The short answer
- Irish adult? Renew on Passport Online once it has 12 months or less left: €75, about 10 working days plus post.
- Irish child? Renew within 6 months of expiry, with every guardian’s consent: €20 plus €5 post.
- EU, EEA, Swiss or British? Renew through your own country. An EU ID card still gets you into Ireland and around the EU meanwhile.
- Another nationality, on an IRP? Renew with your embassy, then tell ISD when it arrives: the law gives you 7 days.
- Travelling? Check how long it must be valid before you book.
Check your passport
Passport expiry check
When to renew, how long it takes, and whether it covers your trip.
To register for the first time
From the Passport Service, ISD, GOV.UK and the EU’s Your Europe pages. Nothing you enter is sent or saved. Other countries’ passport rules vary: check with your embassy.
Irish citizens
Renew on Passport Online, from anywhere in the world. You need your current passport, a digital photo, an email address and a debit or credit card. Adults don’t usually need any documents or a witness.
| Adult | Child (under 18) | |
|---|---|---|
| Apply from | 12 months before expiry | 6 months before expiry |
| Lasts | 10 years | 5 years |
| Online fee | €75, or €100 with a passport card | €20 + €5 post, or €45 + €5 with a card |
| Average time | 10 working days | 15 working days |
| Extra steps | None, usually | Consent form signed by all guardians, witnessed |
Postage comes on top of these times. If your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago, you apply as a first-time applicant, with documents: that takes about 20 working days after your documents arrive. If you’re renewing after becoming a citizen, see that guide instead.
The passport card (€35) is a travel document for the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the UK. It lasts up to 5 years, never longer than your book, and adults need a book with at least 3 months left to get one.
Short on time
Once you’ve applied online, you can’t pay extra to speed it up. If you need a passport sooner, book the Urgent Appointment Service instead:
| Service | Where | Adult | Child | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Same day | Dublin | €245 | €195 | Up to 3 days ahead |
| Four days | Dublin, Cork | €170 | €120 | Up to 3 weeks ahead |
| Five days | London | €170 | €120 | Up to 3 weeks ahead |
It’s not available to first-time applicants, or if your passport was issued more than 15 years ago. For a medical emergency or a death in the family abroad, the Passport Service has a same-day emergency service: contact its Customer Service Hub.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
Renew through your own country’s passport service or embassy: your embassy in Ireland can tell you how to apply from here, how early, and how long it takes.
- Your national ID card, if valid, is enough to enter Ireland and travel around the EU while you wait.
- For the UK, you’ll usually need a passport, not an ID card, unless you have EU Settlement Scheme status, and an ETA for short trips.
More on living here: EU, EEA, Swiss and UK citizens in Ireland.
British citizens
Renew online with HM Passport Office on GOV.UK, which takes applications from abroad. Under the Common Travel Area, you don’t need permission to live in Ireland, so an expired passport doesn’t affect your right to be here. You still need a valid passport to travel.
Living here on an IRP
Your IRP isn’t tied to your passport, but you need both to travel and come back.
- Renew with your embassy in good time. Your country sets the rules.
- Check your IRP card: if your permission was registered only up to your passport’s expiry, you can ask for the rest once you have the new one.
- Renewing your IRP before the new passport arrives? Upload your embassy’s confirmation. ISD will likely give you a shorter permission, then the rest later.
- When it arrives, tell ISD with a portal query. The step by step is in new passport: updating ISD.
How long it must be valid for your trip
| Going to | EU, EEA, Swiss and Irish citizens | Everyone else |
|---|---|---|
| The EU | Valid on the day you travel, and when you come back | Valid 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, issued in the last 10 years |
| The UK | Irish: a passport or passport card, valid for the whole stay. EU: usually a passport | Valid for the whole stay. Check GOV.UK: you may need a visa or ETA |
| Anywhere else | Many countries want 6 months left from your return date | The same: check the embassy of where you’re going |
Common mix-ups
Common questions
When can I renew my Irish passport?
Adults can apply once the passport expires within the next 12 months, and children's within the next 6 months. You don't have to wait until it runs out. If your last passport was issued more than 15 years ago, you apply as a first-time applicant.
How long does an Irish passport renewal take?
On average 10 working days for a simple adult renewal online, 15 for a child, and 20 for a first-time application, plus postage. These are averages, not a guarantee, so the Passport Service says to apply at least 12 weeks before you travel.
How much does it cost to renew an Irish passport?
Online, €75 for a 10-year adult passport, or €100 with a passport card. A 5-year child passport is €20, plus €5 postage, or €45 with a card. Add €15 postage if you live outside Ireland.
Do I send my old passport back?
Only if it still has more than 12 months left, or more than 6 months for a child's passport. Passport Online tells you what to send.
Can I travel on a passport that's about to expire?
Within the EU, EU and Irish citizens only need a passport or ID card that's valid on the day they travel. Other nationalities visiting the Schengen area need it valid 3 months after they leave, and issued in the last 10 years. The UK wants it valid for your whole stay, and many other countries want 6 months left: check with their embassy.
I need my Irish passport urgently. What can I do?
Book the Urgent Appointment Service: same-day in Dublin (€245 for an adult, bookable 3 days ahead) or four-day in Dublin or Cork (€170, bookable 3 weeks ahead). It isn't open to first-time applicants. For a medical emergency or a death in the family abroad, contact the Passport Service about its emergency service.
I live here on an IRP. Does my permission end when my passport expires?
No, your permission isn't tied to your passport. But ISD may have registered it only up to your passport's expiry. When the new passport arrives, tell ISD with a portal query, and ask for the rest of your permission. If you need to renew your IRP first, upload your embassy's confirmation.
I'm an EU citizen. Can I use my ID card while my passport is renewed?
Yes, for Ireland and the EU: a valid national ID card is enough to enter Ireland and travel within the EU. The UK usually wants a passport, unless you have EU Settlement Scheme status.
Can I use the Irish passport card to travel to the UK?
Yes. It's valid for the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the UK. It lasts up to 5 years, never beyond your passport book, and adults need a book with at least 3 months left to get one.
Sources
All sources checked on 4 Oct 2026.
- Renew or replace your adult passportDepartment of Foreign Affairs
- Renew or replace passport for a childDepartment of Foreign Affairs
- Passport feesDepartment of Foreign Affairs
- Current turnaround timesDepartment of Foreign Affairs
- Urgent appointment service for passport renewalDepartment of Foreign Affairs
- Passport cardDepartment of Foreign Affairs
- Frequently asked passport questionsDepartment of Foreign Affairs
- Frequently asked questions for registrationImmigration Service Delivery
- Travel documents for EU nationalsYour Europe (European Union)
- Travel documents for non-EU nationalsYour Europe (European Union)
- Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizenGOV.UK
- Overseas British passport applicationsGOV.UK
- Common Travel AreaImmigration Service Delivery