How long does it take to get the first time passport application?

[Hachimaru]

In an effort to aid transparency. And hopefully reduce anxiety for those waiting. my own application for a passport has just changed. from verification processing after. 24 Days
So verification times are getting slightly longer at the moment.
Hopefully, if my witness can be contacted,easily it should be. another one and a half weeks to the passport being posted.

[Hachimaru]

In an effort to aid transparency. And hopefully reduce anxiety for those waiting. my own application for a passport has just changed. from verification to processing after. 24 Days
So verification times are getting slightly longer at the moment.
Hopefully, if my witness can be contacted,easily it should be. another one and a half weeks to the passport being posted.

[AHC01]

My passport issue date is tomorrow but still no updates or changes from "Your application is being processed". It's been 12 days since the last update

[jeetb]

10/02/2025 - We have received your application.
11/02/2025 onwards until 01/03/2025 - We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.

Still waiting for the next step.

ETA is showing 11/03/2025

Anyone with similar timelines?

03/03/2025 - Your application is being processed

10/03/2025 - Your Passport Book is being printed. Any\all documents submitted will be returned separately
10/03/2025 - Your Passport Card is being printed
10/03/2025 - Your Passport Book has been dispatched, Your Passport Card has been dispatched

Now waiting for An Post and also the return of original docs

[lady_bird_009]

20/12/2024 - Alert: We have received your application
06/02/2025 - Supporting documents were delivered via DHL, but no acknowledgement of receipt for a full week
13/02/2025 - Processing application: We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.

Today will be three weeks that my application is sitting at this stage.

The estimated issue date for your Passport Book is: 13/03/2025

13/02/2025 - Processing application: We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.
... 18 working days ...
11/03/2025 - Processing application: Your application is being processed.

The estimated issue date for your Passport Book is: 13/03/2025

[ellie81]

So I took the risk and posted my documents in a postbox with the prepaid label provided. I posted them on 13 Feb 25 and they arrived today, 17 Feb 25.

My estimated issue date is 18/3/25.

8/2/2025 - Alert: We have received your application
17/02/2025 - Processing application: We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.

I sent the below documents for reference. I sent all original copies unless noted otherwise.

Cover letter
Identity Verification form
Original passport from my home country
Certified copy of Irish driving license (front & back)
Letter from Revenue (proof of name)
Utility bill (Proof of address)
Birth certificate with apostille stamp
Original naturalisation certificate

Yesterday (11/3/25) my application finally moved to “Your application is being processed” - 17 working days between updates. Still showing estimated issue date as 18/3/25 so we shall see!

[jeetb]

10/02/2025 - We have received your application.
11/02/2025 onwards until 01/03/2025 - We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.

Still waiting for the next step.

ETA is showing 11/03/2025

Anyone with similar timelines?

03/03/2025 - Your application is being processed

10/03/2025 - Your Passport Book is being printed. Any\all documents submitted will be returned separately
10/03/2025 - Your Passport Card is being printed
10/03/2025 - Your Passport Book has been dispatched, Your Passport Card has been dispatched

Now waiting for An Post and also the return of original docs

11/03/2025 - Received Passport and card at home.

Now waiting for the original documents to be returned.

[youngadult18]

Is it normal to be stuck at this stage for 2+ weeks please:

"Processing application: We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents."

Since two weeks it still didn't move to "Processing application: Your application is being processed"

Also, the date of "We have received your supporting documents" always shows the date when I check it (today's date) instead of the 5th when they actually received my documents. Tomorrow it'll show tomorrow's date like they just received them...

The estimate is 05/03 and that didn't change, but no progress was made since 2+ weeks now.
WebChat didn't tell me any info.

What do you think please?

Update:
After 2 weeks and 6 days (so nearly 3 weeks) my application switched to "Your application is being processed".
So for anybody else stuck at the "We are now verifying these documents." for 2+ weeks in the future, it can be normal..

Yaaaay: "Your Passport Book is being printed. Any\all documents submitted will be returned separately"
1 week.5 days elapsed since "Your application is being processed"

..and 1 day after "Your Passport Book is being printed" it already shows:

- Your Passport Card is being printed
- Your Passport Book was posted on 05/03/2025

So after the initial extremely slow start it all sped up rapidly and it ended up being on time - kept the original estimate.

I just don't see a way to track shipments which I'd really love to do...

Passport book & card both received via post. It only took 2 days from printing to actually having both in hand

...now waiting for the original passport / birth cert / naturalisation cert / etc... to arrive back to me.

Original documents arrived today, took 8 days from receiving passport

[AHC01]

My passport issue date is tomorrow but still no updates or changes from "Your application is being processed". It's been 12 days since the last update

Estimated issue date was the 11th and still waiting for an update. Called on the 12th, got told they would assign it as urgent and should hear by today.

Still on "Your application is being processed" so yet another lie from the passport office. Lets see how next week goes.

[ellie81]

So I took the risk and posted my documents in a postbox with the prepaid label provided. I posted them on 13 Feb 25 and they arrived today, 17 Feb 25.

My estimated issue date is 18/3/25.

8/2/2025 - Alert: We have received your application
17/02/2025 - Processing application: We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.

I sent the below documents for reference. I sent all original copies unless noted otherwise.

Cover letter
Identity Verification form
Original passport from my home country
Certified copy of Irish driving license (front & back)
Letter from Revenue (proof of name)
Utility bill (Proof of address)
Birth certificate with apostille stamp
Original naturalisation certificate

Yesterday (11/3/25) my application finally moved to “Your application is being processed” - 17 working days between updates. Still showing estimated issue date as 18/3/25 so we shall see!

My passport went to printing and dispatched today on 18/3/25 so they did hit their issue date on time. An Post tracking is available but I don't think it has been scanned yet. Very excited to get the passport so I can get my summer flights now and not have to worry with the IRP card! Best of luck to everyone waiting

[AHC01]

10 days after the estimated issue date and no update. The chat and calls just say an agent has been assigned to my application but they can’t comment on anything or escalate it further.

Feels endless and pointless.

[Hachimaru]

10 days after the estimated issue date and no update. The chat and calls just say an agent has been assigned to my application but they can’t comment on anything or escalate it further.

Feels endless and pointless.

Have a read of pages. 13,14 and 15. There are three people on there with the names. Helenxxxx userxxx and FL whisper. They show a lot of similarities to your waiting game and you should be able to follow the outcome. as for myself, I'm not in too dissimilar a situation. 24 days waiting for verify to change to processing. and now 13 days waiting. for processing to change to printing or be contacted back. reading between the lines. It looks like there's fast lanes and slow lanes. In the siloed world of passport control. And the slow lanes are people who quiet quit years ago.

[Hachimaru]

10 days after the estimated issue date and no update. The chat and calls just say an agent has been assigned to my application but they can’t comment on anything or escalate it further.

Feels endless and pointless.

Have a read of pages. 13,14 and 15. There are three people on there with the names. Helenxxxx userxxx and FL whisper. They show a lot of similarities to your waiting game and you should be able to follow the outcome. as for myself, I'm not in too dissimilar a situation. 24 days waiting for verify to change to processing. and now 13 days waiting. for processing to change to printing or be contacted back. reading between the lines. It looks like there's fast lanes and slow lanes. In the siloed world of passport control. And the slow lanes are people who quiet quit years ago.

Going on this forum alone, it would seem the last successful applicant to receive a passport that applied outside Ireland was the 10th of February. All those who have applied within The Republic of Ireland. Seem to hit the target dates. I'm going to speculate that that they are prioritising internal first time applicants. At the expense of overseas applicants. Especially in Q2. Which Is the normal push for people who couldn't plan ahead for the summer.?

[AHC01]

I'm an Ireland-based naturalisation applicant and I'm 16 days over the estimated issue date with no updates and no support from customer service.

Seeing on Reddit an FBR application from Jan 31st got the passport printed on March 24th. Another one is a Feb 5th application and went printing on March 26th.

[Hachimaru]

I'm an Ireland-based naturalisation applicant and I'm 16 days over the estimated issue date with no updates and no support from customer service.

Seeing on Reddit an FBR application from Jan 31st got the passport printed on March 24th. Another one is a Feb 5th application and went printing on March 26th.

I'm still suspicious about internal and external applications.especially Moving into Q2. And isn't your own application from Belfast going on previous posts? It would count as external to me.if so

[AHC01]

I'm an Ireland-based naturalisation applicant and I'm 16 days over the estimated issue date with no updates and no support from customer service.

Seeing on Reddit an FBR application from Jan 31st got the passport printed on March 24th. Another one is a Feb 5th application and went printing on March 26th.

I'm still suspicious about internal and external applications.especially Moving into Q2. And isn't your own application from Belfast going on previous posts? It would count as external to me.if so

In many cases NI and GB are treated differently by the Irish government. Even Foreign Affairs calls it 'Great Britain' and only provide consular services to Irish citizens in England, Scotland and Wales.

In many cases NI and ROI are both treated as one or similar.

[Hachimaru]

I'm an Ireland-based naturalisation applicant and I'm 16 days over the estimated issue date with no updates and no support from customer service.

Seeing on Reddit an FBR application from Jan 31st got the passport printed on March 24th. Another one is a Feb 5th application and went printing on March 26th.

I'm still suspicious about internal and external applications.especially Moving into Q2. And isn't your own application from Belfast going on previous posts? It would count as external to me.if so

In many cases NI and GB are treated differently by the Irish government. Even Foreign Affairs calls it 'Great Britain' and only provide consular services to Irish citizens in England, Scotland and Wales.

In many cases NI and ROI are both treated as one or similar.

So I'm not sure whether you're treated as internal or external by that explanation, but anyway. What we need to see Are timelines going forward from people Who have recently Achieved passport success. And are external. That's what would make me happy. -good luck !

[littlerr]

Most first-time passport applications are completed within the timeframe. There is no difference between an FBR-based and a naturalisation-based application.

Complications and delays tend to arise when:
(1) the witness cannot be reached (e.g. the Gardai who signed your witness form is on leave);
(2) the witness did not enter your witness form information correctly in their log book;
(3) there are issues validating your birth certificate, bank statements etc;
(4) no Public Service Card is provided.

They won’t tell you the exact reasons for your delay, but you can keep hassling their online chat support until you get an answer.

[AHC01]

Had a slightly useful call with the passport office around the delay in my application. The only notes she can see is that they have asked "an embassy" to verify the birth certificate and are waiting on a reply.

Didn't say if it was an Irish embassy that serves my home country or my home country's embassy in London (as there isn't one in Ireland).

Nothing more that can be done. Didn't expect a birth certificate to cause such an issue.

[Hachimaru]

Had a slightly useful call with the passport office around the delay in my application. The only notes she can see is that they have asked "an embassy" to verify the birth certificate and are waiting on a reply.

Didn't say if it was an Irish embassy that serves my home country or my home country's embassy in London (as there isn't one in Ireland).

Nothing more that can be done. Didn't expect a birth certificate to cause such an issue.

Good luck with that one. Mine change to printing today, so just to give the timeline. It was 24 days in verification. And now has changed from processing to printing a.further 18 days. later due date 13th march

I did have two separate conversations with webchat.

The first conversation they stated there is a delay for first time applications. I'm not sure whether he was just giving me the brush off, that's just what he said. I called again two days later. To be told. It's in the final stages of authorization. At that point I decided to ask a question which somebody else had. Suggested. That was to ask them if my witness had been contacted. As it would give an indication of how far down the line you are towards the end. They said my witness had been contacted and. Accepted. And then came out with the. Sentence of You are in the final phase. So It may be a question for other people to ask as well. If they feel they're Dwelling a bit too long in limbo.

[littlerr]

Had a slightly useful call with the passport office around the delay in my application. The only notes she can see is that they have asked "an embassy" to verify the birth certificate and are waiting on a reply.

Didn't say if it was an Irish embassy that serves my home country or my home country's embassy in London (as there isn't one in Ireland).

Nothing more that can be done. Didn't expect a birth certificate to cause such an issue.

This would be the embassy that is responsible for citizens of your country living in Ireland. Like you said if your nearest embassy is in London, then that is a valid reason for taking extra time.

[AHC01]

Looks like sending a complain worked: My passport book is now printing. 2 months 1 week 5 days since sending my application.

Now to wait for the tracker to update and for them to send me the passport.

Just in time for my flight on Friday!

[latkovac]

Hi all, I am just gathering the documents they asked for my first adult Irish passport.

I am unwilling to send my original Naturalization Certificate so am sending a notarized copy certified by an Irish notary

I am unwilling to send my original birth certificate (hard enough to get it from my country of birth) so am sending a notarized copy certified by an Irish notary

For the first TWO forms of photo ID I am sending in my original UK British passport

For the second of the two forms of photo ID I am sending the original of my Pakistan national identity card (or should I send my original Pakistan passport, is that better?)

I will send in proof of ID and address in Revenue Commissioners letter and an Electric Ireland bill. It says "local government health services" is acceptable so does that include a GP appointment letter or what?

From what I see from other posts it looks like they send back your documents separately from posting out your Irish passport and passport card?

[littlerr]

Hi all, I am just gathering the documents they asked for my first adult Irish passport.

I am unwilling to send my original Naturalization Certificate so am sending a notarized copy certified by an Irish notary

I am unwilling to send my original birth certificate (hard enough to get it from my country of birth) so am sending a notarized copy certified by an Irish notary

For the first TWO forms of photo ID I am sending in my original UK British passport

For the second of the two forms of photo ID I am sending the original of my Pakistan national identity card (or should I send my original Pakistan passport, is that better?)

I will send in proof of ID and address in Revenue Commissioners letter and an Electric Ireland bill. It says "local government health services" is acceptable so does that include a GP appointment letter or what?

From what I see from other posts it looks like they send back your documents separately from posting out your Irish passport and passport card?

Naturalisation certificate and birth certificate must be originals. They will not accept any notarised copies. Don't waste your time or money.

If you live in the Republic of Ireland, you must also submit a copy of your public services card, or a certified copy of your driving licence. You do not need to submit your Pakistani identity card or passport.

Regarding government correspondences, you should be able to request for the likes of tax credits, employment detail summary, welfare contribution documents etc, all from the myAccount online services in one click in a few seconds. GP letters are not listed as one of the accepted proofs.

Original documents are returned roughly 1-2 weeks after the passport is issued, although you can always request to get them back earlier.

[androidlad]

Hi all, I am just gathering the documents they asked for my first adult Irish passport.

I am unwilling to send my original Naturalization Certificate so am sending a notarized copy certified by an Irish notary

I am unwilling to send my original birth certificate (hard enough to get it from my country of birth) so am sending a notarized copy certified by an Irish notary

For the first TWO forms of photo ID I am sending in my original UK British passport

For the second of the two forms of photo ID I am sending the original of my Pakistan national identity card (or should I send my original Pakistan passport, is that better?)

I will send in proof of ID and address in Revenue Commissioners letter and an Electric Ireland bill. It says "local government health services" is acceptable so does that include a GP appointment letter or what?

From what I see from other posts it looks like they send back your documents separately from posting out your Irish passport and passport card?

Naturalisation certificate and birth certificate must be originals. They will not accept any notarised copies. Don't waste your time or money.

If you live in the Republic of Ireland, you must also submit a copy of your public services card, or a certified copy of your driving licence. You do not need to submit your Pakistani identity card or passport.

Regarding government correspondences, you should be able to request for the likes of tax credits, employment detail summary, welfare contribution documents etc, all from the myAccount online services in one click in a few seconds. GP letters are not listed as one of the accepted proofs.

Original documents are returned roughly 1-2 weeks after the passport is issued, although you can always request to get them back earlier.

Because newer naturalisation certs have no photo, so two photo IDs are required, so passport and PPS card/Driving license.