Who Can Sign an Irish passport application?
Irish Passport Witnessing in London — Fast, Secure & Accepted Every Time
At Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers, we specialise in signing and certifying Irish passport applications in the UK. We’re always on call to answer the Irish Passport Office directly when they call to verify your application.
- ✔ Fixed fee £125 + VAT
- ✔ Bonus: We provide a certified copy of your current passport — so you don’t have to send your current passport
- ✔ Officially recognised by the Irish Passport Office
- ✔ We take calls from the Passport Office which avoids delays
- ✔ Same-day appointments available in central London
Identity Witness Rules Explained
An appropriate witness from a recognised profession must verify your identity.
In Great Britain and Northern Ireland, applicants frequently use a Notary public/Commissioner for Oaths, police officer, doctor, school principal, or equivalent recognised profession. Overseas applicants may use an Irish Embassy/Consulate (sometimes Honorary Consuls) via the appointment service under Consular services but appointments like these are very hard to get.
Notaries are your safest bet because ID verification is one of our core roles. We meet you, verify your ID, sign your form and keep a record of our meeting so that when the passport office calls, we retrieve the record and confirm we’ve done identity verification form Irish passport as required. This reduces delays.
The requirement of the Irish passport office is that the applicant is ‘known to us’. By proving your identity, you become known to us. In the words of an Irish passport office official, ‘you don’t have to go out for a drink with the applicant, but as long as the applicant is known to you, your an act as a passport witness’.
In Ireland suitable witnesses commonly includes a Garda Síochána member, Peace Commissioner, medical doctor, school principal/vice principal, member of clergy, bank manager/assistant bank manager/Credit Union Manager, Chartered Engineer, and other listed roles.
What We Do
- Verify your identity by inspecting your photo ID and proof of address so that we can say that we know you as per the requirements of the Irish Passport Application.
- Complete the relevant Identity verification form.
- Certify your photograph as a true likeness.
- Provide name, profession, address, email/phone, and place our official stamp and registration number on the form.
- Confirm we are a third party (not related to you, not living at your address).
Documents You’ll Need
- Proof of identity: original passport or UK passport, driving licence
- Proof of address: bank statements, utility bills, social welfare letters
- Contact details: contact email address and phone number for our records.
Original documents are required as photocopies alone aren’t sufficient
Central London Location near Bond St and Oxford Circus
Book your appointment now
Tap the button to call us on 020 7499 2605 or complete the contact form below.
How Your Appointment Works in 5 Steps
Case Studies (From Our London Notary Practice)
Damaged passport renewal (Great Britain)
A Dublin-born client living in Marylebone had a damaged passport. She wondered who can verify an Irish passport. We acted as Commissioner for Oaths, endorsed the paper application photo, and stamped the Identity verification form. The Irish Passport Office rang us to confirm, we did and the passport office, accepted first-time.
First-time adult via Irish Foreign Birth Registration
Client with UK birth and Irish grandparent completed Foreign Birth Registration. They brought the original FBR certificate, bank statements for Proof of address and photo ID. We notarised the identity verification form Irish passport.
Recognised Identity Witnesses by Location
Great Britain & Northern Ireland
Irish passport applicants living in Great Britain or Northern Ireland commonly use:
- Notary public
- Commissioner for Oaths
- Medical doctor
- Police officer
- Solicitor
- School principal/vice principal
- Member of clergy
- Bank officials
- Other comparable recognised professions working full time in their field
Look at the list and you can see where answering the call from the Irish passport office might prove problematic.
Overseas (outside Ireland/UK)
Use the local Irish Embassy or Consulate (see ireland.ie → Irish Passport Office → Consular services).
Where appropriate, an Honorary Consul may assist. In limited scenarios, Irish citizens in third countries may reference the EU Consular Protection Directive and Consular assistance charter for help via other EU missions. Global Ireland posts current guidance, and some UN-stationed staff (e.g., United Nations field locations) coordinate through the nearest mission.Ireland (Republic of Ireland)
Inside Ireland
Accepted identity witnesses typically include:
- Garda Síochána
- Peace Commissioner
- Medical doctor
- Speech Therapist
- School principal/vice principal, School Secretary, Pre-school manager, Montessori teacher
- Member of clergy
- Elected public representative
- Bank manager/assistant bank manager, Credit Union Manager, Assistant Manager
- Chartered Engineer and similar recognised profession
When You Need a Witness (and When You Don’t)
- Passport Online service (fastest way):
- Straightforward adult renewals with a valid previous passport may not need an identity witness.
- Lost/stolen/damaged passports, name changes, first-time applicant cases, and many Child Passport Identity applications do require a witness and certified photo.
- Paper application / paper form:
- Usually requires a recognised witness and a photo on photographic paper endorsed as a true likeness.
- Passport Card:
- Handy for travel within the European Union/UK. You’ll still need the book passport for many scenarios; check eligibility before applying.
Special Cases
- First-time applicant born abroad: complete Foreign Birth Registration before applying; include the original FBR certificate.
- Name changes: include marriage certificate or deed poll so the Irish Passport Office can reconcile names.
- Damaged passports: usually treated like lost/stolen—expect a witness requirement and extra supporting documents.
- Northern Ireland applicants: may use UK-based witnesses (e.g., Notary public/Commissioner, police officer, doctor).
Current Processing Times & How to Avoid Delays
- Passport processing times / current turnaround times vary by season and application type; Passport Online service is generally the fastest way.
- Speed tactics:
- Use Passport Online where eligible and upload detailed information clearly.
- Choose a witness used to official forms (a Notary public in London reduces query risk).
- Submit complete supporting documents (FBR, Proof of address, civil status certificates) the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a police officer sign an Irish passport application?
Yes—if they add rank, force details, and contact information as the appropriate witness.
Can school staff sign (principal/vice principal, School Secretary, Pre-school manager, Montessori teacher)?
Yes—principal/vice are standard; other roles are accepted where listed as a recognised profession and can stamp on school letterhead.
Can a Notary public/Commissioner for Oaths sign in Great Britain or Northern Ireland?
Yes. This is common and reliable because the Notary/commissioner provides a seal and registration number.
Does my photo have to be on photographic paper?
For paper-based witnessing, yes—passport-size photo on photographic paper endorsed as a true likeness.
Do I need Foreign Birth Registration?
If claiming Irish citizenship through descent, you’ll need your original Foreign Birth Registration Certificate before making the Irish passport application.
What are the current processing times?
Current processing times are published by Foreign Affairs/Irish Passport Office and vary; Passport Online is usually the quickest.
What documents count as Proof of address?
Recent bank statements, utility bills, or official social welfare correspondence.
What if my previous passport is lost or damaged?
Treat as lost/stolen/damaged—expect a witness and extra proofs.
Can an elected public representative or member of clergy act as witness?
Yes—both are commonly listed as recognised professions if they provide full contact details.
Can I apply for a Passport Card only?
Yes, if eligible; it’s useful within the EU/UK but keep your passport book for wider travel.
Related content
- Irish citizenship (Foreign Birth Registration & naturalisation)
- Child Consent To Travel
- ID1 Form Verification Near Me (Land Registry identity)
- Apostille & legalisation for supporting documents
- Notary Public London
- Proof of address
- Passport notarised copy
