** ALL ** Passport Queries take.two. **! Mod-note in post#1288

Big shout out to the efficiency I have experienced with the passport office this week.

Sent an online application for passport renewal at approx. 13:30 yesterday. The new passport arrived in the mail this morning, I was amazed!!

Update: Passport not received on Estimated issue date last Friday 10-Dec which was same date we were due to fly so unfortunately trip was cancelled and money lost. We have since received passport. Summary below:

07-Oct-21: Online Tracker Status Change - Processing application. We have received your supporting documents. We are now verifying these documents. Estimated Issue date 10-Dec-21 - Total of 45 working days until estimated issue date

29-Nov-21: Online Tracker Status Change - Processing application. Your application is being processed (36 working days)

13-Dec-21: Our (Parents) original passports and babies birth certificate returned in post. I had requested these to be returned but got nowhere. It was the TDs office that managed to get them sent ahead of time (Passport office note that original documents are not returned until 15 days after application is finalised)

14-Dec-21: Online Tracker Status Change - Alert. There was a problem with the application. We have sent you an e-mail. You should follow the steps outlined in the e-mail. (47 working days) Received an email that there was a problem with photograph (which is frustrating as I had queried this before I submitted my application as was told it would be fine) I resubmitted photo within an hour by 2.30pm. Got it in quick enough that it was reviewed/ actioned that day as...

14-Dec-21: Online Tracker Status Change - Processing application Your application is being processed (47 working days)

Estimated Issue date also changed to 30-Dec-21!! This obviously had me very worried and I was getting ready to have a go through webchat, but next morning another Online tracker Status Change...

15-Dec-21: Online Tracker Status Change - Printing Your Passport Book is being printed. Any\all documents submitted will be returned separately. (48 working days)

16-Dec-21: Passport received in post (49 working days - 4 days after estimated issue date)

This was as straight forward as possible First time application i.e. 2 Parents Irish Citizens/Passport holders. I feel sorry for anyone with a complex application as they really seem to be having a far more disastrous experience with delays

Unfortunately for anyone hoping for a passport to be issued ahead of estimated issue date I don't think you will have any joy. Through my own constant querying through webchat and from TDs office the Passport office pretty much state that no passport can/will be escalated and issued before estimated issue date (except I assume in the case of life/death).

Based on the date I received a notification about an issue with the photograph it looks like they only started looking at the application after estimated issue date had already passed!

I have no doubt that what got it through so quickly (4 days) after estimated date had passed was TDs office putting pressure on the Passport Office. The lady from TDs office I was dealing with was brilliant, she would call me with updates at least a couple of times a week. They have a direct line to the Passport office so are able to get real updates and information that I never could get.

I never once managed to get through on the phone and never got any satisfaction out Webchat as responses received were typically generic and useless.

I'm in the process of renewing my daughters for the last (Thank God!) I'm a sole guardian (she's 17 now) and every time I have renewed it since she was a baby, I had to get an affidavit sworn with a solicitor AND a consent form done, and an original Birth Cert notarized by solicitor too (Commissioner for Oaths). No circumstances have changed over the last 17 years but they still make every sole guardian jump through hoops to renew a child passport - I guess it's all to do with Child Protection and it is important

I don't know your circumstance but I guess at the least you will have to print out a consent form and cover page that they will email you (If renewing online) and have it completed and sent back to them. Took the following from passport website:-

Guardianship

If your child has more than two legal guardians or your family circumstances are different, contact the Passport Service for help. For example, conferred guardianship on an individual through a will and testament.

Online applications

Guardians must fill in and sign the Child Passport Identity and Consent Form in the presence of a suitable witness.

Paper applications

Guardians must fill in and sign Section 7 of the passport application form in the presence of a suitable witness. See acceptable witnesses.

Child has one guardian

Submit:

• A Sole Guardian Affidavit

Child has two guardians and one is unavailable or unwilling to provide consent

Submit:

• A court order dispensing with the consent of the unavailable or unwilling guardian
• Consent for children

Depending on your family circumstances we may need to supply extra documents. Examples are outlined below.

Yes, apply online, pay and upload photo etc....if supporting docs like consent form are necessary they will email you with docs to print and a label to attach to envelope for returning the documents (ExpressPost) The expected issue date will usually change to 3 weeks after the date they have received supporting documents.

Mine just changed today to: "Your Passport Book is being printed. Any\all documents submitted will be returned separately" We have a flight on Friday (Christmas Eve) so I'm just REALLY hoping that An Post can manage to get us the passport before our flight! Eeeek

I'm still waiting for my child's birth cert, is it worth my while go ahead with my application before I receive that?

Just reading the thread it's taking people ages, just thought get the application going and in the meantime get the birthcert and support it and least I haven't lost a few weeks

For a 1st time application for a child, you need to send the passports of the parents too? On the form it says photocopies, but not sure why people are sending actual passports? Both Irish parents.

Ok great, doing it online so will follow this, thanks a lot

Or alternatively does anyone know how to sneak a baby on a plane, or how to get a passport on the black market🙃

Not a hope, as things are at the moment, you probably won’t even have it by it’s due date.