How to Get a Registered Irish Passport 2026: The End of Paper Forms
The Irish passport is consistently ranked as one of the most powerful in the world, offering the unique “best of both worlds” benefit: full access to the European Union and the right to live and work in the UK via the Common Travel Area.
However, the way you get a registered Irish passport changed forever in late 2025. As of January 2026, the Irish Passport Service has officially stopped accepting the legacy green APS1 and APS2 paper forms.
Here is the updated 2026 roadmap for first-time applicants and those applying by descent.
1. The Digital-First Mandate
In 2026, Passport Online is no longer just the “fastest” way—it is the standard way.
- First-Time Adults: If you have never held an Irish passport, or your last one was issued more than 15 years ago, you must use the online portal to start your “registered” file.
- The Cost: A standard 10-year adult passport remains €75 online (plus a €15 postage fee if applying from outside Ireland).
- The Exception: If you have a documented accessibility need that prevents online use, you must call the Passport Assist Service (+353 1 613 1795) to request a bespoke, pre-filled paper form.
2. Getting Registered via Descent (FBR)
For many in the global diaspora, getting a “registered” passport starts with the Foreign Birth Register (FBR).
- Grandparent Rule: If you were born outside Ireland but your grandparent was born on the island of Ireland, you are not automatically a citizen. You must first register your birth.
- The 2026 Timeline: FBR processing has stabilized at approximately 9 months. Once you receive your FBR certificate, you are officially an Irish citizen and can immediately apply for your first passport online.
- Crucial Tip: Your children can only become Irish citizens if you are registered on the FBR before they are born.
3. The 2026 Biometric Photo Standard
Ireland’s AI-verification for photos is now integrated directly into the online portal.
- The “Photo Code”: Most professional photo providers in Ireland and the UK now provide a digital code. Entering this code in your application instantly pulls your verified biometric photo into the system.
- Home Photos: You can still take a photo at home with a smartphone (no selfies!), but the 2026 software will instantly reject any image with shadows or “red-eye.”
4. Supporting Documents: The “Originals” Rule
Even though the application is online, first-time “registered” applicants must mail original documents to the Dublin or Cork offices. Photocopies are not accepted.
- The Checklist: * Your full original civil birth certificate (showing parents’ names).
- A certified color copy of your current state-issued ID (e.g., your current foreign passport).
- Two separate proofs of address (utility bills or bank statements).
- If applying by descent: Your Irish-born parent/grandparent’s original birth and marriage certificates.
How Mercurial Global Passport Simplifies Your Irish Application
The shift to a 100% digital system can be complex for those with multi-generational claims. At Mercurial Global Passport, we provide:
- FBR Lineage Mapping: We help you gather the specific “chain of evidence” required for Foreign Birth Registration, ensuring your application isn’t part of the 10% rejected for missing documents.
- Legalization via Diploma Shop: If your supporting documents (birth or marriage certificates) are from outside the EU, our Diploma Shop platform handles the necessary Apostilles and Sworn Translations into English to meet Irish Department of Foreign Affairs standards.
- Witness Verification: We guide you on the specific list of “Recognized Witnesses” required to sign your identity verification forms.
[Secure Your Irish Global Mobility – Apply for Your Registered Passport]