Ireland’s New Passport Cards Support Selfies & Eliminate Traditional Photo-Taking Remorse

A supplement to the traditional booklet-style passport, Ireland’s new Passport Cards will allow travelers entry into EU and EEA countries from this summer.

From mid-July, Irish travelers can leave their passports at home — that is, as long as they remember to take their new passport cards with them. Last month, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Charlie Flanagan unveiled the new Passport Card, which will be accepted for travel within countries of the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA).

The card will be made available to passport holders over the age of 18 and valid for either five years or the remaining validity of an individual’s current passport booklet.

These cards will cost €35 ($40) and applicants will be able to apply for them online or via a smartphone app. This latter feature also allows users to submit a self-taken photograph — or “selfie” — that adheres to international passport standards.

Speaking at the launch at Dublin’s Passport Office, Flanagan hailed the Passport Card as an innovation for Ireland’s Passport Service, stating:

Those traveling within the EU and EEA will also be able to use the Passport Card and frequent travelers will find this particularly useful if their Passport Booklet is with an embassy as part of a visa application process. The new card will also provide a useful backup travel document within Europe in the event that someone loses their passport while traveling.

Ireland’s Passport Card — reputed to be the first of its kind — includes several security features. One of these is a hologram photo on the card’s reverse side, which marks the first time that holographic technology will be used on a travel document.

[Photo: Independent.ie]