Last year, 93% of applications used the online service, when close to a million new passports were issued. For those planning travel, the department’s security advice continues a red warning alert for countries in the Middle East region because of the US-Israel-led war on Iran. Raising the issue in the Dáil, Fianna Fáil TD Ryan O’Meara said so many issues raised by constituents with public representatives concerned about paper applications. He called for Garda stations to be alerted to ensure that if somebody arrived with a paper passport application for Garda verification, they could be guided towards an online application. Last year, 93 per cent of applications used the online service, when close to a million new passports were issued.

Source: The Irish Times March 28, 2026 09:04 UTC