Tánaiste Urges Holiday-Makers to Check Passports as Cork Ranks Second Nationally
Cork takes second place nationally for passport applications: check yours before you book that holiday.
The Tánaiste has reminded citizens to verify their passport validity before booking holidays, as new figures reveal Cork issued the second-highest number of passports nationally in the first half of 2025.
Simon Harris TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade:
"The best time for citizens to check their passport's expiry date is before booking their holiday, and the second best time to check is today! If you have already booked flights, it's important to check now if your passport is in date."
The figures, covering January to June 2025, show Cork issued 35,665 passports to residents, trailing only Dublin's 84,923 but comfortably ahead of third-placed Galway with 16,962. The strong Cork showing reflects the county's significant population and travel appetite.
Nationally, the Passport Service has already processed over 600,000 applications this year, with staff handling approximately 10,000 customer queries weekly.
Harris:
"I am so proud of the fantastic staff at the Passport Service who have already issued over 600,000 passports to Irish citizens all over the world this year. I would like to thank them for their hard work to make sure we can all enjoy well-deserved holidays."
The Tánaiste emphasised Passport Online as the quickest and most cost-effective application method, available to applicants worldwide for both renewals and first-time applications.
For Cork residents requiring urgent passport renewal, the Passport Office on South Mall provides an urgent appointment service alongside the Dublin facility. This service caters to imminent travel needs, with booking available at www.ireland.ie/passports.
Customer service agents remain available Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, via phone on 01 671 1633 or webchat through the official website.
The comprehensive county breakdown reveals interesting regional patterns, with Dublin's dominance expected given its population concentration. However, Cork's strong second place, followed by Galway, Kildare, and Meath, suggests significant travel demand across Ireland's major population centres.
The timing of this reminder proves particularly relevant as summer holiday season reaches its peak, with many families potentially discovering expired documents just before departure.
