IRELAND has become the first country to launch a card to complement the traditional passport.
The new Passport Card will allow Irish travellers to fly between European Union countries without the need for the Passport Booklet.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan TD helped launch the new venture along with a brand new app, which enables people to apply for one of the new cards.
“Those travelling within the EU and EEA will also be able to use the Passport Card and frequent travellers will find this particularly useful if their Passport Booklet is with an embassy as part of a visa application process,” said Minister Flanagan.
The supplementary means of travel will set you back €35 – compared to the €80 standard fee for the normal passport.
However, it will only be available to those who already have an Irish passport and are over 18.
The Passport Card will not only be a useful tool for travellers, it will also come in handy for socialising, the Minister believes.
“It will be particularly useful for young people who use their Passport Booklet as identification, especially on nights out,” he explained. “As a father, I have often felt concern about the impracticality of the Passport Booklet as a means of identification for young people on nights out and this new Card will be a far more practical option.”
The Cards will be available from mid-July of this year.
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