Reminder to check passport expiry before new year travel

Irish citizens are being encouraged to check their passport expiry date ahead of any planned travel abroad in the new year. A new campaign encourages the public to check their passport validity before making travel plans and to apply for their passport online well in advance (stock image) The Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has launched the Passport Service's 2026 information and awareness campaign - Don’t Be That Person. The campaign encourages the public to check their passport validity before making travel plans and to apply for their passport online well in advance of their departure. The passport portal, 'Passport Online' remains the quickest, easiest, and most cost-effective way for Irish citizens, at home and abroad, to apply for a passport, the department said. The service supports renewals, first-time applications, and applications for new-borns and children. This year, 93% of all applicants used Passport Online when applying for their passport. The 2026 'Don’t Be That Person’ digital campaign focuses on informing parents that both first time and renewal applications for babies and children can be made online. Minister McEntee said: "As people begin planning holidays, family trips, and work travel for the year ahead, it’s vital to check the validity of your passport as you make your preparations. "As a parent of young children myself, I know the organisation that goes into planning a family holiday. For parents planning to travel with children, particularly their first holiday, applying online and early is key." For further information or to apply for a passport online, visit www.Ireland.ie/PassportOnline

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