The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it’s new Passport Card will not be available until September following an issue with the durability with the card.
In January, Minister Charlie Flanagan launched the new Passport Card and gave a target date for availability of July 2015.
However the Department of Foreign Affairs has now confirmed that the card, which will supplement but not replace existing book passports, will not now be available until September.
The Department has said this is time is required “to improve the durability of the card it was necessary to alter the polycarbonate structure of the card.”
The Department has said: “This will mean that the card issued to the public meets the highest international standards of polycarbonate cards. It has led to a slight lengthening in the time it is taking to manufacture the card and the new target date of issue now mid to end September.”
The passport card will be available to all Irish citizens who are over 18 years and hold a valid Irish Passport. The card will have a maximum validity of 5 years (or the remaining validity of an individual’s passport book) and will cost €35.
The security features of the card have incorporated the advice of security experts including An Garda Síochána.
One innovative feature of note is the embedded hologram photo on a strip on the reverse of the card. This is the first occasion on which this security feature will be used on travel documents.
When the Passport Office begins to accept applications, customers will be able to make theirs through a special app which will also allow them take a required photo using their smart phones.
At the launch in January, Minister Flanagan said: “The card and app are further examples of the innovative approach of Ireland’s Passport Service, which is focused on providing a first-class service to Irish citizens.”
The new Irish Passport Card will be accepted for travel within the EU and European Economic Area but is also expected to used for non-travel purposes.
It’s envisaged that demand for the passport card will be high among young adults for age verification and consequently assist in reducing the number of lost passports.