Ireland

New figures reveal significant shifts in Irish passport applications during 2025. According to new figures obtained by the TG4 current affairs programme 7LÁ from the Department of Foreign Affairs under the Freedom of Information Act show that:
Applications from Irish citizens living outside the State jumped by almost 35% from 200,609 to 270,077 (+69,468) in 2025.
Overall passport applications fell by 12% last year from 1,061,629 to 933,121 (-128,508) in 2025.
From almost one million applications in 2025 only 302, or 0.03% were made through the Irish language. 
Further detail on eligibility for Irish citizenship is provided in the Note to Editors.

Breakdown of the information provided by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs:
The total amount of passports issued.
2025: 933,121 applications.
2024: 1,061,629 applications.
 
A breakdown per county of passports issued in 2025.
COUNTY # PASSPORTS ISSUED
ANTRIM            27,971
ARMAGH          8,175
CARLOW          7,196
CAVAN              9,087
CLARE              13,808
CORK                64,559
DERRY               14,377
DONEGAL        18,821
DOWN               20,521
DUBLIN            165,430
FERMANAGH   3,354
GALWAY           31,138
KERRY               16,465
KILDARE           31,274
KILKENNY        10,932
LAOIS                9,800
LEITRIM            3,652
LIMERICK        23,186
LONGFORD      4,596
LOUTH              16,852
MAYO                14,932
MEATH              26,395
MONAGHAN   7,206
OFFALY             8,809
ROSCOMMON 7,569
SLIGO                7,617
TIPPERARY      18,104
TYRONE            10,582
WATERFORD   14,367
WESTMEATH  10,550
WEXFORD       18,410
WICKLOW       19,290 
**Please note the below table does not include all county-related applications as not all applicants complete the “COUNTY” field on application**.
 
Passport applications made through the Irish language.
2025: 302 applications
2024: 372 applications
 
Passport applications made by citizens not residing in Ireland.
2025: 270,077 applications
2024: 200,609 applications
 
A breakdown of the gender confirmed on passports issued in 2025.
FEMALE: 451,335
MALE: 481,786
TOTAL: 933,121
 
A breakdown of damaged, lost, stolen, or replaced passports issued in 2025.
DAMAGED: 5,222
LOST: 32,230  
STOLEN: 2,712
 
A total of 32 passports revoked in 2025 due to fraud.

There has been a total of 39 applicants who were refused a passport in 2025.
In statement from the Department of foreign Affairs: 2025 marked the five-year anniversary of the introduction of Covid-19 travel restrictions, which had an impact on the demand for passports in 2020. As children's passports are valid for five years, this led to reduced applications for child renewal passports in 2025.

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