THE PAIN OF lugging around a distinctly wallet-unfriendly  pamphlet is no more – for Ireland is getting its own credit-card style passports from today.

Well, for EU travel at least.

While not quite in the same league of flimsiness as the old-style driving licence (which when rain hit may as well have been made from tissue) – itself now replaced – our passport books are exceptionally easy to lose.

The new-style passport card is now open for online applications at a cost of €35. You must already hold a passport to apply however.

Not yet entirely obsolete unfortunately Shutterstock / Abihatsira Issac Shutterstock / Abihatsira Issac / Abihatsira Issac

It’ll allow bearers to travel using it alone to anywhere in the EU – plus three countries in the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) – and is valid for five years. If you’re travelling anywhere else you’ll still need your old passport however – sorry.

The new card has been in gestation for some time. Initially slated for a July release that was put back eventually until today.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has described the new card as a “significant innovation”.

“I am particularly proud that we are one of the very first countries in the world to introduce such a passport card,” he said.

You can apply for the new card here, or via a mobile app (iOS / Android) designed specifically for the process (and by that we mean you can submit a selfie as your photo).

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