In This Section
Introduction
A Travel Document is an official document which assists qualified persons under the International Protection Act 2015, who are resident in Ireland to travel. Please read the information below carefully in order to see if you are eligible to apply.
As part of our continued commitment to improving our services, Travel Document applications can now be made online. Online applications will make the process easier, allowing you to easily fill in the relevant form, upload the required documents, make payments and submit with the click of a button.
The form will provide a seamless application process and will help guide Applicants through what is required to make an application. Please click on the link below to begin your application process.
While it is advised that Applicants use the online application process, the Travel Documents Unit will continue to accept paper applications on the updated paper form. You can contact the unit at [email protected] to receive a copy of the new paper form.
Please note the fee is reduced in 2024 to €55 for a travel document.
Click the following link for the online application form.
Eligibility
You may apply for a Travel Document if you hold the following permissions:
If you have a current refugee or subsidiary protection declaration under the International Protection Act 2015 and have made a successful application for family reunification under the International Protection Act 2015, you may apply for a travel document for your family member.
Your family member must be able to demonstrate that you have attempted to and are unable to get a passport or travel document from your country of nationality.
In such cases the unit may issue travel documents to the family member via the relevant Irish Embassy after their identify is verified there. Travel documents are then dispatched to that Embassy for collection by the relevant family member.
Processing times
The processing time of Travel Document applications is currently 22 weeks. An application will only begin to be processed when a fully completed application is received.
Applicants are advised not to pay for airline or ferry tickets without having first been issued with a travel document.
Travel Document booklets are processed in ISD. They are then printed by the Passport Office and this element of the process is not under the control of the Travel Document Section.
Applicant outside the State
When a Travel Document applicant is outside the State, the completion of their application form, and the issuing of any subsequent document can be facilitated by the nearest Irish Embassy.
The applicant should submit their application form, and all required documentation, to our Burgh Quay address, noted below, leaving sections requiring Garda facilitation blank, along with information on which Irish Embassy they are able to attend.
Once this information has been received the Travel Document Section will make arrangements to have the applicant attend the relevant embassy in order to have the rest of their application completed and witnessed. This will then be returned to our Dublin office by Embassy staff in order for processing to be completed.
Any Travel Document that is produced will then be sent to the Irish Embassy for collection.
Emergency Applications
If you require a Travel Document due to a genuine emergency which requires you to travel abroad, complete an application online or alternatively, please download and complete a paper application form and post it to the address below.
Applications will be considered urgent only if extraordinary circumstances apply such as the need for emergency medical treatment, death or serious illness of a family member. Please note that applications to travel for medical treatment will need to be verified with documentary evidence from a GP or a consultant.
You should also email [email protected] to let us know that you have applied and to explain the reason for the urgency. You should provide proof of the need for prioritisation (e.g. a letter from a hospital or a consultant).
In addition, you should first check the visa and entry requirements of the country you are intending to visit and demonstrate to the Travel Document Unit that you will be able to enter that country.
Please be aware that we cannot guarantee that processing of your application or printing of a Travel Document will be completed in time to facilitate an urgent matter.
Fee and Payment method
The Travel Document fee is €55.
Payments for applications made through the Irish Immigration Online Forms Portal can be made by credit/debit card by following the on-screen instructions. Postal money orders and bank drafts are only applicable for paper application forms submitted by post.
For paper applications we can currently only accept the fee by postal money order or bank draft. Please do not send a cheque, cash or other type of payment as we cannot accept it. Include the payment with your application documents.
Please do not overpay the fee, if you do, your application will be rejected and returned to you.
A postal money order is a way of sending payment through the An Post postal system and can be obtained from your local post office. You do not need an account with An Post to create a postal money order.
To pay this way, go to a post office and ask for a postal order:
A bank draft is a type of cheque guaranteed by a bank. To buy a bank draft you must have a bank account with sufficient funds to cover the value of the draft. Some banks will not issue a bank draft in an amount less than €500 so a bank draft may not be an option.
To pay this way, go your bank and ask for a bank draft:
Please include the postal order or bank draft with your application documents.
Contact
Send your application or enquiry to the following address:
Travel Document Section
Repatriation Division
Immigration Service Delivery
Department of Justice
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2
D02 XK70
If you wish to contact us please email us at [email protected] and include your name, date of birth, person ID, registered post number and contact details, as we receive a large volume of applications.
We regret that at this point of time we may not be able to respond to all enquiries unless they relate to a genuine emergency.