UK passport fees are due to surge this week but some individuals may be eligible for a more affordable Irish passport. If you need a passport, it's recommended to apply before Thursday, April 10, as the adult passport fee will rise by seven per cent.

Although it's unlikely to arrive in time for Easter, securing a passport now will save you money for summer travel. Following the price increase, a UK adult passport will cost £94.50, up from the current online application fee of £88.50.

In comparison, an Irish passport costs €75 when applying online.

The Home Office attributes the new fees to its efforts to "continue to move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation."

The government emphasised that it does not profit from passport application fees, reports the Irish Mirror.

Given the impending price hike, UK passport holders might be exploring their eligibility for an Irish passport, which offers a cheaper alternative and the added benefit of skipping passport check queues in EU countries.

The Irish passport has recently been ranked the 'strongest in the world' among 199 countries, making it an attractive option for those who qualify. The latest 2025 global ranking by the Nomad Passport Index, a Swiss tax and immigration consultancy that assists high-net-worth individuals in choosing their new homes, has ranked Irish citizenship as the top choice, surpassing other countries such as Switzerland, Portugal, Malta, the Nordic nations, and New Zealand.

In the most recent edition of the index, the UK has fallen to 21st place, while the United States has dropped to 45th globally.

However, what are the requirements for obtaining an Irish passport, and is it even possible if you weren't born in Ireland?

This depends on several factors.

Am I already an Irish citizen?

If you were born in Ireland before January 1, 2005, you are an Irish citizen by birth and are entitled to an Irish passport.

If you were born in Northern Ireland before January 1, 2005, you are entitled to claim Irish citizenship. This means that you can choose to be an Irish citizen and apply for an Irish passport if you want to.

Can I apply if I was born outside of Ireland?

If you were born outside of Ireland, you are entitled to Irish citizenship if either one of your parents was born in Ireland and was entitled to Irish citizenship.

If you were born outside of Ireland and your parent (who was also born outside of Ireland) was an Irish citizen or entitled to be an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, then you are entitled to become an Irish citizen.

If one of your grandparents was born in Ireland, but neither of your parents was born in Ireland, you may become an Irish citizen. You will need to have your birth registered in the Foreign Births Register.

What if I was born after January 1, 2005?

If you are born on or after January 1, 2005, your entitlement to Irish citizenship depends on the nationality or residence history of your parent or parents.

If either of your parents was an Irish or UK citizen at the time of your birth, you are automatically an Irish citizen if you were born in Ireland. If you were born in Northern Ireland to an Irish or British parent, you can choose to be an Irish citizen.

If your Irish or UK citizen parent died before you were born, you are an Irish citizen by birth.

If you were born in Ireland on or after January 1, 2005 and neither of your parents were Irish or UK citizens, your entitlement to Irish citizenship by birth depends on your parents' residence status and history.

One of your parents must have:

  • Lived in Ireland or Northern Ireland for three out of the four years before you were born or have the right to live in Ireland or Northern Ireland without any restriction on their period of residence
  • Only reckonable residence is counted towards the three out of four years needed. This does not include periods spent in Ireland on a student visa or while waiting for a decision on an international protection application.
  • If you were born in Ireland after December 31, 2004 and do not qualify as an Irish citizen by birth, you can apply for citizenship by naturalisation after you have completed five years of residence in Ireland. You can apply for your child after they have completed three years of residence in Ireland.

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