Passport application operations suspended

Car99 · 20-02-2021 10:18pm #1

Just to let anyone waiting know that the Passport Office has suspended operations while Level 5 is in effect due to staff working from home not having access to certain files .

They also say that they expect the backlog to be cleared within 6 to 8 weeks of Level 5 exit.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2021/0220/1198346-passports/

yenom · 21-02-2021 1:29am

Someone posted up that renewals that don't require documents are still going through automatically.

McSween · 22-02-2021 8:28pm

yenom wrote: »

Someone posted up that renewals that don't require documents are still going through automatically.

Interesting. My parents’ ones are out of date a month. New photos and maybe i will submit their application. Will getting passport cards with their books cause any issue?

maccydoodies · 22-02-2021 8:31pm

Passports are not being issued unless for an emergency. However some renewals in the system right before an emergency application may be processed. I know this because I've one in the system since December and they won't process it until.out of level 5.

yenom · 23-02-2021 2:12am

McSween wrote: »

Interesting. My parents’ ones are out of date a month. New photos and maybe i will submit their application. Will getting passport cards with their books cause any issue?

It would be good to know. It's my understanding that the straightforward ones are done automatically by machines and have no human interaction.

Car99 · 23-02-2021 11:22am

yenom wrote: »

It would be good to know. It's my understanding that the straightforward ones are done automatically by machines and have no human interaction.

Well mine is straight forward as they come , on line renewal no changes to any of my details since last passport issued. Applied late december and it is still in processing. I dont expect it now until week after we exit level 5 . No panic as I'm not going anywhere.

McSween · 23-02-2021 4:52pm

Mine and my daughter’s are up in March/May 2022 and local pharmacy are doing digital photos.

Does my passport stay valid until ISSUE of new one? Ie i dont think i have to send old one off in the post?

Car99 · 23-02-2021 11:27pm

McSween wrote: »

Mine and my daughter’s are up in March/May 2022 and local pharmacy are doing digital photos.

Does my passport stay valid until ISSUE of new one? Ie i dont think i have to send old one off in the post?

If it's a renewal do it online if you can at all it quite easy but you cant apply for a new one until I think it's less than 6 months left on your old one.

munchkin_utd · 24-02-2021 8:52am

yenom wrote: »

It would be good to know. It's my understanding that the straightforward ones are done automatically by machines and have no human interaction.

theres still a human involved to double check the details, and from the sounds of it this access to your personal information is only possible on site at the passport office and not when the staff are working remotely

As for the question of needing to send in a passport as part of an application, thats not required any more thankfully.

db · 24-02-2021 9:25am

How are they working from home if they aren't processing any applications, what else do they do? I'm in favour of working from home if you can still do your job but if not it's just an extended holiday. Could they not have a few staff in to check physical documents and the rest processing the rest of the application from home?

Car99 · 24-02-2021 10:50am

db wrote: »

How are they working from home if they aren't processing any applications, what else do they do? I'm in favour of working from home if you can still do your job but if not it's just an extended holiday. Could they not have a few staff in to check physical documents and the rest processing the rest of the application from home?

They said the staff were redeployed to other tasks. Who knows.

Theboinkmaster · 24-02-2021 3:03pm

I'd say the reality is most of those staff are sitting at home on full pay.

Also what correlation is there between passports and level 5 v level 4?! Seems like nonsense.

I'd hope we come out of level 5 on 5 April and then re-open the passport office then if that's' the rules they're following.

Amirani · 24-02-2021 3:06pm

db wrote: »

How are they working from home if they aren't processing any applications, what else do they do? I'm in favour of working from home if you can still do your job but if not it's just an extended holiday. Could they not have a few staff in to check physical documents and the rest processing the rest of the application from home?

That's likely how the emergency ones are getting done. Probably too many staff required to do everyone else as normal.

General Toilet · 24-02-2021 10:16pm

Car99 wrote: »

If it's a renewal do it online if you can at all it quite easy but you cant apply for a new one until I think it's less than 6 months left on your old one.

It's less than 12 months.

talla · 26-02-2021 6:11pm

I submitted an online renewal on Sunday Jan 31st as my passport was expiring at the end of February.
I was shocked when I received the new passport by post in Letterkenny on Thursday February 4th - so it arrived in four working days.
The other strange thing was that the online passport tracker says the passport was only dispatched on Feb 9th

Anyway, I applied for the passport card at the same time, there has been no progress on that yet.

gozunda · 26-02-2021 6:17pm

db wrote: »

How are they working from home if they aren't processing any applications, what else do they do? I'm in favour of working from home if you can still do your job but if not it's just an extended holiday. Could they not have a few staff in to check physical documents and the rest processing the rest of the application from home?

There would be significant GDPR and potential security issues Afaik doing that type of work 'at home'

Theboinkmaster · 31-03-2021 5:29pm

Update from me:

I tracked my application and there was an update today 31 March saying:

Your application is being processed.

Says now due 8th April.

I've never tracked it before so not sure if this is some kind of weekly update whereby it just rolls forward a week?

Or else this is a genuine update and they have actually started to process it?

On twitter they're saying standard adult renewals are being done and 20,000 have been done since December.

So wonder have they resumed service for passports that require documentation like mine? It's a bid coincidental that my tracking has been updated the day after the new government plan.

But maybe it's automatic and next week on 8th April it will just roll forward onto 15 April.

Car99 · 31-03-2021 9:44pm

Mine arrived today , applied early December 2020.

finbarrk · 01-04-2021 7:46am

I applied to renew my Passport Card yesterday. A smooth process online. €35.

kittensmittens · 02-04-2021 1:02am

Childs passport is out this June(renewal not a first passport). If sent in to passport express etc will it be processed and returned by july?(if sent in now)

Caranica · 02-04-2021 7:20am

kittensmittens wrote: »

Childs passport is out this June(renewal not a first passport). If sent in to passport express etc will it be processed and returned by july?(if sent in now)

Nobody knows. You'd have a better chance if you renewed online.

alchemist33 · 02-04-2021 7:31am

For kids passport renewal you still need to send in paper documents and they're currently saying don't do that as its suspended. So who knows how long it'll take. I'll probably send in the paper soon for mine (after having gone through the online process) as I'm sick of staring at it on the mantelpiece.

mrskinner · 03-04-2021 9:18am

I renewed online on Monday and the postman had my passport on Thursday.

Excellent public service.

Masala · 03-04-2021 9:32am

Anyone renewing online using Smartphone picture/ headshot.??? Any problems??

Shauna677 · 03-04-2021 9:36am

Masala wrote: »

Anyone renewing online using Smartphone picture/ headshot.??? Any problems??

I did this last summer, I didn't find the passport photo apps much good, so took a selfie and after cropping to size it was accepted. Got my shiny new passport back within few days.

DiscoStew · 06-04-2021 10:46am

mrskinner wrote: »

I renewed online on Monday and the postman had my passport on Thursday.

Excellent public service.

Strange. I applied online on March 2nd. Estimated issue date on the Passport Tracker was March 15th. This was last updated today April 6th & I still have nothing.
Passport not out til June & not going any where but seems strange.
There’s no one to contact about it also as far as I can see.

Beanybabog · 06-04-2021 12:52pm

In the paper today that the passport office won’t open still until level 4 (despite them making up restrictions as they go that seem to have little link to the levelsanyway!) and it’ll take 8 weeks to clear the backlog. Even if vaccination programme speeds up and things turn around really fast I won’t be going anywhere this year as I have a new baby who needs a first application and I have to send in our passports. The Gardai signed for us so it’s all ready to go :-(

Lemon Davis lll · 06-04-2021 1:04pm

gozunda wrote: »

There would be significant GDPR and potential security issues Afaik doing that type of work 'at home'

Not the case.

An Garda Siochana, Revenue & Dept of Social Protection have large numbers of staff working remotely.

I believe it's a quite specific IT issue precluding Passport office staff from working from home.

gozunda · 06-04-2021 2:43pm

Lemon Davis lll wrote: »

Not the case.

An Garda Siochana, Revenue & Dept of Social Protection have large numbers of staff working remotely.

I believe it's a quite specific IT issue precluding Passport office staff from working from home.

They may have. Thats beside the point

Where wfh involves sensitive data ie unsecured locations etc then that's a significant issue.

iamwhoiam · 06-04-2021 2:47pm

My husband can renew his EU country passport in the embassy in Ireland in a 4 week time slot . My daughter cannot renew her Irish passport ( change of name ) here in Ireland for the forseeable future
Its absolutely scandalous now

Lemon Davis lll · 06-04-2021 4:44pm

gozunda wrote: »

Where wfh involves sensitive data ie unsecured locations etc then that's a significant issue.

Yet myriad organisations across industry and the public sector the world over have felt comfortable to take the plunge.

Theboinkmaster · 09-04-2021 9:24am

I just don't understand how the DFA is getting away with keeping the passport office closed.

Sure on this basis they could stay closed all summer?

They could have one person on their own processing documents etc. so their position on social distancing is nonsense. It's just an excuse to block people from travelling.

yenom · 09-04-2021 5:48pm

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

I just don't understand how the DFA is getting away with keeping the passport office closed.

Sure on this basis they could stay closed all summer?

They could have one person on their own processing documents etc. so their position on social distancing is nonsense. It's just an excuse to block people from travelling.

They could at least do applications from Ireland first and do the Brexit ones next month or something.

rf1980 · 10-04-2021 1:09pm

Renewed my passport online last Sunday. Received new passport in the post on Friday. Still to receive my passport card.

DiscoStew · 10-04-2021 5:16pm

rf1980 wrote: »

Renewed my passport online last Sunday. Received new passport in the post on Friday. Still to receive my passport card.

I have no idea how some people are getting them & others aren’t. Mine was a simple renewal, the money left my bank account on March 3rd & I haven’t heard anything since other than that it is in process when I try to track it, with the estimated delivery date of March 15th. If there was an email address to contact or number to ring it would help to put peoples mind’s at ease at least.

Fann Linn · 10-04-2021 5:20pm

DiscoStew wrote: »

I have no idea how some people are getting them & others aren’t. Mine was a simple renewal, the money left my bank account on March 3rd & I haven’t heard anything since other than that it is in process when I try to track it, with the estimated delivery date of March 15th. If there was an email address to contact or number to ring it would help to put peoples mind’s at ease at least.

Same in this house. Wife renewed just a few weeks before Christmas. Money taken immediately from card and still no passport. Disgraceful service.

manster · 10-04-2021 11:08pm

My renewal passport arrived 3 days after submitting online last week. Fantastic service.

hynesie08 · 18-04-2021 11:22am

Applied online Tuesday, despatched yesterday, should be here tomorrow, passport card being printed today to arrive later.

Incredible.

talla · 18-04-2021 11:35pm

hynesie08 wrote: »

Applied online Tuesday, despatched yesterday, should be here tomorrow, passport card being printed today to arrive later.

Incredible.

Passport card will be default show "Printing" with current date.
Mine has been "Printing" since "Jan 31st" with the date updating everytime I track the request - passport book was delivered within 4 days.

hynesie08 · 20-04-2021 12:28pm

talla wrote: »

Passport card will be default show "Printing" with current date.
Mine has been "Printing" since "Jan 31st" with the date updating everytime I track the request - passport book was delivered within 4 days.

I don't mind that, I got the actual passport yesterday, that's good enough for me for now.

antix80 · 20-04-2021 7:06pm

talla wrote: »

Anyway, I applied for the passport card at the same time, there has been no progress on that yet.

Same. Applied for passport on 04/01/2021 and got it in days. The cards still shows as printing over 3 months later

Nevermind. The passport book got me to tenerife so all's good

Ps didnt mean to hit the thumbs down.

munchkin_utd · 21-04-2021 1:17pm

slightly off topic, but when is the government actually planning to officially declare a move to "level 4" or is the plan to keep level 5 with increasing modifications for the rest of the year or beyond, going from level 5- to level 5---- (minus, minus, minus, minus)

The press releases and soundbites from politicans are wishy washy with just specific relaxation measures mentioned and it seems the only people following the levels are the passport office, in order to avoid having to process passports.

Caranica · 21-04-2021 2:06pm

munchkin_utd wrote: »

slightly off topic, but when is the government actually planning to officially declare a move to "level 4" or is the plan to keep level 5 with increasing modifications for the rest of the year or beyond, going from level 5- to level 5---- (minus, minus, minus, minus)

The press releases and soundbites from politicans are wishy washy with just specific relaxation measures mentioned and it seems the only people following the levels are the passport office, in order to avoid having to process passports.

None of us can know the answer to that. And the passport office are producing passports

munchkin_utd · 21-04-2021 2:22pm

Caranica wrote: »

None of us can know the answer to that. And the passport office are producing passports

thanks. I didnt miss any announcement then so .

We need to make a kids application so cant get around the paper form requirement unfortunately.

Beanybabog · 22-04-2021 11:25am

munchkin_utd wrote: »

thanks. I didnt miss any announcement then so .

We need to make a kids application so cant get around the paper form requirement unfortunately.

I’ve been trying to establish this too. It seems level 5 is being amended, so we could have outdoor dining etc but still be called level 5! It makes no sense but until they call it level 4 the passport office won’t process the ones with supporting documents. There was a number of parliamentary questions being put forward by various TDs on the matter but I don’t know if they were asked about answered. When the announcement comes next week about the restrictions in May and June I think we will know.

munchkin_utd · 23-04-2021 11:45am

The matter was indeed mentioned in the dail yesterday

The backlog of 92,000 applications in the passport system will be cleared within six to eight weeks once level 5 restrictions are eased, the Dáil has been told.

Two thirds of the applications were for renewals, he said, adding that during the current restrictions, Passport Office officials issued 40,000 passports, 3,000 of which were in response to urgent requests.

He said Passport Office staff had been involved in assisting the HSE with contact tracing and the Department of Social Protection with Covid benefits.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/backlog-of-92-000-passport-applications-in-system-d%C3%A1il-hears-1.4545180

so, 6 to 8 weeks, from the moment "level 5" is lifted in name.
If thats the end of May start of June, you are looking at getting a childs passport just before or in August. If its the end of June or start of July, it could be September and the kids are back in school by the time it comes in the post.

Looking at the plan with the levels, you can do more in level 5 (minus) with the restrictions than level 4 - anyhow, it's a joke but what can you do.

munchkin_utd · 27-04-2021 7:50am

the latest

Mr Coveney said a resumption of some passport processing will not happen until the declaration of Level 4, while full services will be dependent on a declaration of Level 3.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/anxious-wait-for-passports-once-eu-travel-is-allowed-as-backlog-hits-89000-40359765.html

the cynical part of you would think they were deliberately looking to obstruct foreign travel.
That could never possibly be the case for the most european of countries, oh hang on, maybe we have seen this strategy before ......

Coalition wanted to shut out travel for tourist season with jab passport delay

The Government tried to block attempts to open up foreign travel during the summer tourist season.
The EU is bringing in vaccine passports to allow people to travel once they have had the Covid-19 jab.
But the Government sought to delay its introduction until after the summer, despite ministers publicly hailing the move.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/coalition-wanted-to-shut-out-travel-for-tourist-season-with-jab-passport-delay-40322401.html

antix80 · 27-04-2021 1:56pm

munchkin_utd wrote: »

the cynical part of you would think they were deliberately looking to obstruct foreign travel.

How dare you accused lying, scumbag politicians of... Oh wait.

First, is it actually true they have no passport renewals whatsoever (bar emergency) at present?

This wasn't the situation at the beginning of the year when i received my online renewal.

If it is true, it seems like a deliberate attempt to prevent people travelling overseas. It's not a good enough excuse to talk about the safety of passport processing staff if the true reason is to enforce a ban on international travel.

Ferris_Bueller · 28-04-2021 4:41pm

My passport expired in November but kept putting off applying as I knew the passport office was closed as long as we were in Level 5. Read a few posts on here that said they received passports despite them being closed.

Filled out the online application on Sunday morning, took the photos on my phone and paid the €75. Passport arrived this morning! Delighted. It was probably as straight forward as a renewal as possible (same name, same address, no new info to provide) but just thought I'd share here and hope it helps another few in the same boat.

munchkin_utd · 28-04-2021 4:55pm

Ferris_Bueller wrote: »

My passport expired in November but kept putting off applying as I knew the passport office was closed as long as we were in Level 5. Read a few posts on here that said they received passports despite them being closed.

Filled out the online application on Sunday morning, took the photos on my phone and paid the €75. Passport arrived this morning! Delighted. It was probably as straight forward as a renewal as possible (same name, same address, no new info to provide) but just thought I'd share here and hope it helps another few in the same boat.

straight forward adult renewals seem to have been getting processed for the past little while but anything involving anything to do with paper wasnt being processed...... but the online status website is reporting that some of the processes are being updated today so there may be a bit of progress to report by tomorrow.
https://www.dfa.ie/passportonline/

I am resigned that we might need to wait another year or 2 before getting our childs passport, but on the positive, anyone applying for a passport (which god knows when it will be processed) should have it easier as one of the changes "will make it easier to upload the picture for your baby’s first passport "

We had awful trouble and cost with professional photographers getting photos for the kids passports when they were infants so at least new parents wont have that problem.... they just have the problem of the never ending Level 5--- (and the number of minuses get longer by the week)

Van.Bosch · 28-04-2021 8:57pm

munchkin_utd wrote: »

straight forward adult renewals seem to have been getting processed for the past little while but anything involving anything to do with paper wasnt being processed...... but the online status website is reporting that some of the processes are being updated today so there may be a bit of progress to report by tomorrow.
https://www.dfa.ie/passportonline/

I am resigned that we might need to wait another year or 2 before getting our childs passport, but on the positive, anyone applying for a passport (which god knows when it will be processed) should have it easier as one of the changes "will make it easier to upload the picture for your baby’s first passport "

We had awful trouble and cost with professional photographers getting photos for the kids passports when they were infants so at least new parents wont have that problem.... they just have the problem of the never ending Level 5--- (and the number of minuses get longer by the week)

“Year or two” - you reckon?

Passport application operations suspended

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