Sean MacEntee Sean MacEntee

GARDAÍ HAVE SUGGESTED that people who are travelling to Garda stations to renew their passports do so online instead as a timesaver.

In March, the Department of Foreign Affairs launched a new online portal allowing Irish people to renew existing passports, with a turnaround time of 10 working days (applying for a passport by mail can take twice as long).

Despite this, it seems that many Irish people are unaware that the facility exists to take care of renewals on the web.

“Whilst An Garda Síochána welcomes interactions with members of the public, we are aware that people are making unnecessary journeys to Garda Stations only to be told that the facility for renewal of passports is available online and is a much quicker process,” Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley said.

A recent survey at Blanchardstown Garda Station in Dublin showed that of 600 recent attendees at the station looking for help in renewing their documents, nearly 250 were unaware that the online service exists.

First-time passports, however, must still be applied for by mail or in person at a passport office.

If you need to renew your passport, you can do so at this link

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