Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
18. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the ID number on a traditional Irish passport and a passport card differ when they are connected documents (details supplied); and if this will be addressed in order that both can be accepted by EU countries as valid ID for travel. [56473/23]
View answerThe passport card was launched in October 2015 and offers Irish citizens the convenience of travel to 31 countries including the EU/EEA member states, Great Britain and Switzerland, with a credit card sized travel document.
The Passport Card is fully compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations concerning requirements for passports in card format. Over 718,000 passport cards have been issued since 2015 and users have found it to be a highly convenient travel document.
While passport books and cards are often applied for at the same time, they are in fact separate identification documents issued with different passport numbers. Passport cards are valid for a maximum of 5 years, compared to the usual 10-year validity period for an adult passport book.
We have been informed by a small number of citizens that they have encountered difficulties with the card being accepted while abroad. Ministries of Justice/Home Affairs as relevant in each EU and EEA country, and, Great Britain and Switzerland have been contacted and informed to ensure that all border guards are fully appraised of the validity of the Irish Passport Card for travel.
Additionally, the details of the Passport Card have been uploaded to Keesing’s document checker database. This is a comprehensive database for identity documents and bank notes and is widely used by government agencies including military and police, immigration offices, customs, embassies and tax authorities.
An Garda Síochána arranged for the document to be uploaded to the Edison Database (Electronic Documentation and Information System on Investigation Networks). This database can be accessed by all 190 Interpol member countries through a secure internet system known as I-24/7.
Furthermore, it has also been uploaded onto the European Union “False and Authentic Documents Online” (FADO) database by An Garda Síochána. FADO is available to document experts in partner states including in all member states of the EU. As such, the document is then available to the European Council’s Public Register of Authentic Travel and Identity Documents Online website.
I am satisfied that the Passport Service has taken all necessary measures to ensure that authorities in states that permit the use of passport cards for border entry are aware of the features of the Irish passport card.
