Sligo travellers urged to check passports as over 4,000 issued this year

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Ballygawley based Cllr Thomas Walsh has issued a reminder to those planning on holidaying or travelling abroad in the coming months to check the expiry date on their passport and ensure their document is up to date.

The reminder comes on foot of the news that 4,124 passports have been issued to individuals in Sligo since the start of the year with Cllr Walsh urging anyone planning a trip abroad within the next six months to ensure their travel documents are valid as early as possible to ensure no disruption to their plans.

The advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Passport Office is to apply online as this is a significantly quicker process than applying by post.

Cllr Walsh advised, “The best time for citizens to check their passport’s expiry date is before booking their holiday. If you have already booked flights, it’s important to check now if your passport is in date.

“To renew or apply for a new passport use Passport Online. It’s the quickest, easiest and most cost-effective way to apply.

The current average time for a simple passport renewal to be completed is 10 working days, for a complex adult renewal or a child renewal the average turnaround time is 15 working days. For a first time application the wait time is 20 working days.

The wait time increases significantly for Post Passport (paper application) which currently stands at eight weeks.

Cllr Walsh added, “I’d also like to remind any citizens living in Ireland who need to renew their passport urgently in advance of travel that they can avail of the Urgent Appointment Service available at the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork.

“When you’re booking your holidays be prepared and make sure your passport is in date.”