Ireland’s Passport Online service has been a massive success in 2023, with nearly one million passports issued, as disclosed by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. The daily issuance of passports ranged between 2,000 and 3,000, making it a highly efficient and popular service for Irish citizens. The Irish authorities have highlighted the online changes made in 2023, which have streamlined the process for first-time applicants, especially when applying for a child’s first passport.
In addition, most online adult renewal applications were processed and issued within two working days. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, commended the Customer Service Hub for addressing over 600,000 queries from citizens in 2023, making the Passport Service the best customer service brand in the public sector. As a result, Martin has encouraged travelers to use the Passport Online service for renewals or first-time applications to ensure their passport is valid for future journeys.
Furthermore, the Passport Service approved more than 36,000 Foreign Birth Registrations (FBR) in 2023, reducing the processing time by 75 per cent compared to 2022. This has made it easier for individuals born abroad to claim Irish citizenship through descent. The Passport Online service is now available to first-time applicants in 175 more countries, giving 99.9 per cent of global first-time and renewal applicants the ability to apply online.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also revealed that the youngest applicant for a passport was only four years old, while the oldest was 103 years old. Dublin residents submitted the highest number of passport applications, followed by citizens from Cork, Antrim, Galway, and Kildare. In terms of foreign applications, the United States had the highest number of applicants, followed by Australia, Canada, France, and Spain.
Moreover, Ireland’s Passport Service has received recognition for its exceptional customer experience, ranking 18th among 150 public-facing organizations in a customer experience group survey. Additionally, the Customer Service Hub was shortlisted for the “Best Customer Service Team” award at the 2023 Customer Experience Awards. Currently, Ireland’s passport ranks as the 19th most powerful passport in the world, according to the VisaGuide.World Passport Index, allowing holders to travel without a visa in 111 countries and passport-free in 32 countries.
Lastly, the Irish Department of Justice launched an online platform in October 2023 to enable foreign candidates to apply online for Irish citizenship, making the process more accessible for individuals seeking to become citizens of Ireland. Overall, Ireland’s Passport Online service has significantly enhanced the passport application process, making it easier and more efficient for Irish citizens and foreign applicants alike.
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