Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
381. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider acting to remove the punitive measure of charging married women the full cost of attaining a new passport, which they are forced to incur if they have taken their husband's surname; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4100/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA passport is valid up until the expiry date stipulated on the passport. An applicant may choose to update their passport in advance of this expiry date for reasons such as changing their name through marriage. There is no requirement for a person to update their name on a passport to that of their spouse after marriage, it is a choice which the Passport Service accommodates.
The application of the relevant fee is not a punitive measure, but rather reflects that the applicant is choosing to replace a valid passport with a new passport which will be valid for 10 years.
