British Passport Renewal for UK Citizens Living in Ireland
If you are a UK citizen living in the Republic of Ireland and your British passport is expiring soon or has already expired, you can renew the same from Ireland without having to travel back to the UK.
For more information regarding how to renew your British passport from Ireland, supporting documents, timeline or fees, or to receive professional help with your renewal application, contact our Total Law office in Ireland on +353 061 518 025 to speak with one of our expert immigration advisers.
Do I need to Renew my British Passport in Ireland?
A British passport is both a nationality proof and travel document for a UK citizen. It allows the passport holder to live, work, study and claim public funds in the UK as a citizen without any additional visa/permit, as well as move within, enter and exit the UK freely. It also enables them to travel abroad, including visa-free or on visa-on-arrival basis travel to 192 countries and territories.
Typically, British passports are valid for up to 10 years for adults and up to five years for children (i.e. aged less than 16 years). You will be required to renew your British passport if it is expiring soon or has expired. For British citizens living outside the UK, there is no need to go back to their home country or to the passport office to renew their passports.
A British passport renewal can now be done online in most countries. If that facility is not available in your country of residence, you will need to apply in person at your nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.
As a British citizen living in Ireland, you will have to renew your passport online since the British Embassy in Dublin offers only limited consular services (e.g. issuing emergency travel documents) and does not handle standard passport renewals.
How to Renew my British Passport from Ireland without Traveling to the UK
Overview
You will be required to renew your British passport if it has already expired, or if you do not have enough time left on it to travel to another country. In most cases, that period is at least six months, but do check the entry requirements for the country you will be travelling to since the time period may vary from country to country.
You can follow the standard passport renewal process online unless a) your passport is lost, stolen or damaged, or b) you have had a name or gender change, or your appearance has significantly changed (so much so that you cannot be recognised from your existing passport photo any more).
The standard online renewal process for a British passport consists of three steps:
- Getting a digital photo
- Filling in the online renewal application form and paying the required fees
- Sending your old passport to the Home Office
Get a Digital Photo
Even if your appearance has not changed much since your previous passport, you will have to get a digital photo, taken no more than one month before the date of your passport renewal application. It is crucial to meet the passport photo guidelines as specified by the Home Office to avoid any delay with your renewal application.
It is recommended to go to a photo booth or shop to get a digital photo, since they are professionals experienced in capturing passport photos and are well aware of the photo guidelines. In addition, you can ask to get a code with your photo from a photo booth or shop, which you can simply enter while renewing your passport online to get your digital photo added to your application.
However, you may also have someone to help you take a photo at home using your own device. If so, then please keep in mind that your passport photo must be:
- Clear and in focus
- A colour photo
- Unaltered by any computer software (e.g. photoshop)
- At least 750 pixels tall and 600 pixels wide
- At least 50 KB in file size (but no more than 10 MB)
Additionally, your digital photo must:
- Be taken against a plain, light-coloured background
- Be in clear contrast to the background
- Not have any other objects or people
- Not have ‘red eye’
- Include your head, shoulders and upper body
- Not be cropped
You must also be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera in your digital photo as well as have a neutral expression with your mouth closed. Your eyes must be open and visible, with no hair or such in front of your eyes. You should also not wear a headgear, unless for religious or medical purposes, or have anything covering your face.
There should also not be any shadows on your face or behind you. It is also recommended not to wear glasses while having your photo taken. If you must, then please ensure they are not sunglasses or tinted glasses, and your eyes are not covered by the frames or any glare, reflection or shadow.
If the passport renewal application is for a baby or a child, there are certain relaxation of rules such as:
- Children under 12 months may not have their eyes open, and you can support their head with your hand (although your hand should not be visible in the photo)
- Children under six years of age do not require to be looking straight at the camera or have a neutral expression
However, please ensure that our child is on their own in the picture, and not holding toys or using dummies. Children under 12 months should lie on a plain, light-coloured sheet, and the photo should be taken from above.
Fill in the Application Form and Pay Fees Online
You will have to go to the dedicated page for renewing your British passport on the Home Office website to start your online application process. Please have your digital photo (or the code if you have one) and other necessary documents and information ready with you, so as to fill in the online application form correctly and completely. If you are submitting a passport renewal application on behalf of your child, please fill in their relevant details on the form.
After completing the form, you will be required to pay the fees. The Home Office website only accepts a debit or a credit card as a valid payment method.
Send Old Passport to the Home Office
Once your online application is complete, the Home Office website page will instruct you on how to mail your previous passport to the processing office in London and provide its address. After processing your application, they will send you back your old passport along with your new British passport via Royal Mail or courier.
If you require any help completing your passport renewal application online, you may call the Home Office Passport Adviceline on +44 (0) 300 330 0901 or text on +44 (0) 300 330 0808, during 8 AM to 8 PM UK time on weekdays (or 9 AM to 5:30 PM on weekends and public holidays).
UK Passport Renewal Requirements from Ireland
To renew your old British passport, you will require the following supporting documents:
- A digital photo (taken as per the guidelines discussed above)
- Your previous passport
- Any other valid passports you may hold from a different country
For any valid passport from a country other than the UK, you may either submit the physical copy or a colour photocopy of every page including blank pages.
British Passport Renewal Fees and Processing Times for Ireland Residents
Here’s a summary of UK passport renewal fees:
| Application Method | Adult Fee | Child Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Online Application | £94.50 | £61.50 |
| Postal Application | £107 | £74 |
It may take three to 10 weeks to renew your British passport. This timeline may vary if the Home Office asks you for additional information or advises you to submit a fresh digital photo.
You cannot apply to get a passport urgently by paying an additional fee from outside the UK (i.e. Ireland in this context). You will have to apply for an emergency travel document instead in case you must travel urgently and cannot use your UK passport.
How to Receive Your New British Passport in Ireland
After processing your renewal application, the Home Office will send you the new passport to your Ireland home address via Royal Mail or courier. The delivery person may post your package through your letterbox or hand-deliver the same to you if you are available.
If you are not home and they cannot post it through your letterbox, they may leave a card or letter instructing how you can get your package. They will not mention that your delivery contains your new British passport for security reasons.
How Total Law Assists with British Passport Renewals from Ireland
Renewing your British passport from Ireland is a fairly simple process. However, it is of utmost importance to make sure your digital photo meets the Home Office specified guidelines. You must also fill in the renewal application form online accurately for yourself or your children to avoid any future complications or processing delay.
If you are unsure, call us. We have an office in Ireland where you can reach out to us on +353 061 518 025, and speak with one of our expert immigration advisors.
We can also help with your lost, damaged or stolen British passport. Alternatively, if you have changed your name, gender or appearance significantly, we can assist you with applying for a new British passport. Moreover, if you require an emergency travel document, we can guide you on how to apply for the same at the British Embassy in Dublin.
To know more about our bespoke UK passport and immigration services and/or how our team of experienced immigration specialists can help you with your case, please reach out to us today.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If your British passport has expired in the past 10 years, you will be eligible to follow the standard UK passport renewal process as discussed in this article. If it has expired for more than 10 years, you will have to make a fresh UK passport application.
You will be required to send your old passport along with the unexpired visa attached to it with your renewal application. The Home Office will return your old passport along with the new one to you after your application is processed. You will need to carry both passports while travelling to use any unexpired visas.
Once you have submitted your passport renewal application online, the Home Office will send you regular updates via email or text. Alternatively, you can log in to the website to track your application progress.
