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Huge rise in Irish passport applications from Britain and Northern Ireland since Brexit

AN EXTRA 5,647 people in Britain and Northern Ireland have applied for an Irish passport since the Brexit vote.

In July the number of British people applying for Ireland's travel document surged by over 70 per cent.

Figures newly-released by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) show that 7,321 applications for Irish passports were received in July this year from Great Britain in the wake of the June 23 vote to leave the EU.

This is up by 3,079 from the same period in July 2015.

Northern Irish applications for Irish passports also soared by 63 per cent in July totalling 6,638 in July 2016.

This is an increase of 2,568 on the same time last year when 4,070 applications were made for Irish passports from Northern Ireland.

Irish passports are in demand...

There has been a rise in the number of people applying for Irish passports. Picture: DFA

Irish Government figures also show that there has been a notable change in the number of people in Britain and Northern Ireland seeking Irish passports this year prior to the EU vote in June 23.

Whilst the highest number of applications were received last month, there has been a steady increase since January, apart from in March when applications from Britain decreased by seven per cent.

Ireland's Passport Office has seen over 500,000 applications so far this year.

The DFA has warned applicants to check they are eligible prior to submitting an application for an Irish passport.

A standard 10-year passport costs £70.

People born in Northern Ireland have an automatic right to citizenship, whilst British citizens must have an Irish parent or an Irish grandparent to qualify for an Irish passport.

The Irish Passport Office has also advised applicants to apply for their passport at least six weeks ahead of their intended date of travel.

The current processing time is approximately seven weeks, according to the DFA.

Last month the Embassy of Ireland in London, who handle Irish passport applications made in Britain, announced that they were seeking additional staff to work in the passport office and foreign births registration section.

The temporary seasonal positions, which carry a gross salary of £364.32 per week, will run from August until December.

"Staff are expected to work well under pressure; providing a high quality, professional, courteous and efficient service in a high-profile customer facing role," the job application booklet states.