Many applications rejected by Passport Office over travel document or identity theft concerns: Garda warning

Many applications rejected by Passport Office over travel document or identity theft concerns: Garda warning

Gardaí have warned of cases of 'passport fraud' as more than 1,000 travel documents have been stolen since 2021. Ninety-five cases of suspected passport fraud have been referred to the Gardai by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) over the past two and a half years. The data also shows that thieves have stolen 1,095 travel documents during this period. The passport office also rejected 68 applications from individuals due to concerns about fraud or fears that someone was trying to steal someone else's identity.

1,343 incidents of damaged passports and 9,333 lost or missing passports were reported. In the first half of 2023, there were eight cases where applications were rejected due to fraud concerns, the DFA said. In 2022, there were 26 bogus applications, compared to 34 applications recorded in 2021.

The number of lost passports has risen sharply this year, with 5,392 reported in the January-June period, when stricter Covid-19 restrictions on travel remain in place in 2021. A total of 457 cases were reported. There has been a similar sharp rise in cases of stolen passports, with 583 incidents recorded in the first six months of this year, compared to a total of 79 incidents in 2021. So far this year, 19 cases of passport fraud have been referred to gardaí. There were 44 reports last year and 32 in 2021.

Passports reported lost, stolen or damaged to the Passport Service are canceled and Interpol is notified as soon as possible. "In cases where fraud is suspected, it is referred to a special unit." This means the passport is no longer valid, she said.

The latest figures show that seven million valid Irish passports are now in circulation. A DFA spokesman said the integrity of Irish passports is a "top priority" and Ireland's passports have a strong and reliable reputation around the world.