Written answers

Thursday, 1 November 2007

Department of Foreign Affairs

Passport Applications

5:00 pm

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 could not be issued with a 10 year Irish language version of their passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26691/07]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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A passport is an identity document issued by the State to facilitate foreign travel. It is issued in the official name of the holder of the passport which is normally the name in which the person's birth was registered, or in his or her married name when so requested. The long form of the birth certificate and, as the case may be, the marriage certificate, are required as supporting documents.

If a person seeks a passport in a form of his or her name other than that entered on his or her birth or marriage certificate, the Passport Office will require proof of usage of the form of name over a period of two years. This is sought in all cases, including when a person seeks a passport in the Irish form of the name but the birth certificate shows the English version, and vice versa.

The period of validity for which the passport is issued will depend on proof of usage of the name requested. Where two years proof of usage is submitted a full ten year passport will issue. In the absence of such proof a restricted passport of two years validity may be issued. An applicant can subsequently make a new application for a full 10 year passport when he or she has acquired the necessary two years proof of usage of the new name.

In the case of name change for reasons other than marriage, it is the practice to enter an observation on the passport indicating the name by which the passport holder was previously known. This helps to avoid difficulties that may arise, for example, when applying for visas or work permits abroad, due to the name on the passport differing from the name entered on a person's birth certificate or previous passport. While this is optional in the case of applicants who have the required two years evidence of usage of the new name, it is a requirement in the case of applications where such evidence is not provided.

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