The following is what the department of foreign affairs requires in order for a TS to obtain a passport at the moment:

(a) pre-operative transsexuals
 

The Department accepts as falling into this category persons who have been undergoing bona fide medical treatment towards sex reassignment and who have already reached what can be described as the transitional or social reassignment, phase of treatment, during which they spend a defined period living full-time in the new gender role in advance of sex reassignment surgery. Such persons will also by this stage have formally changed their name to reflect the new gender role.

Subject to normal passport requirements being met and to the additional documentation outlined below being provided, The Passport Office will issue a passport in the person's new name and sex, but restricted in validity to a period of 2 years. A replacement passport with validity for the remaining period of up to 10 years from the date of issue of the original passport will be provided gratis if and when the conditions set out below under heading (b) are satisfied.

In addition to the normal documentary evidence requirements for passport facilities, as outlined in the passport application form, applicants in this category are required to furnish the following:

• a letter from the applicants psychiatrist certifying that (a) the person concerned has been undergoing medical treatment as outlined above, (b) treatment has been taking place for a minimum period of 2 years and (c) the person is as of the date of the letter living full-time in the new gender identity;
• the original Deed Poll effecting the change of name.

(b) post-operative transsexuals
 

The Department recognises as falling into this category those persons who have completed a full course of medical treatment, have completed the necessary period of social reassignment, and in addition have undergone full, irreversible sex reassignment surgery.

Subject to normal passport requirements being met and to the additional documentation outlined below being provided, the Passport Office will issue full validity passports in the applicant's new name and sex.

In addition to the normal documentary requirements for passport facilities, as outlined in the passport application form, post-operative transsexuals are required to submit:

• a certificate from the applicant's psychiatrist certifying that all stages of reassignment have been satisfactorily completed;
• a certificate from the surgeon who carried out the gender reassignment surgery that this has been completed and that such surgery is irreversible;
• the original Deed Poll effecting the change of name.

I would like to add that the decision to issue passports to transsexuals in their new name and sex has been taken in recognition to respect for private life and in no way affects such persons' sexual status as defined in law.

Lastly, the routine documentation which must be provided along with the additional passport requirements set out above are:

• Passport application form and two identical photographs. Both the form and the photographs must be certified by a member of the Gardai
• Your previous passport or your long form birth certificate
• Evidence of your entitlement to Irish citizenship, if you were born outside Ireland and cannot produce your previous passport
• The fee of Ir£45.00 for a 10 year passport