Dublin: The Department of Immigration is advising individuals to renew their travel documents, including passports, before the busy summer holiday season. Passports must be valid for at least six months, a requirement now enforced by most non-EU destinations.
The Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) emphasises the importance of early renewal to facilitate smooth travel planning. They caution that a last-minute rush could lead to significant delays and complications.
For those with passports not renewed in the past five years or older than 15 years, a new passport application will be necessary.
Online Renewal Available
Irish passports can be renewed online from anywhere in the world, with a 24-hour system in place domestically. This is recommended for all applicants, including first-time applicants.
Renewal Timeline
Currently, online passport renewals take about ten working days. First-time passport applications require approximately 20 days.
Urgent Renewal Options
For those needing urgent renewals, appointments can be booked at passport offices in Dublin or Cork. The Dublin office can update passports within one to four days, while the Cork office takes up to four days.
Postal Application Delays
Online applications are processed more quickly than postal ones. Mail-in applications require at least eight weeks for processing, in addition to postal delivery time.
Minister’s Reminder
Expat Affairs Minister Sean Fleming urges everyone to ensure their travel documents are up to date before the summer rush. He highlighted that 480,000 passports have already been issued in 2024, with numbers expected to reach 500,000 by the end of the month. The minister advises checking passport validity well in advance of summer vacations to avoid any last-minute issues.
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