Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has started recalling passports printed between 23 December 2025 and 6 January 2026 after a software update produced documents that do not meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) e-passport standards. The DFA estimates that about 21,000 booklets are affected and has already contacted holders by SMS and e-mail. Passengers have reported mis-reads at eGates in Heathrow, Schiphol and JFK, prompting carriers to deny boarding in some cases. ([theportugalnews.com](https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2026-01-12/travel-warning-as-irish-passports-recalled/943475?utm_source=openai))
The fault relates to a mis-alignment of a security overlay that causes the machine-readable zone to be partially obscured. While manual inspection typically clears travellers, many automated gates reject the document outright, leading to missed connections and re-issuance of boarding passes. The Passport Service is offering free replacements via its Passport Online portal and has established a fast-track counter at Dublin Airport for emergency swaps.
![Printing Glitch Forces Recall of 21,000 Irish Passports Issued Over Christmas]()
Travellers who need extra assistance with replacement documents—or who want to ensure their onward visa plans stay on track—can also turn to VisaHQ. The company’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers step-by-step passport-renewal support, real-time status tracking and comprehensive visa services, helping Irish citizens avoid additional travel disruptions during the recall.
Business-travel insurers say companies should treat the affected passports as invalid and arrange immediate re-issue to avoid potential detention at overseas border posts. Mobility managers should circulate the DFA’s recall notice and advise travellers to carry alternative ID—such as a national ID card for EU travel—until a new passport arrives.
The glitch comes at a time of record demand: more than one million Irish passports were issued in 2025, fuelled by post-pandemic travel and continuing interest from UK residents seeking EU travel rights. The episode underscores the operational risks linked to automated document personalisation and may accelerate DFA plans to launch a digital passport card for global travel by 2028.
The fault relates to a mis-alignment of a security overlay that causes the machine-readable zone to be partially obscured. While manual inspection typically clears travellers, many automated gates reject the document outright, leading to missed connections and re-issuance of boarding passes. The Passport Service is offering free replacements via its Passport Online portal and has established a fast-track counter at Dublin Airport for emergency swaps.
Travellers who need extra assistance with replacement documents—or who want to ensure their onward visa plans stay on track—can also turn to VisaHQ. The company’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers step-by-step passport-renewal support, real-time status tracking and comprehensive visa services, helping Irish citizens avoid additional travel disruptions during the recall.
Business-travel insurers say companies should treat the affected passports as invalid and arrange immediate re-issue to avoid potential detention at overseas border posts. Mobility managers should circulate the DFA’s recall notice and advise travellers to carry alternative ID—such as a national ID card for EU travel—until a new passport arrives.
The glitch comes at a time of record demand: more than one million Irish passports were issued in 2025, fuelled by post-pandemic travel and continuing interest from UK residents seeking EU travel rights. The episode underscores the operational risks linked to automated document personalisation and may accelerate DFA plans to launch a digital passport card for global travel by 2028.
