In Ireland, a member of the Garda Síochána is required to complete the Identity Verification Form for all first time adult and child applications.
For applicants from outside of Ireland you can use the below list of suitable witnesses for verifying identity. Applicants must ensure identity verification is witnessed by a witness residing in the same country as the applicant.
- School principal/vice principal
- Teacher
- School Secretary
- Pre-school manager
- Montessori teacher
- Police Officer
- Member of clergy
- Medical doctor
- Lawyer
- Bank manager or assistant bank manager
- Credit Union Manager or Assistant Manager
- Elected public representative
- Notary public/ commissioner for oaths
- Peace commissioner
- Accountant
- Dentist
- Vet
- Nurse
- Physiotherapist
- Speech Therapist
- Lecturer
- Pharmacist
- Chartered Engineer
For further guidance on guardianship and consent see here.
Lost or stolen and damaged passports
You must report the loss or theft of your passport to your local Garda station/Police station. To get a new passport you will need to submit a new application.
When applying via the Online Passport Renewal Service, please indicate that the passport was lost, stolen or damaged in the relevant section of the application web-page. There is no need for additional witnessing for online applications.
If your passport has been lost or stolen you should inform the Passport Service, even if you don’t need a replacement. If you lose two or more passports, it may restrict the period of validity for your next passport and it may not be possible to receive your passport in less than 10 working days.
Do not, under any circumstances, try to travel on a passport that has been reported as lost or stolen.
For further information on lost, stolen or damaged passports see here.
Back to topWitnessing a paper application in Ireland
Identification
A Garda at your local Garda station will witness your passport application form; as long as they are satisfied as to your identity and that your four photos are a true likeness of you. Make sure you bring photo identification with you and be aware that the Garda may ask you for more proof of identification.
- Sign Section 8 of the form in the presence of the Garda. Applicants aged seven or over must sign this part of the form themselves.
The Garda must:
- Complete Section 9 of the form
- Write the form number (found on Section 9 of the application) on the back of two of your four photos
- Sign and stamp the back of those two photos
Your application form is only valid for six months from the date your witness signs it.
Consent of guardians
Passport applications for children under the age of 18 need the consent of all guardians (unless the child is married).
All guardians must fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 of the application form in the presence of a suitable witness.
It is the responsibility of the guardian(s) accompany the child to an appropriate witness for signature. This witness must witness the signature of the guardian(s) which give consent. Please ensure you read all sections of the application form carefully.
A member of one of the professions listed below can witness section 7 of your passport application form as long as they are personally know to you. Witnesses must be satisfied as to you and your child’s identify and that the photo of your child is a true likeness of them.
Please ensure your witness will be contactable at the number provided on the form. If your witness cannot be reached at the phone number provided, this may delay your application.
Guardians must:
- Fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 of the passport application form in the presence of a witness (see list below). Find out what to do if one or more guardians are unable to provide consent.
The witness must:
- Complete, sign and stamp Section 7 of the application (if the witness does not have an official stamp – please include witnesses’ business card with passport application)
- sign each column separately if they witness both parents/guardians’ signatures
- include a work landline phone number - mobile phone numbers will not be accepted
Your witness can be a:
- Member of the Garda Síochána
- School principal/vice principal / Teacher, School Secretary, Pre-school manager, Montessori teacher
- Member of clergy
- Medical doctor
- Lawyer
- Bank manager/assistant bank manager or Credit Union Manager or Assistant Manager
- Elected public representative
- Notary public/ commissioner for oaths
- Peace commissioner
- Accountant
- Dentist
- Vet
- Nurse
- Physiotherapist
- Speech Therapist
- Lecturer
- Pharmacist
- Chartered Engineer
A Garda must still witness Section 9 of the application and be satisfied as to the child’s identity. The Section 7 guardian consent requirement is an additional requirement for child applications. The witness list above relates to this part of the application only.
For further guidance on guardianship and consent see here.
Lost, stolen or damaged passports
You must first report the loss, theft or damage of your passport to your local Garda station. To get a new passport you will need to submit a new application.
On the Application form:
- Complete Section 6 of the application form, explaining how your previous passport was lost/stolen or damaged
- Have it witnessed and stamped by a Garda
Even if you don’t need a replacement you should inform the Passport Service of the loss or theft. If you lose two or more passports, it may restrict the period of validity for your next passport and it may not be possible to receive your passport in less than 10 working days.
Do not, under any circumstances, try to travel on a passport that has been reported as lost or stolen.
For further information on lost, stolen or damaged passports see here.
Back to topWitnessing a paper application outside Ireland
Identification
A member of one of the professions listed below can witness your passport application form as long as they are satisfied as to your identify and that your four photos are a true likeness of you.
Applicants must ensure identity verification is witnessed by a witness residing in the same country as the applicant.
Make sure you bring photo identification with you and be aware that the witness may ask you for more proof of identification – this is at their discretion.
- Police officer
- School principal/vice principal / Teacher, School Secretary, Pre-school manager, Montessori teacher
- Member of clergy
- Medical doctor
- Lawyer
- Bank manager/assistant bank manager or Credit Union Manager or Assistant Manager
- Elected public representative
- Notary public/ commissioner for oaths
- Peace commissioner
- Accountant
- Dentist
- Vet
- Nurse
- Physiotherapist
- Speech Therapist
- Lecturer
- Pharmacist
- Chartered Engineer
- Sign Section 8 of the form in the presence of the witness. Applicants aged seven or over must sign this part of the from themselves.
The witness must:
- Complete Section 9 of the form, including a work landline phone number - mobile phone numbers will not be accepted
- Insert the form number from Section 9 on the back of two of your four photos
- Sign and stamp the back of those two photos
Your application form is only valid for six months from the date your witness signs Section 9.
Consent of parents or guardians
Passport applications for children under the age of 18 need the consent of all guardians (unless the child is married).
All guardians must fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 of the application form in the presence of a suitable witness.
It is the responsibility of the guardian(s) accompany the child to an appropriate witness for signature. This witness must witness the signature of the guardian(s) which give consent. Please ensure you read all sections of the application form carefully.
A member of one of the professions listed in the section above can witness section 7 of your passport application form as long as they are personally know to you. Witnesses must be satisfied as to you and your child’s identify and that the photo of your child is a true likeness of them.
Please ensure your witness will be contactable at the number provided on the form. If your witness cannot be reached at the phone number provided, this may delay your application.
Parents/guardians must:
- Fill in and sign the relevant part of Section 7 of the passport application form in the presence of a listed witness. Find out what to do if both parents/guardians are unable to sign Section 7.
The witness must:
- Complete, sign and stamp Section 7, including a work landline telephone number - mobile telephone numbers are not acceptable (if the witness does not have an official stamp – please include witnesses’ business card with passport application)
- Sign each column separately if they witness both parents/guardians’ signatures
Lost, stolen or damaged passports
First, report the loss, theft or damage of your passport to the local police and request a police report, if possible. (Note: Police in some jurisdictions will not provide police reports – the nearest Irish Embassy/Consulate will be able to advise).
To get a new passport you will need to submit a new application. The police report must be submitted with your passport application.
On the Application form:
- Complete Section 6 of the application form, explaining how your previous passport was lost/stolen or damaged
- Have it witnessed and stamped by a by local police or an appropriate witness from the list above (the same witness should sign section 6 and section 8)
Even if you don’t need a replacement you should inform the Passport Service of the loss or theft. If you lose two or more passports, it may restrict the period of validity for your next passport and it may not be possible to receive your passport in less than 10 working days.
Do not, under any circumstances, try to travel on a passport that has been reported as lost or stolen.
For further information on lost, stolen or damaged passports see here.
