martin Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 I'm sure that there must be a simple answer to this one, but I don't know it.A neighbouring family, who are Irish nationals recently came to live in the area; they are setting up a business and intend living here permanently.A couple of weeks ago, she gave birth here in France - all very happy and seemingly uncomplicated, but...................They now want to go back to family in Eire for Christmas and it has just struck them, how do they get baby through passport control?She has tried contact with the Irish Consulate but was advised to apply for an Irish passport in the normal way, which would take many weeks.They have asked us if we know the solution. I said, "no", but I know a forum which does!Anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 I suspect the simple answer is the one given by the Irish Consulate.....[:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tetley Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 I had a baby 2 weeks ago, and we have to apply for a british passport for her before we can go to England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 There used to be an exemption for babies - up to 6 months I think - that they didn't need a pasport. They do now, you can't even put kids on the parents passport, they have to have their own.Now here's the real kicker, for face recognition, the photo has to be full face, no expression and eyes OPEN !!! the people who wrote the regs have no children I suppose. I hope the passport office has a little discretion in this area.Maybe they will have to go to the Irish consulate and camp out? [:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 I read here ages ago that the way to get a picture with eyes open is to lay the baby on the floor (on a rug or blanket) and stand above it and point the camera down - I haven't tried it so I can't vouch for it, but it's certainly worth a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 Thanks to the above; seems to suggest there is no quick solution.Made me think though, what about a woman here on holiday giving unexpected and premature birth? There must be a way round this predicament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Trollope Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 [quote user="Pierre ZFP"]Now here's the real kicker, for face recognition, the photo has to be full face, no expression and eyes OPEN !!! t[/quote]The "eyes open" rule does not apply to babies (all of whom, after all, have the same colour eyes). Don't know if this applies to Eire who are, of course, at liberty to make their own rules... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Katie Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 You cannot make a new born baby open their eyes anyway. My daughter was born 2 weeks early and was determined not to open her eyes until she was ready. Spookily enough, on the day she was due to be born. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangur Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 The Irish Embassy in Paris is amazingly helpful, and posted us out the forms v. quickly and couriered the final passport back. While the standard wait for a passport is about six weeks, they often take less time, so if they get it sorted now, they will probably get it for Xmas. Ours took less than four weeks, and that was in peak summer time and we have found the embassy really helpful in emergency situations. They should call the embassy in Paris and get them on side, and ak them to courier it express from Paris (I think we paid extra for this). There's no other option if they want to go back to Ireland for Xmas.After spending ages lying the baby on a sheet and clicking a camera (funny photos, but none useable!) we went down to the local photographer's shop and he very easily took some for us (the big spotlight works wonders for getting the baby to look at the camera). As far as I remember, the eyes did have to be open and looking at the camera. Also, the embassy wouldn't accept the paper used in the local supermarkets for printing photos, so it is worth getting it done by a professional, cost about 12 euros Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakbri Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 The Embassy is normally the best way forward. I can't vouch for the Irish Embassy, but I used the services of the British Embassy in Rome when my daughter was born 2 years ago and they were excellent.She was born in northern Italy. I filled in the application form and mailed all the documents to the Embassy. Less than a week later I took a train down to Rome and collected my daughters British passport and even a British birth certificate.You mentioned a consulate, but normally only the Embassy can issue the passports and if you use a consulate all they do is forward everything on to the Embassy, which is potentially more time consuming, so they are better going direct to the Embassy themselves.Best of luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 Thank you for your advice.I have passed this all on to my neighbours, who will start the ball rolling on monday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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