Irish Passport Fees Set to Rise Every Year from 2026: What You Need to Know

If you’ve been putting off renewing your Irish passport, you might want to check the calendar—and your wallet. The government has just confirmed that passport fees will now rise every year, with the first hike landing on April 1, 2026. It’s not a massive jump (we’re talking about a fiver for a standard ten-year passport), but it’s the kind of thing that makes you kick yourself if you leave it too late.

Here’s the deal: the cost of a standard 10-year adult passport is going from €75 to €80, and a passport for children (valid for 5 years) will jump from €20 to €25. And come next April, they’ll tack on a few more euro. It’s part of a move to keep up with processing costs and inflation—something they’ve decided to make an annual tradition. So yeah, that old passport you’ve been meaning to renew? Better do it before the end of the month.

Where to Get It Done: Passport Offices That Still Offer Full Services

If you’re in Ireland, you’re in luck. A handful of Passport Offices are still fully equipped to handle your application from start to finish—no mailing in forms and hoping for the best. Three spots that come to mind:

• Dublin Passport Office – Located on Molesworth Street, this place is usually efficient. Get there early, though; the queue can snake around the corner by 9 a.m.
• Cork Passport Office – Right on South Mall. They’ve got dedicated counters, and the staff actually seem to enjoy their jobs. Bring a book.
• Galway Passport Office – On Father Griffin Road. Pro tip: book an appointment online if you can; it’ll save you at least an hour of staring at the wall.

These offices are your best bet if you need a passport in a hurry—they offer a decent turnaround time if you’re willing to pay for the Passport Express service through An Post. Otherwise, standard online processing is still pretty quick, but with summer travel looming, that could stretch.

Three Changes You’ll Notice (Besides the Price Tag)

The government quietly rolled out a few tweaks alongside the fee hike. First, the online renewal portal is now the norm for most adults whose last passport was issued in the past 15 years. No more printing and posting—just upload and go. Second, digital passport photos are seamlessly integrated into the online application, so you don’t have to mess around with flimsy paper copies. And third, they've streamlined the process for first-time applicants, making it clearer what documents you need as proof of identity and address.

Oh, and if you’re applying for a kid under 18, heads-up: you’ll likely need to go through a different process, often involving a paper application and countersignature. Best to check the latest on gov.ie.

My Take: Don’t Wait Until June

Look, I’ve been covering this beat long enough to know that every spring, there’s a mad rush of people who suddenly realise their passport expired two years ago and they’re supposed to fly to Malaga next week. Don’t be that person. With fees climbing every April 1, there’s actually a financial incentive to get it done now. Lock in this year’s rate, and you’re quids in.

Plus, the Dublin office—and the ones in Cork and Galway—are still handling appointments, but that could change if volumes spike. If you’ve got flexibility, go for a Tuesday or Wednesday morning. Mondays are chaos, and Fridays are for people who love waiting in line.

One last thing: if you’re applying by post, double-check your photos. The specs are strict (they’re particular about the head size and background), and nothing slows down an application like a photo rejection. Most pharmacies now have the right template, so it’s worth the few bob to get them done there.

Safe travels—and here’s hoping we all remember to renew before the next price bump.