Lost / damaged passport - help!

Dac51

This is my dilema. I am travelling to Amsterdam in two weeks time and when I looked for my passport two weeks ago I couldn't find it. I went to the passport office in Cork and had a replacement passport sent out in the post. A few days later I found the lost passport.

When I got home today the new replacement passport had arrived in the post. But before I got home the dog had got at the post and bitten into the passport. The plastic laminate had come away from the photograph. I went immediately to the local Garda station to see what the situation was where I was told the passport could not be used as it looks like it has been tampered with.

A few questions on this:

1. Is a passport required for travel to another EU country?
2. Will the passport be machine read or do the airline check in staff just use it as a form of photo id (checking that the name on the ticket matches the name on the passport and the person checking in is the same person on the passport)

Any other advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

L5

Dac51 wrote:

This is my dilema. I am travelling to Amsterdam in two weeks time and when I looked for my passport two weeks ago I couldn't find it. I went to the passport office in Cork and had a replacement passport sent out in the post. A few days later I found the lost passport.

When I got home today the new replacement passport had arrived in the post. But before I got home the dog had got at the post and bitten into the passport. The plastic laminate had come away from the photograph. I went immediately to the local Garda station to see what the situation was where I was told the passport could not be used as it looks like it has been tampered with.

A few questions on this:

1. Is a passport required for travel to another EU country?
2. Will the passport be machine read or do the airline check in staff just use it as a form of photo id (checking that the name on the ticket matches the name on the passport and the person checking in is the same person on the passport)

Any other advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

you have the old passport, so whats the problem?

seamus

Return both passports to the passport office, and request a replacement passport for the damaged one. Include a note telling them exactly what you told us now.

Actually, since you're going in two weeks, better to call into the passport office. As well as ensuring you get your passport on time, it'll be easier to explain in person.

Your old passport is invalid and has been cancelled.

It's also going to cost you another €75 for the new passport, as you can no longer get replacement ones.

Buy a basket to catch your mail and/or train the dog.

Dac51

L5 wrote:

you have the old passport, so whats the problem?

What if the airline check in staff read the old passport via a macine or type in the passport number into a computer and it comes up as invalid?

Dinner

If your travelling Ryanair they usually ask for photo ID, I think a drivers license will do but a passport is better.

The passport is usually only used as photo ID so you would probably get away with the old one. But, as it was mentioned already, you'd probably be better of going into the passport office and explaining your situation.

pickarooney

In practice, they just look at the passport and compare it to your face (if even). In theory, they can scan the machine-readable one, if indeed your old passport is machine readable. It's a minor risk, but considering you'll probably be travelling to more places in the next few years, and that the old one will run out at some stage, it might be as well to get a new one.
A driving license is not valid ID for travelling from outside Schengen-land to inside, AFAIK.

newgrange

Any flight I have been on in the past year they have scanned my passport at the check-in desk/kiosk, regardless of airline. The OP needs to get a new passport.

Wertz

Just flew through Schipol last week and nearly all the check-in desks have been replaced with self service check-in terminals for which a machine readable passport is required; make sure whichever you use, that it is the valid one.

...and yes, a passport is still required for travel within the EU.

Unpossible

and yes, a passport is still required for travel within the EU.

Nope, a national identity card from some countries (like germany) will do instead of a passport.

Wertz

Unpossible wrote:

Nope, a national identity card from some countries (like germany) will do instead of a passport.

Last time I checked no such card is yet available to Irish citizens and nor is it likely to be in the forseeable future; maybe I'm being presumptious in thinking the OP is Irish but if they are, only a passport will suffice...

Unpossible

Last time I checked no such card is yet available to Irish citizens

I didnt say there was an Irish version, but if you had such a card from another EU country you could use it instead of a passport


I dont mean to sound like Im starting something Im tired & just wanted to point out that you dont necessarily need a passport*
*edit

Wertz

Unpossible wrote:

I didnt say there was an Irish version, but if you had such a card from another EU country you could use it instead of a passport


I dont mean to sound like Im starting something Im tired & just wanted to point out that you dont necessarily need a passport*
*edit

Me either. Sorry if I came across like that.
Didn't know about NID cards being sufficient for border controls but it makes sense. Closest we have to NID card here is a driving license which I don't think is sufficient for travel purposes beyond Ireland/UK...

sceptre

pickarooney wrote:

In practice, they just look at the passport and compare it to your face (if even). In theory, they can scan the machine-readable one, if indeed your old passport is machine readable.

All current passports should be machine readable shouldn't they? My 10 year one is out of date, erm, oops, last week and it's machine readable.