Irish passport card

I am 18 and flying to Spain for a holiday this summer. Can I use a passport card when travelling to Spain, and how do I apply for one?

The Irish passport card is a credit-card sized Irish passport. You can use it for travel within the European Union, the European Economic Area (which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and Switzerland. So, you will be able to use it when going to Spain this summer.

You must be aged 18 or over to apply for a passport card. You must also hold a valid Irish passport that is not due to expire in the next 3 months. The personal details you provide when applying must be exactly the same as those on your passport book.

The passport card is valid for a maximum of 5 years or until your passport book expires, whichever period is shorter.

If you plan to use your passport card when travelling, you must use the passport card number when checking in online.

The passport card costs €35. If you are applying from outside Ireland, there is an additional delivery cost of €5. You can apply for a passport card online on dfa.ie. When making the application you need:

* Your current passport book

* Your digital photograph (see the detailed guidelines on dfa.ie) * A valid email address

* A debit card or credit card

When you submit your application online, you are issued with an 11-digit application number. You can track your application’s progress on the Department’s website using the application number.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.