Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, is encouraging people to check the expiry date on their passports now to avoid any headaches or heartaches during the coming summer holiday period.

Deputy Crowe said:

“Many people are in the process of, or have already booked, summer holidays outside of Ireland, and it is important that they check the expiry date of their passport now, well in advance of their actual departure.

“Every summer the passport offices get inundated with requests for new passports as people who are due to fly out in a couple of days realise they have mislaid their passport or that it has expired.

“The passport office is at its busiest in this period and long delays are common. Agonising over whether a passport will be ready before you go or the heart break of having to miss a flight is not something anybody wants to go through.

“There have been significant changes recently in processing a passport and it’s not just a matter of walking into the passport office without an appointment with the expectation of receiving a last minute passport.

“That’s why I am encouraging people to check that they have their passport in a safe place, that it is not mislaid, and that it will be in date for 6 months after the return date of flight.

“People should be doing this now to avoid any headaches or heartaches.

Crowe continued:

“If you have mislaid your passport, or if it has expired, you should fill out a passport application form, and if you send it by the passport express service available in An Post, you should receive a new one in approximately 10 working days.

“Also remember to take note of the application number on the top left hand corner of the passport application form, directly below the barcode, as this can be used to track the progress of passport online at www.dfa.ie/passports-citizenship/track-your-passport/

“All further information is available at on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website www.dfa.ie/passports-citizenship/

“So take out your passport and check it today. Don’t leave it until the last minute.”

ENDS