Check Your Passport Now Ahead of Summer Travel Irish Travel Agents Association advises consumers to renew early to avoid delays during peak holiday season
With summer holidays fast approaching and schools preparing to break for the season, the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) is urging consumers to check their passports now and renew them early if necessary to avoid unnecessary stress ahead of travel.
The summer months remain the busiest period for overseas travel, and the ITAA is reminding holidaymakers not to leave passport renewals until the last minute, particularly as demand for passport services traditionally increases significantly during this time of year.
The ITAA is encouraging consumers to use Ireland’s online passport renewal service, which continues to offer a fast, efficient and user-friendly process for applicants.
Current Passport Online turnaround times are:
• 10 working days for simple adult online renewals
• 15 working days for complex or child online renewals
• 20 working days for first-time online applications
• At least 8 weeks for Post Passport (paper) applications
Consumers should also be aware that many non-EU destinations require passports to remain valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival.
Tom Randles, President of the Irish Travel Agents Association said, “Many travellers only realise shortly before departure that their passport has expired or does not meet destination requirements, which can cause unnecessary disruption, additional expense and stress. All our travel agent members are advising consumers travelling this summer to check both passport expiry dates and destination entry requirements well in advance of departure to ensure a smooth and stress-free holiday experience.”
Applications submitted online are significantly faster than postal applications, which can take eight weeks or more when postage times are included. Irish citizens can renew their Irish passport from anywhere in the world online here.
To apply online, consumers will generally require:
• A credit or debit card
• An email address
• A digital photograph that meets passport photo guidelines
• Their current passport
Some applications, including first-time child passports, may require additional documentation and access to a printer.
The ITAA is also reminding applicants to ensure passport photos meet official specifications to avoid delays. Photos can be taken at home, in photo shops or through participating photo booths, many of which now provide a unique code to upload photographs directly to Passport Online applications.
The Passport Office also offers an Urgent appointment service for passport renewal at their offices in Dublin, Cork & London. Full details can be found here
Same day renewal service. Appointments can be booked 3 days in advance.
Four day renewal service. Appointments can be booked 3 weeks in advance.
Five day renewal service (London only). Appointments can be booked 3 weeks in advance.
