13 July 2012
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
The Passport Service – which has offices here in Cork, and also in Dublin – cautions parents that some European countries no longer permit children travelling on a parent’s passport. This follows a change in policy in some European countries. Therefore the Passport Service urges parents with their children named on their Irish passports to check with the Embassy of the country to which they are travelling to ensure they will be allowed to enter the country.
As of 1 October, 2004, in line with best international practice, the Passport Service ceased the practice of including children on their parents’ passports. This was to increase the security of international travel for children and reduce the risk of kidnapping and child trafficking. However, there are still some valid Irish passports in use across the world with children under-16 included.
When applying for a Passport for a person under the age of 18 then the consent of both parents must be obtained. The signatures of the father and mother can be witnessed separately or together or at the same time by a professional witness. An example of an acceptable witness is a Commissioner for Oaths. See www.commissionerforoaths.ie for the contact details of a Commissioner serving Cork.