S.I. No. 263/1956 - Diplomatic and Consular Fees Regulations, 1956.


S.I. No. 263 of 1956.

DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR FEES REGULATIONS, 1956.

The Minister for External Affairs in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Commissioners for Oaths (Diplomatic and Consular) Act, 1931 (No. 9 of 1931), and the Diplomatic and Consular Fees Act, 1939 (No. 31 of 1939), hereby, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, makes the following Regulations :

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Diplomatic and Consular Fees Regulations, 1956.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the First day of November, 1956.

3. The Interpretation Act, 1937 (No. 38 of 1937), applies to these Regulations.

4. In these Regulations—

" the Act of 1939 " means the Diplomatic and Consular Fees Act, 1939 ;

" the Minister " means the Minister for External Affairs ;

" passport " includes any travel document or document of identity (not being a passport) issued, for the purpose of facilitating travel, by or on behalf of the competent authorities of any country ;

" Irish visa " means an endorsement made on a passport other than an Irish passport by any person to whom the Act of 1939 applies for the purpose of indicating that such passport is good for the entry into the State of the holder thereof ;

" foreign visa " means an endorsement made on an Irish passport by or on behalf of the competent authorities of any other country for the purpose of indicating that such passport is good for the entry into that country of the holder thereof.

5. For the service of granting an Irish visa there shall be charged whichever is the appropriate of the following fees :

£

s.

d.

(a) in the case of a visa good either for a single journey in transit through the State or for one or more journeys in transit through the State within one year or any less period, as the case may be—the sum of

0

4

0

(b) in the case of any other visa—the sum of

0

10

0

6. Notwithstanding anything contained in Article 5, whenever the Minister is satisfied that Irish citizens are charged either substantially more or substantially less for a foreign visa of any kind than the fee fixed by that Article for the service of granting an Irish visa of the same or a similar kind, the Minister shall direct that the fee to be charged for the service of granting such an Irish visa to citizens, subjects or nationals of the particular country concerned shall be—

(a) if the fee charged for the foreign visa is fixed in a currency that is current in the country concerned and if the fee for the Irish visa is collected and taken in that country, the amount of the fee charged for the foreign visa, and

(b) in any other case, such sum in Irish currency, subject to a minimum of four shillings, as the Minister may determine to be the equivalent of the amount of the fee charged for the foreign visa.

7. The Minister may waive any fee chargeable under Article 5 in either of the following circumstances :

(a) where the service for which the fee is chargeable is rendered for, and at the request of, any official or public authority, or

(b) where the service for which the fee is chargeable is rendered for a citizen, subject or national of any other country the Government of which waives the fee or does not charge a fee for the same or a similar service when rendered for an Irish citizen.

8.—(1) The fees to be charged in respect of the matters mentioned in the second column of the First Schedule by the persons to whom section 2 of the Commissioners for Oaths (Diplomatic and Consular) Act, 1931 , applies shall be charged in accordance with the scale contained in the third column of the Schedule.

(2) The said fees shall be paid in Irish currency or in money which is legal tender in the country in which they are paid and, if paid otherwise than in Irish currency, shall be calculated at a rate not lower than the current selling rate for such currency in the London Foreign Exchange Market, adjusted for normal Irish bank charges.

(3) Every fee paid under this Article shall be receipted on the document to which the payment of the fee relates by affixing thereto adhesive Consular Service stamps of the appropriate denomination and by the cancellation of the stamps so affixed.

9.—(1) For every service specified in the second column of the Second Schedule, there shall be charged the fee set out in the third column of the Schedule when such service is rendered—

(a) in the case of the fees mentioned at reference numbers 1 to 8 in the Schedule—by any person to whom the Act of 1939 applies,

(b) in the case of the fees mentioned at reference numbers 9 to 12 in the Schedule—by any officer of the Minister appointed by the Minister to be a person to whom the Act of 1939 applies, and

(c) in the case of the fee mentioned at reference number 13 in the Schedule—by any diplomatic or consular officer to whom the Act of 1939 applies.

(2) The Minister may waive any fee chargeable under this Article in any of the following circumstances:

(a) where the service for which the fee is chargeable is rendered for, and at the request of, any official or public authority ;

(b) where the service for which the fee is chargeable is rendered for, or on behalf of, a person who is in straitened circumstances or the levying of the fee would for other reasons constitute a serious hardship ;

(c) where the service in respect of which the fee is chargeable is performed for official reasons or in pursuance of public policy.

10. The following Regulations are hereby revoked :

The Commissioners for Oaths (Diplomatic and Consular) Fees Regulations, 1934 (S.R. & O. 1934 No. 234),

The Diplomatic and Consular Fees (No. 1) Regulations, 1943 (S.R. & O. 1943 No. 224),

The Diplomatic and Consular Fees (No. 2) Regulations, 1943 (S.R. & O. 1943 No. 283),

The Diplomatic and Consular Fees (Amendment) Regulations, 1946 (S.R. & O. 1946 No. 48),

The Diplomatic and Consular Fees (Amendment) Regulations, 1948 ( S.I. No. 365 of 1948 ),

The Diplomatic and Consular Fees (Amendment) Regulations, 1950 ( S.I. No. 153 of 1950 ),

The Diplomatic and Consular Fees (Amendment) Regulations, 1951 ( S.I. No. 205 of 1951 ).

FIRST SCHEDULE

MISCELLANEOUS CONSULAR SERVICES

Ref. No.

Service Rendered

Fee

£

s.

d.

1

For noting a Marine Protest and furnishing one certified copy if required

1

10

0

2

For every other copy

15

0

3

For extending Marine Protest, if not exceeding 200 words, filing original, and furnishing one certified copy if required. This is to be exclusive of fee for Oaths or Declarations (see No. 15) or for drawing if required the body of the Protest (see No. 39)

4

15

0

4

For any other protest (except Bill of Exchange (see No. 14)) if not exceeding 200 words, filing original, and furnishing one certified copy if required. This is to be exclusive of fee for drawing, if required, the body of the Protest (see No. 39)

4

15

0

5

If the Protest exceeds 200 words, for every additional 100 words or fraction thereof

15

0

6

For attesting average, bottomry or arbitration bond, each copy

1

10

0

7

Endorsement by Diplomatic or Consular Officer of Ship's bill of health issued by Sanitary Authority

1

15

0

8

Certificate of Origin, and/or of interest in, or of cost of production of goods and filing copy :—

For consignments not exceeding £20 in value

15

0

For consignments exceeding £20 in value

1

10

0

9

Certificate of due landing of goods exported from an Irish Port

1

10

0

10

For affixing Diplomatic or Consular signature, and seal if required, to a Ship's Manifest

1

10

0

11

For granting any certificate not otherwise provided for, if not exceeding 100 words, exclusive of fee for drawing (No. 39). This does not apply to certificates of nationality under section 28 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956 , which will be issued free of charge

1

10

0

12

If exceeding 100 words, for every additonal 100 words of fraction thereof

15

0

13

For noting a Bill of Exchange

15

0

14

For protest of a Bill of Exchange and copy

2

15

0

15

For administering an Oath or receiving a Declaration or Affirmation, with or without attestation of signature

15

0

16

For receiving a Declaration claiming exemption from or refund of Income Tax shares, etc.

7

6

17

For each Diplomatic or Consular signature attached to an exhibit reffered to in an Affidavit or Declaration

7

6

18

For each alteration or interlineation initialled by a Diplomatic or Consular Officer in any document not prepared by him

5

0

FIRST SCHEDULE—continued.

MISCELLANEOUS CONSULAR SERVICES

Ref. No.

Service Rendered

Fee

£

s.

d.

19

For each signature to a transfer of shares or stock attested by a Diplomatic or Consular Officer

15

0

20

For each signature to a transfer of shares or stock attested by a Diplomatic or Consular Officer when executed in the presence of one or more witnesses besides the Diplomatic or Consular Officer

1

0

0

21

For each execution of a power of attorney attested by a Diplomatic or Consular Officer

1

0

0

N.B.—When more than four persons execute a Power at the same time, a fee of £4 only is to be charged.

22

For attesting the execution of a Will

1

10

0

23

For each exectuion of a Deed, Bond or Conveyance under seal, attested by a Diplomatic or Consular Officer, where the value of the property does not exceed £10

7

6

Ditto, exceeds £10

1

0

0

N.B.—When more than four persons execute an Instrument at the same time, the fee must not be more than four times 7s. 6d. or £1 as the case may be.

24

For each signature to an application for a Patent attested by a Diplomatic or Consular Officer

1

10

0

25

For attaching Diplomatic or Consular signature, and seal if required, to quarterly or monthly declarations for Government pay, half-pay or pension

5

0

26

For attaching Diplomatic or Consular signature to any other Declaration of Existence

7

6

27

Ditto, if drawn up by a Diplomatic or Consular Officer

15

0

28

For Certificate of a person's identity

1

0

0

29

For attesting the signature or seal of a foreign authority

1

0

0

30

For each signature attested by a Diplomatic or Consular Officer in any document not otherwise provided for

1

0

0

31

For certifying to a copy of any document or part of a document if not exceeding 100 words

15

0

32

If exceeding 100 words, for every additional 100 words or fraction

7

6

N.B.—If the document is in any language other than Irish or English, double the above fees (31 and 32) to be charged. An additonal fee is to be charged when the copy is made by the Diplomatic or Consular Officer (see No. 42).

33

For uniting documents and attaching Diplomatic or Consular seal to the fastening

7

6

34

For directing search for, or obtaining, from Public Record Office or elsewhere, extracts from Local Registers, or copies of Wills, Deeds or other matters, in additon to expenses incurred and any fees for attestation

1

0

0

FIRST SCHEDULE—continued.

MISCELLANEOUS CONSULAR SERVICES

Ref. No.

Service Rendered

Fee

35

For affixing Diplomatic or Consular signature and, or seal, if required, to any document or object not otherwise provided for by these Regulations

£

s.

d.

1

0

0

36

At the request of parties interested, or of local authorities, for the transaction, elsewhere than at the Diplomatic or Consular Office, of any duty for which a fee is leviable, under these Regulations, in addition to such fee

2

0

0

for each hour or fraction thereof, with a maximum per day of £16.

37

At the request of parties interested for the transaction of any duty for which a fee is leviable under these Regulations, whether at the Diplomatic or Consular Office or at the Diplomatic or Consular Officer's residence, in addition to such fee, for each half-hour, or fraction thereof, if in the daytime—that is to say, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.—but not during the customary business hours of the place

1

0

0

N.B.—This fee is leviable for any attendance on Sundays

38

For the transaction of any duty for which a fee is leviable under these Regulations, whether at the Diplomatic or Consular Office or at the Diplomatic or Consular Officer's residence, in additon to such fee, for each half-hour, or fraction thereof, if in the night-time—that is to say, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

2

0

0

39

For drawing a Declaration or other document, or for taking down in writing verbal declarations or depositions of persons made before a Diplomatic or Consular Officer, or for reducing into writing agreements made before him by contracting parties, exclusive of fees for attestation, etc., if not exceeding 50 words

15

0

40

If exceeding that number, for each subsequent 50 words, or fraction thereof

7

6

41

For assisting in drawing up petitions, applications or other documents not specified each

1

0

0

42

For making or verifying a copy of a document, if not exceeding 100 words, exclusive of fee for certificate (see No. 31)

7

6

43

If exceeding that number, for every subsequent 100 words, or fraction thereof

7

6

N.B.—If the document is in any language other than Irish or English, double the above fees (39 to 43) to be charged.

44

For making or verifying a translation of a document, for every 100 words, or fraction thereof, exclusive of fee for certificate

1

0

0

45

In cases where one or more attesting witnesses, besides a Diplomatic or Consular Officer, are required, for each witness supplied by him at the request of the parties interested

10

0

SECOND SCHEDULE

PART I

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS OF IDENTITY

Ref. No.

Service Rendered

Fee

£

s.

d.

1

For the issue of a passport

1

10

0

2

For the renewal of a passport

4

0

for each year of renewal

3

For the endorsement of a passport subsequent to its issue :—

(a) with the name of a wife

4

0

(b) with the name or names of a child or children

4

0

(c) with the name or names of any country or countries for which the passport is valid

4

0

(d) with any other entry

4

0

4

For the issue of a new passport for the unexpired period of validity of an old passport

4

0

5

For the issue of an emergency travel document

1

0

0

6

For affixing the finger prints of a merchant seaman to a seaman's identity card and for endorsing same

15

0

PART II

ESTATE MATTERS, ATTESTATIONS, CERTIFICATES, ETC.

Ref. No.

Service Rendered

Fee

7

For acting on behalf of, or protecting the interests of, any Irish claimant to the estate of a deceased person situate abroad

5%* or if legal assistance has to be engaged 2½%* of the net amount or value of any devise, bequest or distributive share recovered.

8

For acting on behalf of, or protecting the interests of, any Irish claimant to property situated abroad

5%* or if legal assistance has to be engaged 2½%* of the net amount or value of the property recovered.

Ref. No.

Service Rendered

Fee

£

s.

d.

9

For attesting a signature or seal on any documents

7

6

10

For granting any certificate for use in the prosecution of a claim to property

10

0

If not exceeding 100 words, and 7s. 6d. for every additional 100 words or fraction thereof.

11

For granting any certificate in connection with a marriage abroad

10

0

12

For granting any other certificate

10

0

If not exceeding 100 words, and 7s. 6d. for every additional 100 words or fraction thereof.

13

For taking evidence on commission

2

0

0

For each hour or fraction thereof, with a maximum per day of £16

*Inclusive of postage and cabling expenditure.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for External Affairs, this 23rd day of October, 1956.

LIAM COSGRAVE,

Minister for External Affairs.

The Minister for Finance consents to the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Finance, this 23rd day of October, 1956.

GERARD SWEETMAN,

Minister for Finance.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The foregoing Regulations are a consolidation of all previous Regulations made under the Commissioners for Oaths (Diplomatic and Consular) Act, 1931 (No. 9 of 1931) and the Diplomatic and Consular Fees Act, 1939 (No. 31 of 1939), and they provide for certain increases in the fees chargeable for services rendered under these Acts.