DUBLIN — What should be a straightforward rite of passage for Irish citizens applying for their first passport has become, for many, a frustrating bureaucratic ordeal. The Dublin Passport Office, already facing mounting pressure during peak application season, is drawing criticism for extended delays, repeated requests for documentation, and a lack of transparency in its processing timelines.
Among those affected are countless first-time applicants from Dublin and surrounding areas, many of whom report waiting well beyond the official 20-working-day processing period. While the Department of Foreign Affairs insists that the delays are due to increased demand and the need for rigorous identity verification, the public’s patience is wearing thin.
“After 20 working days, I assumed we’d be done,” said Sarah Molloy, a 28-year-old teacher from Tallaght. “Instead, I got an email saying they now needed a copy of a birth certificate again, which they already had. Why wasn’t this flagged earlier?”
Sarah’s story isn’t unique. Across social media platforms and local community groups, similar complaints echo: people waiting weeks beyond the promised timeline, only to be told more documents are required — documents that were either submitted initially or could have been requested far earlier in the process.
In some cases, applicants received requests for a passport photo after the 20-day deadline, followed by even more document demands. “They asked for a photo two weeks after the initial application. Fine, I sent it. But then they waited another three weeks to tell me they needed additional proof of address,” said Tom Egan, a college student applying for his first passport to study abroad. “It’s almost like they’re stalling just to buy time.”
There are, of course, exceptions. A few applicants report smooth, timely experiences. “Mine was processed in just under three weeks,” said Deirdre Walsh from Clontarf. “But I’m definitely the exception — my sister is still waiting on hers, and she applied two weeks before I did.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the volume of applications has surged, particularly in the run-up to summer travel season and post-pandemic backlog. But critics argue that the internal inefficiencies — particularly the fragmented and delayed requests for documents — are unnecessarily compounding the wait times.
“The issue isn’t just volume,” said Martin Doyle, a former civil servant familiar with passport operations. “It’s poor coordination. If someone sends in their full application, and a document is missing or unclear, that should be flagged immediately, not three or four weeks later. It’s basic case management.”
Applicants say the lack of clarity about what constitutes a “complete application” further exacerbates delays. The online system, while modernized, provides limited real-time updates, leaving many in the dark about the actual status of their passport.
While the government urges understanding, suggesting the office is simply overwhelmed, frustration is boiling over. Some first-time applicants fear they’ll miss planned holidays, study abroad programs, or even important family events because of the backlog.
“Everyone knows the passport office gets busy in spring, but this is something else,” said Aoife Byrne, whose application has been pending for nearly two months. “It’s mega unprofessional to wait until a deadline passes just to hit you with more requests. If they’d just done it all up front, I’d have my passport by now.”
Calls for an independent review of the office’s procedures are growing. Whether changes will come in time to help this wave of first-time applicants remains to be seen.
For now, those navigating the system are left with few options — other than to wait, follow up, and hope their passport arrives before life’s next big milestone passes them by.
