The New Irish Passport

The new design reflects Irish culture

The newly-designed Irish passport features images of iconic Irish landmarks including Croagh Patrick, Kylemore Abbey and  Croke Park,  in addition to drawings depicting Irish music and dance and Gaelic games.

At its launch on 30 September 2013, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore T.D., said: “We have combined the latest security technology with selected imagery in order to produce a passport which represents Ireland – our culture, our history, and our people.

“The images used range from a stunning perspective of the Cliffs of Moher to the new landscape along the river Liffey, with the Dublin Convention Centre to the foreground and the Custom House and Liberty Hall peering through the harp strings of the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

Tánaiste: “We have combined the latest security technology with selected imagery in order to produce a passport which represents Ireland”

A combination of photographs and drawings, commissioned solely for use on the Irish passport, are reproduced with specialist printing techniques to ensure that the Irish passport is highly-secure.  The book was designed and produced in Ireland, by a consortium led by DLRS of Bray, HID Ireland of Baile na hAbhainn, and the Central Bank. All Irish passports issued from 3rd October have this new design.

Passport by numbers:

More than 630,000 passports issued in 2012, of which about 350,000 issued to adults.

67% of all passport applications were received through the Passport Express channel.

Over 40,000 applications were received through the Northern Ireland Passport Express channel.

Almost 53,000 applications were received through the London Passport Office, the highest number outside the State.

After London, the highest number was issued in Canberra - 5,600 passports, followed by  5,300 by the Consulate General in New York.

July was the busiest month in 2012 with 78,000 passports issued, while December was the quietest with just over 20,000