Child passport application in Ireland

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Children need their own passport for international travel, even when travelling with their parents. This guide explains how to apply for a child's Irish passport, which documents to prepare and how to get the passport photo ready.

Table of contents

• Applying for your child's first Irish passport
• Documents required for a child passport application
• Baby passport photo requirements
• Child passport application fee
• Child passport validity
• Irish child passport renewal

Applying for your child's first Irish passport

Your child must be an Irish citizen to qualify for an Irish passport, and the application needs evidence of their entitlement. You can apply online; a paper application is also available through the appropriate service where offered.

Applying online for a child's passport

You can use Passport Online to apply for your child's first passport from anywhere in the world. You will need a digital photo, a debit or credit card, an email address and access to a printer.

The application has two parts: submit the information and photo online, then send the completed identity and consent form and any supporting documents requested. To apply:

1. Complete the application on Passport Online;
2. Upload a digital photo that meets the requirements;
3. Pay by debit or credit card;
4. Print the Child Passport Identity and Consent Form generated by the system;
5. Have the child's identity verified and the consent of every legal guardian witnessed as instructed on the form. For a first-time application in Ireland, a member of An Garda Síochána witnesses the application; outside Ireland, use an appropriate witness from the accepted list;
6. Send the completed form and required supporting documents to the address given in your application instructions.

Submitting the online form is not the final step. Processing begins only when the Passport Service has received all the required supporting documents.

Applying by post

If you live in Ireland or Northern Ireland and need a paper application, contact the Passport Assist Service. In Ireland, call 01 613 1795; from Northern Ireland, call +353 1 613 1795. The team generates a personalised paper form and posts it to you.

To apply:

1. Check and complete the form sent to you, including the required signatures and witnessing;
2. Gather the supporting documents and four identical passport photos. Have two photos endorsed by the application witness as instructed on the form;
3. Bring the application to an An Post office in Ireland or a participating post office in Northern Ireland, and pay for submission through Post Passport.

The old green APS1/APS2 forms have not been accepted since 1 December 2025. Do not rely on an old form collected from a Garda station or post office. If you live elsewhere, Passport Online is available worldwide.

Documents required for a child passport application

The documents required for a first passport depend on where your child was born, how they acquired Irish citizenship and their guardianship arrangements. Your application instructions will give you the specific list.

Prepare:

• Four identical photos, with two endorsed by the witness, for a paper application;
• A suitable digital photo for Passport Online;
• The Child Passport Identity and Consent Form for an online application, completed and witnessed as instructed;
• The child's birth certificate or other evidence requested by the Passport Service;
• The application fee;
• The child's PPS number, if they are resident in Ireland;
• Supporting evidence of Irish citizenship and any required guardianship documents.

Provide original documents where the application requests them. Do not assume the same checklist applies to every child born in Ireland or abroad.

Baby passport photo requirements

A digital photo for a child's passport must meet the Irish passport photo guidelines:

• It must be a colour photo, not a scan of a print;
• It must be at least 715 pixels wide and 951 pixels high;
• It must be a JPEG file no larger than 9 MB;
• It must be sharp and free from distortion or visible compression artefacts;
• It must have been taken within the past six months.

For a paper application, provide four identical photos between 35 × 45 mm and 38 × 50 mm. Black-and-white or colour prints are accepted.

For either application method:

• Use a plain white, light grey or cream background;
• Show the full head, shoulders and upper body, with space around them;
• Keep the face clearly visible, facing the camera and without the head tilted;
• Aim for a natural, unsmiling expression, eyes open and the mouth closed;
• Use clear, even lighting, without shadows or red-eye;
• Glasses must not cover the eyes or cause glare. Dark glasses are not permitted;
• Head coverings are permitted for religious or medical reasons only, with the full face visible.

For a baby who cannot sit unsupported, the Passport Service recommends a photo taken from above while the child lies on a plain white surface. No other people or supporting hands should appear in the frame. Remove soothers, as they obscure the face.

Passport Service staff review the photo after the online system accepts it.

Prepare your child's passport photo with Visafoto

A short photo session at home lets you work around feeds, naps and school rather than taking your child to a studio. Take several photos and choose a sharp frame with a clear view of the face. You do not need the first shot to be the right one: pause if your child becomes unsettled and try again when they are ready.

Upload your chosen image to Visafoto and select Ireland and the passport format for your application. The service helps with photo sizing and framing, so you do not have to calculate the crop or dimensions yourself.

Here is an example of a baby photo taken at home:

Choose Ireland Passport Online for a digital JPEG, or Ireland Passport Offline for a printable template with 35 × 45 mm photos. For a paper application, print four identical copies at the correct size and have two endorsed by your witness. Preparing the prints before you meet the witness means you can bring the photos and form together.

Check the result against the official photo requirements before submitting it; Visafoto preparation does not replace the Passport Service's review. Support is available 24/7, and you can request a 100% refund if the Passport Service rejects a photo purchased from Visafoto.

For more home-photography tips and help with the online framing step, read our Irish baby passport photo guide.

Child passport application fee

The published passport fees include:

Online child applications have an additional postal fee of €5 if the child lives in Ireland, or €15 outside Ireland. The €15 overseas amount is the postal charge, not an extra €15 on top of the €5 charge.

For Post Passport, the service charge is €9.50 for one application or €16 for up to four applications submitted together. These charges are separate from the passport fee. Fees can change, and urgent appointment services have different charges.

Child passport validity

An Irish passport for a child under 18 is normally valid for five years. Renew it in good time before travel if it is due to expire.

Irish child passport renewal

You can renew your child's passport through Passport Online from anywhere in the world. A passport issued within the past 15 years can be renewed even if it has expired. If it was issued more than 15 years ago, the application is treated as a first-time application.

Renewals still need a recent digital photo, guardian consent and identity verification. Print and complete the Child Passport Identity and Consent Form and send any supporting documents requested. If the current passport has more than six months left, it must be returned with the application and will be cancelled when the new passport is issued.

If you need help applying on paper in Ireland or Northern Ireland, contact Passport Assist. Urgent renewals may be eligible for the appointment service, but this is separate from a routine online or postal application.

Last updated: 2 October 2026.