UK vs Irish Passport Cost 2026
GBP 102 for a UK adult online renewal, EUR 75 (about GBP 65) for the Irish equivalent. Both 10-year validity. Different practical benefits in the post-Brexit travel environment. Updated 8 April 2026.
In one paragraph
Irish passports cost less than UK ones (€75 vs £102 for an adult renewal at 2026 rates), are EU passports (free movement within the Schengen Area, no ETIAS), and process faster (around 3 weeks vs up to 10). The catch: you need to be an Irish citizen, either born in Ireland or via descent through a parent or grandparent.
Side-by-Side: Adult Passport Renewal
| UK passport (HMPO) | Irish passport (DFA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult online renewal | £102 | €75 (~£65) |
| Adult postal renewal | £115.50 | €80 (~£69) |
| Child renewal | £66.50 | €20 to €40 (~£17 to £35) |
| Validity (adult) | 10 years | 10 years |
| Validity (child) | 5 years | 5 years (under 18); 3 years (under 3) |
| Standard processing | Up to 10 weeks | Around 15 working days |
| Fast track | £166.50 (~1 week) | No equivalent (online 15 working days is the fastest) |
| Same day | £239.50 (premium) | Not generally available |
| EU travel | Subject to ETIAS from 2026 | Free movement within EU/Schengen |
| Apply at | gov.uk/renew-adult-passport | passportonline.dfa.ie |
UK fees from gov.uk/passport-fees (8 April 2026). Irish fees from dfa.ie/passports/fees. EUR to GBP at approximate exchange rate.
Who Can Get an Irish Passport?
Irish citizenship eligibility is broader than UK applicants often realise:
- Anyone born on the island of Ireland before 2005 (whole island), or born after 2005 with at least one Irish or British citizen parent
- People born in Northern Ireland (under the Good Friday Agreement)
- Children with at least one Irish citizen parent who was born in Ireland (regardless of where the child was born)
- People whose grandparent was born in Ireland (north or south)
- Children whose Irish-citizen parent was born outside Ireland, where the parent registered before the child's birth
- Adoption by Irish citizens
- Naturalisation after 5 years of legal residence in Ireland (or 3 years for spouses)
The grandparent route (Foreign Births Register) is the most common path for UK-born applicants. It costs EUR 278 at first registration, after which a passport can be applied for at the standard EUR 75 rate.
The Foreign Births Register Route (Grandparent Rule)
For UK-born applicants with Irish ancestry, the steps are:
- Gather evidence. Birth certificates establishing the line: your birth certificate, your parent's birth certificate (showing the Irish grandparent), and the Irish grandparent's birth certificate.
- Submit to the Foreign Births Register. Apply online at the Department of Foreign Affairs website (dfa.ie/foreign-birth-register). Upload scanned certificates and supporting ID. Pay the EUR 278 fee.
- Wait for registration. Processing currently runs around 2 years from submission. The DFA publishes a backlog status periodically.
- Apply for a passport. Once registration is confirmed, apply for an Irish passport online at passportonline.dfa.ie for EUR 75 adult or EUR 20 to EUR 40 child.
Total first-time cost: roughly EUR 353 (around GBP 305) for an adult passport via the grandparent route. Subsequent renewals are EUR 75 every 10 years.
When the Irish Passport Wins
Frequent EU travel
Free movement within the Schengen Area. No ETIAS authorisation needed. Use the EU lanes at airports. Subject to the same rules as French, German, or Spanish citizens.
Living or working in the EU
Right to live, work, study, and retire anywhere in the EU without a visa. No work-permit requirements. Significant value for anyone relocating to the EU.
Lower fee
EUR 75 vs GBP 102 saves around GBP 37 every 10 years. Small but non-zero, particularly for large families renewing simultaneously.
Faster processing
Around 15 working days vs UK's up-to-10-weeks. The Irish DFA has invested heavily in throughput and online application processing since 2019.
When the UK Passport Wins
Travel to UK Crown territories
Some territories (e.g., Falklands, Gibraltar) recognise UK passports more easily than Irish ones for residency. Niche, but relevant for specific cases.
Visa-free reciprocity
UK passports have visa-free access to many Commonwealth countries (India, Australia, NZ on shorter visits) that may require visas for Irish citizens. Most are minor differences; some can matter for specific itineraries.
Fast track availability
UK fast track (GBP 166.50, ~1 week) and premium same-day (GBP 239.50) have no Irish equivalent. If you need a passport in less than 3 weeks, the UK route is faster despite the higher cost.
Identity for UK life
A UK passport is still the simplest identity document for UK banking, employment, and government services. Holding only an Irish passport adds friction in the UK.
Holding Both: The Common UK-Irish Pattern
Many people on the island of Ireland (and many UK-born people with Irish ancestry) hold both passports. The cost-benefit:
- Combined cost. GBP 102 (UK) + EUR 75 (Ireland) = roughly GBP 167 every 10 years. Around GBP 17 per year for both.
- Use the right one for each trip. EU travel: Irish. UK domestic ID: UK. Visa-required country: whichever has the better visa relationship.
- Renewal staggering. Many holders deliberately renew the two passports in alternate years to keep one valid while the other is in transit.
- No legal issue. Both Ireland and the UK explicitly permit dual citizenship. Most other countries do too.