Passport backlog tops 64,000

THE waiting time for a passport has increased by five working days, with more than 64,000 applications in the backlog.

An Post has withdrawn its 10-day turnaround guarantee for processing applications through the Passport Express service, with applications sent in via this method now taking approximately five weeks.

Customers still pay €8.50 for the express service and it is faster than using normal post, which takes about eight weeks, said the Department of Foreign Affairs.