Holidays being lost as passports not being applied for in time

ANYONE planning a foreign holiday or trip abroad is being advised to make sure their travel documents are in order before they book their travel.

Minister Michael Ring has advised that when applying through An Post Express, allow at least 20 working days for your passport application to be processed.

First time applications and new applications whereby a passport has been lost or stolen should be given some extra time to be dealt as these are currently taking 28 working days.

He said: “A lot of people are of the belief that if they submit the passport application through An Post Express three calendar weeks before travelling that they will have the sufficient time for the application to be processed. This is incorrect as it would only allow the Passport Office 15 working days to process the application.

If you are travelling in less than three weeks, you need to make an appointment at www.passportappointments.ie to attend in person at the Passport Office in either Dublin or Cork. The number of appointments available is limited.

Alternatively, Irish citizens who are over 18 and have held an Irish passport can renew their passport online at www.dfa.ie/passportonline. There is no need for a paper application form, witnesses or printed photos, and processing takes 10 working days plus postage.”

Added Minister Ring: “Passports can be issued at short notice but only in emergency situations such as the death or serious illness of an immediate family member and applicants will need to provide written proof of the emergency situation to the Passport Office when they apply in person.

It is vital that people, before they book any trip, check their passport to ensure that it is in date and if not, to ensure they have sufficient time to renew it.”