Lawlor advises parents to check validity of children’s travel documents

Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Anthony Lawlor, is encouraging parents whose children are named on their passport to check with the embassy of their destination to ensure that they can enter the country using their parent’s passport.

“It has been brought to my attention that a number of families have experienced the heartbreak of having their holiday plans ruined because their child has been refused entry to a country because they were named on their parent’s passport but did not have a passport of their own. Since October 1^st 2004, every child must now have their own passport.

“Some European countries, which were still permitting a child’s entry on their parent’s passport, have recently changed the rules and are now insisting on travel documents for every person traveling. The passport office has issued a warning to check with the embassy of their destination country and, if a passport is needed, to apply for one well in advance of their departure date.

“This is particularly important for those traveling to any of the 25 Schengen countries, as Aer Lingus has advised that each person traveling must have their own individual passport.

“I have previously encouraged people to check that their passport is in date before they make their travel arrangements and I am now also strongly advising parents to ensure that their accompanying children have valid travel documents. If not, they should contact the passport office without delay to apply for an individual passport. As this is the busiest time of year for the passport office, delays can be expected so it is vital that people are organised well in advanced”.

ENDS

The 25 Schengen countries include:

Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland,