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

[littlerr]

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

Good clarification - I was referring to the question that whether the Pakistani ID/passport needs to be submitted, in addition to the British passport. The British passport will need to be submitted, but the Pakistani ID/passport doesn't need to be submitted (assuming the naturalisation certificate states the person's nationality is British). And yes PSC/driving licence will need to be submitted.

[latkovac]

Thanks for clarifying all of this.

I'm disappointed you have to send the original Naturalization Certificate and birth certificate - various posts on this forum had said about people sending in solicitor certified copies of the Naturalization cert.

Regarding the two forms of photo ID, wouldn't a UK passport and a Pakistani passport suffice as two photo IDs? I don't drive in Ireland or have an Irish drivers licence, and I don't know if my old Pakistani drivers licence would be accepted.

[littlerr]

Certified copies of birth certificates and naturalisation certificates used to be fine, but this is no longer the case. If you look at the last few pages of this thread, multiple people have tried and failed.

If you live in the Republic of Ireland, any reason why you don’t have a Public Services Card? You can try and submit your Pakistani passport/ID, although there is a chance that they will not accept it.

When you complete your online application, it will ask you to print off a witness form. On that form it will give you a list of mandatory documents, PSC being one of them if you don’t have a driving licence.

[Surreyfolk]

Had FBR approval email today (hurray!) and will start pulling together documentation for passport when back in the UK and certificate has arrived.

I have noted from the dialogue that maybe the two key points for an FBR based passport application are choosing a witness of the list that will be able to answer their landline and sending across originals.

Any other pitfalls to avoid? These forums are great!

[littlerr]

A quick update for a recently submitted first-time application.
25/03 - Application submitted. Supporting documents sent on the same day.
27/03 - We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.
08/04 - Your application is being processed.

[RandomUser678]

Out of curiosity, what is your estimated issue date?

I'm a recently naturalised irish citizen residing in NI

I submitted my application 27/03/25
Documents received 31/03/25
Currently 'Processing' with an estimated issue date of 30/04/25 - although I am expecting it to take a week or two beyond that date.

[littlerr]

Out of curiosity, what is your estimated issue date?

I'm a recently naturalised irish citizen residing in NI

I submitted my application 27/03/25
Documents received 31/03/25
Currently 'Processing' with an estimated issue date of 30/04/25 - although I am expecting it to take a week or two beyond that date.

Estimate is 28/4. I think they just add 30 days from the day they receive the documents. I’d expect the application to be completed in around a week from the day it is in progress.

[Mckay_S]

Hi, I received my passport on 1st March 2025 am am still waiting for my sent documents to be returned (including my original FBR cert). Anyone else experiencing such a long delay? Thanks

[littlerr]

Hi, I received my passport on 1st March 2025 am am still waiting for my sent documents to be returned (including my original FBR cert). Anyone else experiencing such a long delay? Thanks

Contact passport customer service and quote your application reference. They will give you a tracking number.

[Surreyfolk]

I am curious. Does anyone have a sense of what percentage of first time applicant witnesses get a call? Similarly what percentage have to resubmit a new witness form?

[nisi]

I am curious. Does anyone have a sense of what percentage of first time applicant witnesses get a call?

Having spoken to people who've witnessed quite a few applications, I think the answer is 100% or close to it.

Similarly what percentage have to resubmit a new witness form?

No idea. Make sure you pick a witness who will answer their phone in the middle of a normal working day. Mobile phone numbers seem fine.

[nospringonion]

I was too naive to believe documents list in the cover letter since it already mentioned 2 photo IDs (some friend told me people got trapped by that).

However, they requested additional documents for proof of name, which has to be a letter from government. In the cover letter it says it can be utility bills, bank statement.

I filed a complaint and they did admit that the cover letter doesn't match required documents. But they seem to have no intention to fix it.

So I have to wait for another 4 weeks to see anything more is needed. Hopefully 7 weeks in total is enough.

[RandomUser678]

Out of curiosity, what is your estimated issue date?

I'm a recently naturalised irish citizen residing in NI

I submitted my application 27/03/25
Documents received 31/03/25
Currently 'Processing' with an estimated issue date of 30/04/25 - although I am expecting it to take a week or two beyond that date.

My status shifted today to 'Printing'!

[littlerr]

Same here I got a bit worried when I saw that yours were in printing but ours were still in progress. 2 hours later it’s changed to printing!

[littlerr]

Timeline:

23/04/2025 - ‘Your Passport Book has been dispatched, your Track and Trace number is xxx. Your Passport Card has been dispatched, your Track and Trace number is xxx.’

19/04/2025 - ‘Your Passport Book was posted on 19/04/2025’

19/04/2025 - ‘Your Passport Card is being printed’

18/04/2025 - ‘Your Passport Book is being printed. Any\all documents submitted will be returned separately’

09/04/2025 - Supporting documents received.

08/04/2025 - ‘Your application is being processed’. Requested supporting documents to be returned on the same day.

27/03/2025 - ‘We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.’

25/03/2025 - Online application submitted. Supporting documents posted on the same day. ‘We have received your application. You must submit your supporting documents to proceed with the application.’

[androidlad]

Timeline:

23/04/2025 - ‘Your Passport Book has been dispatched, your Track and Trace number is xxx. Your Passport Card has been dispatched, your Track and Trace number is xxx.’

19/04/2025 - ‘Your Passport Book was posted on 19/04/2025’

19/04/2025 - ‘Your Passport Card is being printed’

18/04/2025 - ‘Your Passport Book is being printed. Any\all documents submitted will be returned separately’

09/04/2025 - Supporting documents received.

08/04/2025 - ‘Your application is being processed’. Requested supporting documents to be returned on the same day.

27/03/2025 - ‘We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.’

25/03/2025 - Online application submitted. Supporting documents posted on the same day. ‘We have received your application. You must submit your supporting documents to proceed with the application.’

Congrats, may I ask what addtional supporting documents did they request from you on 08/04?

[littlerr]

Congrats, may I ask what addtional supporting documents did they request from you on 08/04?

Thanks! That was us requesting the supporting documents to be sent back to us (rather than waiting for them to send them back at the end of the process)

[RandomUser678]

Very similar timeline for me, and quite impressed with the speed of things (28 days from online application to passport in hand) - beating their target by about a week:
Of note, my timeline is for a naturalised citizen's first-time passport from Northern Ireland

27/03/2025 - Online application submitted - documents posted the same day

31/03/2025 - ‘We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.’ - note I posted on a Thursday and they were processed on a Monday, so 2 working days.

11/04/2025 - Your application is being processed

18/04/2025 - Your Passport Book is being printed. Any\all documents submitted will be returned separately

22/04/2025 - Dispatched. Your Passport Book was posted on 22/04/2025

22/04/2025 - Your Passport Card is being printed

23/04/2025 - Your Passport Card has been dispatched.

Passport received - 24/04/2025
Passport card received - today (25/04/2025)

Thrilled for my journey to be complete!
Happy to help any NI applicants with specific queries if I can.
A big thank you to this message board for the guidance, and insights into the process and timelines!

[androidlad]

29/03/2025 We have received your application. You must submit your supporting documents to proceed with the application.

01/04/2025 We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.

14/04/2025 Your application is being processed

27/04/2025 Your Passport Book is being printed. Any\all documents submitted will be returned separately

28/04/2025 Your Passport Card is being printed. Your Passport Book has been dispatched, your Track and Trace number is XXXXXX. Your Passport Card is being printed and will be dispatched shortly

[androidlad]

29/03/2025 We have received your application. You must submit your supporting documents to proceed with the application.

01/04/2025 We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.

14/04/2025 Your application is being processed

27/04/2025 Your Passport Book is being printed. Any\all documents submitted will be returned separately

28/04/2025 Your Passport Card is being printed. Your Passport Book has been dispatched, your Track and Trace number is XXXXXX. Your Passport Card is being printed and will be dispatched shortly

I submitted the following documents:

Original naturalisation certificate
Original country passport
Birth certificate
Colour photocopy of PPS card both sides
Letter that came with the natrualisation certificate from DoJ as proof of name/address
Letter from DSP (PRSI eye test eligibility) as 2nd proof of name/address
Cover page

[Clint92]

Keep meaning to post this - my timeline

Estimated issue date: 30th April 25

21st March 25: Applied online
26th March 25: Application sent
31st March 25: We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents.
14th April 25: Your application is being processed
29th April 25: Passbook book is being printed

Wasn't sure if it would meet their estimated date as my witness works as a teacher and when I applied and sent if off I forgot about half term and Easter meaning they were off for 2 weeks plus Good Friday and Easter Monday but looks like the they only contacted them today.