Passport alert – exact dates by when you must order a new school holiday passport and how to check it for damage

IRISH holidaymakers are urged to check that their passports are current and in good condition – lest you be denied boarding.

Anyone who needs to renew their passport before the summer holidays should apply before it’s too late.

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Most secondary schools have summer vacation in early June, most primary schools end in late June.

Individuals wishing to travel this year, particularly parents with young children, are urged to apply BEFORE booking.

Anyone planning a break abroad should apply for an extension online before the last week of May if they want it in time for the start of the summer holidays.

And in the case of extensions, the postal application takes significantly longer than the online application.

The current passport processing times are:

• 10 working days for adult easy online renewals
• 15 business days for complex or minor online renewals
• 35 business days for initial applications on Passport Online
• Eight weeks for An Post’s Passport Express mailing service.

The passport service estimates that up to 1.7 million passport applications will be made this year.

PASSPORT DAMAGE

Travelers are requested to check that their passport is intact prior to travel.

Some airlines do not allow passengers to board a plane if their passport is damaged.

Water damage, missing pages, faded pages, torn pages, or spills may result in your passport not meeting airline requirements.

Irish passports typically have 32 or 66 visa pages.

The State Department warned: “If your passport has been damaged, you must return the damaged passport when you apply for a replacement.

“If your passport is damaged, don’t do it to travel thereon.”

PASSPORT COST

It comes as the government has been urged to make passports more affordable.

According to a report by the Federal Foreign Office, the annual income of the passport office rose steadily from 38.4 million euros in 2013 to 53.6 million euros in 2019.

When applying online, a standard 10-year adult passport costs €75, while a large 66-page 10-year passport costs €105.

Postal applicants pay an additional €5.

A five-year children’s pass costs €20 and a 66-page option costs €50.
The Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork offer an urgent appointment service for passport renewals.

This service costs an additional €150 for a same-day turnaround or €75 for a four-day turnaround – on top of the general charges €95 per adult, €45 per child.

Over 2,500 people received urgent appointments from passport offices Dublin and cork since the reopening at the end of 2021.

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