Irish or British Passport?

Oriel

Hey folks,
I'm heading off on holiday in mid Sept and have to apply for a new passport, as I've never had one before.
I live in Northern Ireland (currently living part-time in Dublin though), so I have a choice of whether to get an Irish passport or an British passport.

I would prefer to get an Irish one, but I'm not sure how long it would take, as I've only got two months to go, and don't want to risk not getting it in time.

Is there a seperate application form for people in the North? I've only got a "short" birth certificate too, but it mentions that you need the long one on the Irish application form.

Though I know that, at the end of the day, I just want a piece of paper that gets me out of this sh!t-hole country.

Thanks for any help!

Cheers,
Stephen.

lazygit

The irish one by post takes about 10 working days.
There normally always on time, unless you forgot to fill
something out. ( I think there are some extra docs needed if your from the North )

Or you can drop into the Passport office closer to the day you travel with your tickets and they will do it quicker.

Most of my friends from the north have Irish passports...
They claim to get less grief with them when they go to strange countries! not sure how true this is!

Oriel

God I hate making typos in the subject line...

Dirty Barry

Get an Irish passport !

You can get passport express for an extra €5 or sumthin and you get your passport within 10 workin days.

You'll need to have you're long birth cert though (for both british & Irish)

Here's all the info on Irish Passports ( including NI residents )

Oriel

LazyGit,
That's mainly why I want to get an Irish one, other friends of mine have said that same thing - I think that they treat you differently to a British national.
I think I might take too long though.

Just wondering, can I have both at the same time? Or at least apply for the both of them?

Dirty Barry,
I'm not so sure if I need a long birth cert for a UK passport. But I'm going to need a load more forms for the Irish passport. My mum has never had a long birth cert, she was born in West Meath - but she has a UK passport.

Cheers,
Steve.

imp

Afaik, there's instructions on the back of your birth certificate telling you where you can get extra copies, which I'm sure would include a replacement long birth cert. If not, I'd talk to the hospital you were born in, and possibly the Gardaí.

Get an Irish passport. Ireland rocks, tbh :P

}:>

Stark

You can get a long form birth certificate in the registrar of births office (in ireland anyway). It's around €6 for the first one you get I think (they're discounted thenafter).

Jaybuses crisp

Humm to get a long birth cert go to the hospital where you were born as it is there that your registation of birth was recorded in the local offices and ask for a static copy ...should set you back around 2-3 euro

Monty - the one and only

moved

the Guru

I was born in the North and I live now in Dublin for the last 18 years and I have a Northern irish passport (British) as I went on holidays at the last minute and I could get the Uk one quicker when I was in london ,

Its really up to your self but I would say its better to travel on a Irish passport

Oriel

I think I'm going to get the British one. The only thing is the fact that it's going to be awkward to the pictures and application signed, since they have to be signed by somebody up north - photographs too. (I'm in Dublin at the moment)

In all, I'd say it's going to add about another week and a half onto the whole time, but at least I don't have to bother getting the extra birth cert, and marriage cert for my parents.

Still, would have been nicer to have an Irish one though

Can you have both at the same time, I wonder? Let's just say, when you're from the north, there's times you'd maybe prefer to have a British one...

mike65

I rexckon you should be forced to choose one and one only for the rest of your life...

Mike.

GuanYin

Originally posted by Sinecure
Still, would have been nicer to have an Irish one though

Can you have both at the same time, I wonder? Let's just say, when you're from the north, there's times you'd maybe prefer to have a British one...

The Irish passport is actually regarded by some as the last neutral passport (I kid you not). Apparently it is the passport that requires least international visas when travelling (less than the swiss I checked) so for that aspect the Irish one may be the one to go for.

As for holding two passports, yes and no. You could probably manage it, but its technically not allowed and I don't know what happens if they find out (I have two passports myself and always wonder).

Thankfully, embassies don't seem to comunicate very well in this regard so you would probably be ok. The wonders of international diplomacy.

Originally posted by sykeirl

As for holding two passports, yes and no. You could probably manage it, but its technically not allowed and I don't know what happens if they find out (I have two passports myself and always wonder).

Thats not strictly correct.
People born in NI have dual nationality , in the eyes of the Department of foreign affairs, they can and many do, hold both an Irish and a british passport at the same time.

I have a friend in Belfast who has both.
He got the British one for a round the world trip which was bringing him to a lot of countries with titles ending in Stan and to mongolia.
The idea was that it would be easier to find a British consulate in some of these places if there was a problem.
mm

GuanYin

Originally posted by Man
Thats not strictly correct.
People born in NI have dual nationality ,

Ahh forgot this was an NI thing.
That would be an exception I think you will find.

A US and Irish passport for instance is supposed to be a nono...

sunbeam

Originally posted by sykeirl
A US and Irish passport for instance is supposed to be a nono...

Really? I thought it was possible for a US national to have dual citizenship and hence both passports?

Victor

A long form birth cert can be obtained from the Registrar on Lombard Street East (near Pearse Station) for about €6. They hold records for the 26 counties. It is usually a garda in your local station that signs the photos and form.

Also take into account the cost of the passports.

Originally posted by sykeirl
A US and Irish passport for instance is supposed to be a nono...

I know of a American State Department official carrying an Irish, American and American Diplomatic passports.

Anyone who has a Irish father born before 1948 can also get a British (commonwealth) passport.

GuanYin

I just looked this up.
I'm wrong.

I don't know why, but for the past 2 years I've believed that I wasn't allowed to hold the both.

I feel better now.

sceptre

Originally posted by Sinecure
I think I'm going to get the British one. The only thing is the fact that it's going to be awkward to the pictures and application signed, since they have to be signed by somebody up north - photographs too. (I'm in Dublin at the moment)

If you've a Dublin address (even a part-time one) you might just get away with it. I mean you can prove who you are already.

Technically the Garda who signs your photo is supposed to know who you are and be able to verify you live where you say you do. I got m current passport when I was living in a student house out near UL with no voting records transferred to Limerick or anything - in other words, had I been asked to prove I lived there I'd have found it impossible short of having the guy call out and knock on the door. No problems getting the thing signed.

(it used to be quite easy to take 2 forms and switch the stickers on one with the other, don't know if that can still be done though. In the end I wanted my passport posted to my other address so I pulled one off and put on the other)

yankinlk

Another dual passport holder here. I was once asked to marry an ozzy girl simply so she and I could have three passports. (us, irish and OZ) Not sure what other countries allow this.

cannonfodder

Hay,

I dont know where you are planning to travel on this trip and also in the future but hate to say that travelin to certain countries incure a higher payment for visas if you are traveling on an Irish Passport than with a UK one..

Also the point about Embassies is important because there are not a huge amount of Irish Embassies around the world, you can get help and info from British Embassies but they will never give you monetary help, if you have an Irish Passport, which is what most people get in touch with them for..

Middle Eastern Countries regard an Irish Passport kinder than most other European countries. Also when traveling in Australia and New Zealand some places ask for a passport when you check into hostels and occasionally (in peak times) will prefer to accept non-English holders.. I have heard this happening mostly when there are big groups trying to check in with out bookings..

Either way, which ever is cheapest and easier to get is probably the best offer because in the long run, there are benifits with both..

Enjoy your travels

Cannon

seamus

Originally posted by sykeirl
As for holding two passports, yes and no. You could probably manage it, but its technically not allowed and I don't know what happens if they find out (I have two passports myself and always wonder).

Apparently, you're asked to surrender your current passport when applying for a US one, regardless of the country of origin. From what I've heard, the same goes for most other countries, and then they hand your Irish passport to the embassy. Apparently, us Irish are very lax on such matters (of course) and a nice mail/phone call to the embassy will result in you having your Irish passport mailed back to you.

Of course, this only comes from anecdotal evidence. I only know one person with dual nationality, and I don't think she intends returning to Bahrain anytime soon

embraer170

Apparently, you're asked to surrender your current passport when applying for a US one, regardless of the country of origin. From what I've heard, the same goes for most other countries, and then they hand your Irish passport to the embassy.

While the United States generally does not recognize dual citizenship. there is no law forbidding citizens from holding an American and a foreign passport.

I personally hold Irish and Swiss passports, apparently the two most neutral around.

Sangre

My cousin has an English and Irish one because he just happened to be born in England. For around 4 years he travel all over the world, and I mean all over. Most of Asia, south america and australia etc. He said he used either passport depending on which country he went to. He also said having two was great if you ever lost or had your other stolen/confiscated. He said he never told anyone he had 2.

Victor

Originally posted by sykeirl
A US and Irish passport for instance is supposed to be a nono...

There had been a crack down, especially for Federal employees, a friend joined the National Guard and had to give up his (that said, he could walk into the embassey and have one in under an hour if he wanted / needed).

daveq101

If you're born and raised in the North you're British so get a British passport, are people in NI entitled to a Republic passport? :P

daveq101

Sangre wrote: »

My cousin has an English and Irish one because he just happened to be born in England. For around 4 years he travel all over the world, and I mean all over. Most of Asia, south america and australia etc. He said he used either passport depending on which country he went to. He also said having two was great if you ever lost or had your other stolen/confiscated. He said he never told anyone he had 2.

no such thing as an english passport mate

Victor

This thread is 8 years old.

daveq101 wrote: »

If you're born and raised in the North you're British so get a British passport, are people in NI entitled to a Republic passport? :P

People born in Northern Ireland are entitled to either or both.