Minister David Stanton advises everyone to check their passport is in date well in advance of travel
With many people planning trips abroad this summer, Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice, David Stanton, is encouraging people to save time by renewing their passport online.
“I would urge anybody planning a foreign holiday at this time of year to check their passport is in date well in advance of travel to remove the stress of a last minute passport application or renewal.
“Passport applications, for all those who are over 18 years and eligible to renew their passport can now apply online at www.dfa.ie/passportonline . This fast, secure and convenient process is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no need for a paper application form, witnesses or printed photos, and processing takes just 2 weeks plus postage.
“If you are not eligible to apply online you can use the Passport Express service operated in partnership with An Post. For details, visit www.dfa.ie/passports-citizenship/passport-express or enquire at your local post office.
“For any travel outside of the European Union, it is important to keep in mind that visa requirements differ from country to country. It is best to check with the country’s embassy or consulate prior to making your travel arrangements.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides regularly updated travel advice for every country in the world and I encourage everyone to visit it before making travel plans. All the information is available on the Department’s website – www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice – and through a special free Smartphone App called TravelWise.
“As the summer is such a busy time of year for foreign travel there is always a lot of pressure on the passport application process at this time of year. This pressure has increased this year as a result of Brexit due to a significant number of British citizens applying for Irish passports.
“I would urge everyone to check the expiry date of their passport before booking any foreign trips and apply online to save time.
