Dublin: With the busy summer travel season approaching, the Department of Immigration is urging travelers to renew their passports promptly. Passports must be valid for at least six months to meet entry requirements for most non-EU destinations.
The Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) advises early renewal to avoid last-minute rushes, which can lead to delays. They highlight that a collective push for renewals at the last minute could overwhelm the system.
For those whose passports have not been renewed in five years and are more than 15 years old, a new passport application is necessary.
Renewal can conveniently be done online from anywhere in the world, a process recommended even for first-time applicants. Currently, online passport renewals take about ten working days, while first-time applications take around 20 days.
For urgent needs, appointments can be booked at passport offices in Dublin or Cork. The Dublin office provides updates within one to four days, and the Cork office within four days.
Postal applications, however, are slower, taking at least eight weeks plus delivery time.
Expat Affairs Minister Sean Fleming reminds everyone to check their passport validity ahead of the summer rush. He noted that 480,000 passports have already been issued in 2024, with the number expected to reach 500,000 by month’s end. He urges travelers to renew their passports in time to avoid disruptions to their travel plans.