New Passport Name

Gerry.L

This might be the wrong forum to ask this in but I cant find anywhere else...

I lost my old passport ages ago so its time to apply for a new one.

I'd love to put my name down in Irish this time (instead of English like in my last passport).

Logically I cant see anything wrong with this.....

But.... then again, we aren't renowned for being a country of great logic.. So would it be a straight forward thing... or will I be sent on a wild goose chase :rolleyes:

bigdaddyliamo

I had the "pleasure" of doing this a few years ago:rolleyes:. admittedly, I had lost my 2 previous passports so there may have been more to it from their end.
Anyway,I always had my name in Irish on the main page and the English version on the details page in the back, so no issue there. The issue came about when I applied to have the Irish name only as the passport name. I was told that I could not do this as it was not my official name or words to similar affect.After some too-ing and fro-ing I lost patience and demanded to speak with a supervisor.I was informed that I could not have the passport in my Irish name as I did not/could not prove that I use it in general usage.I was asked then to prove the need for the same, which I found to be quite insulting. To cut the story, well, slightly shorter, I let rip,through Irish, at the poor lady and they rang me back after an hour and said all was grand and the passport would be in the post during the week;).
I imagine though in your case it should be fairly straightforward!

Victor

You may need to do a deed poll (talk to your solicitor) to change your name and have that registered with the courts.

Paulw

Victor wrote: »

You may need to do a deed poll (talk to your solicitor) to change your name and have that registered with the courts.

But the person isn't changing their name at all, they're simply using the Irish of their name, rather than it's English translation??

Pkiernan

You are entitled to have any and all government issued documentation in the language of Irish.

With regard to travelling, unless other items such as credit cards bear the same name, you may run into issues if required to present ID when using them.

Additionally, make sure to use the same name that appears on your passport on all other travel documents - airline tickets/visa applications etc.

Victor

Paulw wrote: »

But the person isn't changing their name at all, they're simply using the Irish of their name, rather than it's English translation??

Are you saying Eoghan = Eoin = Evan = Ian = John = Jon = Johannes = Hans = Jean = Ivan wouldn't cause any problems on a passport? Or any of these variations: http://www.behindthename.com/php/translate.php?terms=john&menuterm=&menuterm2=&gender=both

While they may have historical or cultural associations, they are not the same.

Cat Melodeon

I was also asked to show that I used the name in Irish in everyday usage. A bank statement or similar should suffice. If you can't prove that you use it ordinarily then you have to keep the English name somewhere on the passport. Being a fluent Irish speaker should be enough to show regular usage.

I found having my name in Irish a pain in the backside when I lived abroad, have since switched back to the English version.

Edit: I'm pretty sure the application form guidelines specify that if you want to switch to the other version of your name, you have to provide evidence of usage.

Lollymcd

The name on your passport should be the name you regularly use and are known by. If that's your name as Gaeilge then you will have proof of that, if you don't have proof then you aren't ordinarily known by that name and therefore cannot have a passport in that name. Seems simple to me.

The passport office will rarely look for your name to be changed by deedpoll unless it is a completely different name then that on your birth cert and you have no proof of usage. Bank statements, ESB bills or a driving licence dating back over two years in the name you wish to appear on your passport should be sufficient.

Our man in Havana

Evidence of usage is not needed for a name change by marriage (male or female), just a marriage certificate.

I would assume that once you get a passport in the new name, the evidence of usage is not needed for any renewals?