Info For Passport Applicants

You should leave ample time for your passport to be done. So you should expect your passport application to take at least 12 weeks to be processed.

Online Renewal Applicants:

Please be aware that passports sent to Canada take around 3-5 weeks to arrive from the time they are dispatched. All applicants are advised to allow enough time for their passport to arrive and to avoid arranging travel without a valid passport.

Where to start the process for new or renewal passports:

Visit this site: Passports - Department of Foreign Affairs Once you have your photo it takes no more than 15 minutes in total.

Applying for Minors under the age of 18

1. Complete the Online Application form
2. Print Child Passport Identity and Consent Form
3. Applying you need the consent of all guardians. In the case that you are the sole guardian you need to send your application along with an (AFF1 Form)
4. Know the Sole Guardian Affidavit to find it click here: Paper Passport Application Forms
5. Along with the Declaration Form A: Download Declaration Form A
6. Other documents and procedures listed here: Passports for children and guardian consent.
7. Original documentation must be provided unless otherwise noted. Photocopies, short-form birth certificates, and laminated certificates are not acceptable. If the documents are not in English or Irish, certified translations are necessary.
8. Documents postage: Send the appropriate documentation to the Passport Service. Important: You must send your documentation as soon as possible. When they receive those documents at their Dublin office, they will begin processing your child's application.

Additional need to know the information to successfully apply from Canada to renew your Irish passport

1. Select the Irish consulate that is the most convenient for you. The Irish consulates in Canada are located in the following cities:
2. Vancouver
3. Ottawa
4. Alberta
5. Montreal
6. Newfoundland

7. Nova Scotia

8. Gather all necessary paperwork and documentation.
9. Examples of identification:
10. Driver’s license
11. Proof of Name Change:
12. Student ID
13. Irish Passport (if applicable).
14. Marriage certificate, Certificate of Name Change, and Adoption Decree are just a few examples.
15. Proof of identity Examples -
16. A certified copy of your driver's license, original passport, national identity card, or social security card
17. Proof of residence
18. Birth certificate in long-form
19. Certificate of civil marriage or civil partnership (if you changed your surname)

20. A photo identification card is given by the government

21. Submit photos that follows the standard stated:
22. Applying online you have to submit a digital photo
23. Must be suitable photograph from a photo booth or pharmacy
24. It must not be a scanned image.
25. Must be in color
26. It must be at least 715 pixels wide and 951 pixels high.
27. It should be in JPEG format.
28. Compression, loss, or compression artifacts are not present.
29. It will not be artificially improved or modified in any way.
30. There is no barrel distortion or other distortion.
31. It can't be more than 9 megabytes (MB) in size.
32. If you are having to troubleshoot a photo at home, consider going to a photo booth or a photo service.
33. Participating in photo booths
34. Simply type the area and they will find one that cooperates with the embassy: Store Locator - IDstation.online

For applicants who encounter any issues or need more details on photo requirements, email: [email protected] For complete guidelines see here: Photo Guidelines - Department of Foreign Affairs

4. Make arrangements to pay the fees

• Checks are not accepted when applying online

When your finish your application online the site will bring you to a page where you will have the choice to pay with any online banking service.

Passport fees

Adult:

• Standard Passport Book 34 Pages: €70
• Large Book 66 pages: €105
• Passport book & card 34 Pages: €100 Passport book & card 66 Pages: €130

Children under 18:

• Standard Passport Book 34 Pages: €20
• Large Book 66 pages: €50
• Passport book & card 34 Pages: €45 -Passport book & card 66 Pages: €75

There is an additional €15 postal fee if you reside outside Ireland. This applies both to adults and children.

Tip: Adult passports are valid for 10 years and passport cards are valid for 5 years. Children’s passports are only valid for 5 years

5. Verify that your application status

Using your 11-digit barcode found on your application form or on your An Post Receipt, you can check the progress. Follow this site: Passport Tracking.

Hopefully, this advice and tips helped you to complete a successful application. For further information, you can contact the Embassy directly.

Embassy of Ireland Suite 1105, (11th Floor) 130 Albert St Ottawa Ontario K1P 5G4 + 1 613 233 6281

Opening Hours:

Visa Office: Monday to Friday 9.00am-12.00pm. All other enquires: Monday to Friday 9.00am - 12.00pm.

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