Work is “ongoing” to allow Irish passport holders living in Britain to apply for a driving licence without the need to post off their passport.
Current rules by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DLVA) mean Irish passport holders from both the north and the Republic who live in Britain and wish to apply for a provisional licence, cannot do so without posting their passport off for verification.
The DVLA advises on its website that those who do so could be without their passport for up to four weeks.
British passport holders are able to prove their identity by simply providing the nine-digit passport number when applying for a provisional licence online.
The process is also easier for those from overseas residing in Britain than it is for Irish passport holders, as the DVLA accepts UK Visas and Immigration ‘share codes’ in online applications.
In Northern Ireland, applications for provisional licences are made to the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), and first time applicants can send off birth certificates in place of passports for proof of identity.
The hurdle for Irish citizens in Britain in the application process has seen some left further out of pocket as they pay for tracked return delivery for their passport, to prevent it being lost or delayed in the post.
Foyle SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said Irish passport holders in Britain were “disadvantaged” by the current system, that can cause problems for people making travel plans.
“The right to Irish citizenship is at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement and government services need to recognise that and ensure processes like this are fit for purpose,” he told The Irish News.
“The DVA should recognise the hassle this causes to Irish passport holders and update their services accordingly. We are seeing a constant increase in Irish passport holders every year and it’s wrong and illogical they cannot avail of these services.”
A spokesperson for the DVLA told The Irish News that although Irish passport holders in Britain can use online services to apply for a provisional licence, “at present, they will need to send their original identity documents by post in order to complete their application”.
“This is because we are currently unable to check the validity of their passport electronically,” they said.
“There is work ongoing to enhance our online services to allow more people to apply for a provisional licence without the need to send in physical documents. This includes Irish citizens.”
