Irish citizens will be able to travel within the European Union and the European economic area using a new Irish passport card from mid-July.
The new credit card sized document will be issued as a supplement to existing passports.
The card will be valid for a maximum of five years and will cost €35.
Frequent travellers will find the #passportcard useful if their passport book is with an embassy as part of a visa application process
— IrishForeignMinistry (@dfatirl) January 26, 2015Incorporated in it are a number of security features, including an embedded hologram photo.
Details on the card will include name, date of birth and passport number.
New Irish Passport Card to be launched, it will cost €35 #rtenews pic.twitter.com/jBcQl00Oqs
— Colm Hand (@ColmHand) January 26, 2015Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said the card will be particularly useful for young people who use their passport as identification, "especially on nights out".
A new smartphone app was also launched to allow people apply for the card and includes a feature that will take a photograph to meet international standards for passports.
Min for Foreign Affairs launches the new passport card application app #rtenews pic.twitter.com/WswVhGt66s
— Joe Mag Raollaigh (@joemagraollaigh) January 26, 2015The card will be available to all Irish citizens over 18 and who already hold a valid passport can apply.
