Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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192. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if affidavits are accepted instead of birth certificates or as a form of identification for passport applicants who were awarded citizenship. [29751/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended. Section 7 of the 2008 Act provides that before issuing a passport to a person the Passport Service shall be satisfied as to the identity of the person. The Passport Service requires the submission of a long-form birth certificate as a key supporting document in all first-time passport applications.

Where an application is received from naturalised applicants born in countries with civil unrest who may not be in a position to submit a birth certificate, the birth affidavit that was submitted to the Department of Justice in support of their application for naturalisation may be accepted.

Photographic identification is required for all adult first time passport applications, whether that application is made online or through paper. The Passport Service accepts the following forms of photo identification: original government issued photographic identification, such as a Public Services Card, an original passport from another country or a certified copy of a driver’s license (certified by a Garda, solicitor, notary or the issuing authority). The Passport Service can confirm that applicants can apply for a Public Services Card (PSC) at a PSC Registration Centre. Applicants can contact their local PSC Centre for more information about what documents they can provide to help verify their identity.

The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. Due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance, the Irish passport has a strong international reputation. Recently, the Irish passport was ranked third in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 189 countries. Accordingly, a rigorous analysis process is in place to verify the identity and citizenship status of first time applicants.