Mayor of Letterkenny, Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh, is urging people who are planning their Summer vacations to add some advice from the passport service to their travel planning.
The Fine Gael councillor said that each year thousands of people find themselves in a last-minute panic to get their passports sorted.
“Every year many people find themselves with a last minute panic about passports, because a passport can’t be located or because they discover that their passport has expired with only days left to their travel date, this can lead to holidays having to be cancelled and huge disappointments in some cases. I would urge people to note the following advice from the passport service and to incorporate it into their holiday planning,” he said.
Check before you book:
Check that your family’s passports are valid before you book your trip abroad, if you need a new passport you should apply at least 6 weeks before travelling.
Save Time- Renew Online:
If you are over 18 and eligible, you can apply to renew your passport online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is fast, convenient and secure. Processing takes just 2 weeks plus postage- for details visit www.dfa.ie/passportonline
If you are not eligible to apply online and if you are travelling in more than 3 weeks:
Use the passport express service operated in partnership with An Post. For further details please visit www.dfa.ie/passports-citizenship/passport-express
If you are travelling in less than 3 weeks:
Visit www.passportappointments.ie to make an appointment online and submit the application in person at the passport office. The number of appointments available each week is limited, you should not seek to make an appointment if you have already submitted a passport application.
If you are travelling for emergency purposes:
Passports can also be issued at short notice but only in emergency situations such as the death or serious illness of a family member abroad or where urgent medical treatment is needed.
Applicants will need to produce written proof of the emergency situation and should submit an application in person at the passport office.
“Following the advice of the passport office should help take the worry out of your travel plans, and if you are travelling this Summer, now is a good time to check that your passport is available and valid.” Cllr. Kavanagh concluded.