Irish passports recalled: Almost 13,000 recently-passports to be replaced due to printing error - what to do if you are affected
Almost 13,000 recently-issued Irish passports have been recalled due to a printing error.
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said 12,904 passports issued in late December and early January were not compliant due to a technical issue with a software update. This may cause issues for travellers at eGates and border control.
In a statement, the department said the Passport Service "sincerely regrets" the issue and apologised for the inconvenience caused. The recall applies to passports issued between 23 December 2025 and 6 January 2026 inclusive.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said border authorities worldwide have been notified about the issue.
What to do if you are affected
Those affected do not need to apply for a new passport but should return their passports by post to the Irish Passport Service in Dublin. The service will seek to issue new passports within 10 working days.
All reissued passports will have a new passport number. Anyone recently issued a passport book or passport card is advised to check the date of issue that can be found on the page with information about the holder and their photograph.
Irish passport holders with imminent travel plans, or those living abroad, can phone or email the DFA's Customer Service Team The Passport Service said it is prioritising assisting affected customers, and further information can be found on their website.