Trying to renew Irish Passport in UK!

magsirl

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone else has had as much hassle trying to renew an Irish Passport while living in the UK? I received the application form and it says to get one of the following to witness certificate of identity.
Police Officer/Constables.Members of the Clergy,Doctor or Dentist.Solicitor,Magistrate or Judge. Bank Official (this includes postmasters and sub postmasters)Justice of the Peace,Notary Public,Commisioner for Oaths,Elected Public Reps,Teachers or Accountants.

So far I have tried the Police Station, My Doctor, Post Office and my Bank. All has said sorry we do not do this!!
***The form also states the witness does not need to know the person for any length of time provided they are satisfied as to their identity.***
I have lived at the same address for almost 8 years have banked with barclays for the same lenghth of time.I have a valid passport (but need to renew as you are unable to travel with less than 6 months left on your passport). I have found this so frustrating and just wonder if anyone else has had the same problem?
I even spoke with the Bank Manager in Barclays and she said if she knew me personally she could have signed it!! The Bank official I first spoke with told me if I needed a passport to open an account (as proof of my identity) they could sign it for me!!

I do not go to Church so do not know any clergy.I have no children in school in UK (my children are grown up) so have no contact with teachers. I am finding it very frustrating and I am annoyed with Barclays as they can confirm all of my details surely? Am I wrong in thinking this? Any thoughts please..

hothothot_3

wait a minute........this is for a renewal? You only need a counter signature for either a new application or a lost one a renewal doesnt need you to get a witness - have you got the wrong form?

just in case I dont come back to this thread - if all else fails you can go to the town hall / city chambers and get a notary public to signature it for you. No cost involved usually. Just phone them and ask to make an appointment and tell them the nature of what it is, and they will tell you what you need to bring in. HTH

dmg24

(but need to renew as you are unable to travel with less than 6 months left on your passport).

Where are you travelling to?

magsirl

Hi Hothothot,

I emailed the Irish Embassy and asked them to send me the form to renew my Irish passport. As this is my 1st time to renew it I presumed I have the correct form (I really do not know!) On this form it says in section 5 previous Irish passport. Were you ever issued with an Irish Passport-Yes/No.If yes submit your Irish Passport for cancellation and enter the passport number. Then if you are not in possession of this passport please complete section 6 and have witnessed by a Police Officer. (This is for lost and stolen)
I presumed when I was giving details of my previous passport that I was renewing? I think I will have to phone them tomorrow and see what they say. Many thanks for your reply.

As it can take six weeks to get my passport back I am anxious to do it properly and not have it returned for some silly reason.

magsirl

Hi DMG24

I travel to Ireland a lot as my family live there. With Ryanair you have to have a valid passport for ID as they will not accept Driving Licences any more.

dmg24

magsirl wrote: »

Hi DMG24

I travel to Ireland a lot as my family live there. With Ryanair you have to have a valid passport for ID as they will not accept Driving Licences any more.

Are you sure that they need six months left on them? UK ones do not, unless going to certain countries (Morocco being one).

AFAIK you are correct that you need a witness signature for a renewal in Ireland. I have Irish friends who have had to do this, but they have had theirs signed by someone from church.

magsirl

Hi DMG24

No I am not certain you need 6 months left on your passport I thought I read that somewhere?? The problem I have really is the length of time it can take to get my passport back (up to 6 weeks). I try and go to Ireland regularly so I was trying to organise to renew it between trips (and hoping I do not need to go in an emergency in between) My passport does not expire until Nov 2009 I have booked to go over in March and will try and go again in May.I am just afraid if I have done something wrong in my application ie the pictures not being correct or something then I have another delay so for this reason I was trying to organise it as early as possible.

Kez1983

My dad is Irish and has had the same problems in the past with finding people to certify his pics. The last time he used a local solicitor and the time before was his optician! The solicitor charged a fee, but it was only about a tenner and solved the problem in the space of 5 minutes!

And as you say they dont need to know you beforehand as long as they are satisfied, if you have your old passport and havent changed much from your old pic there shouldnt be a prob.

ifonlyitwaseasier

OP look here as you are renewing you just need to submit your expiring passport

"If you are renewing your passport and are over 18 years of age, you need only submit your current/expired passport."

magsirl

Hi Ifonlyitwaseasier,

Many thanks for taking the time to reply!I have looked at this site and yes that link does say if renewing you only need your old passport but maybe that means if doing it in Ireland?? have a look at this link

http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=71709

and it says
Applications must be made on an original APS2E application form. This application form is only available at Irish Embassies and Consulates; it is a different form to the form available from the Passport Office in Ireland.

I did email the Irish Embassy in London and they sent me the application form to renew my Passport. So I presume I have to complete this form. Many thanks for taking the time to read and reply. I am getting more confused by it all lol

PS. Just reread that site again and it means if you are renewing your passport you do not need the long form of your birth certificate just your old passport!!! But still need to complete the application form

ifonlyitwaseasier

i hope you get it sorted, iirc the irish passport office in london is near harrods and you can go down and do the renewal in person it's just a bit of a trek normally (good excuse for some shopping tho)