The Department of Foreign Affairs updated its ‘Latest Passports News’ page on 13 October, warning of a surge in phishing emails and text messages that mimic official passport correspondence. Officials stressed that the Passport Service never requests banking details or payments via unsolicited messages and urged applicants who receive suspicious links to contact the service directly. The same bulletin reiterates that most airlines and ferry operators now insist on a valid Irish passport or passport card for travel between Ireland and Great Britain—some carriers no longer accept driver licences following post-Brexit security changes. Travellers are advised to verify carrier requirements well in advance and to use the 24/7 online renewal portal if their passport is within six months of expiry. The notice also reminds the public that the old green APS1/APS2 paper application forms were retired in December 2025; paper applicants must instead use the Passport Assist channel. Processing of Foreign Birth Registrations continues to take around 12 months, but urgent requests related to expectant parents will be prioritised. For corporate mobility managers, the key takeaway is heightened fraud risk around peak renewal season and the need to double-check that UK business travellers carry compliant ID, especially where same-day ferries are involved.
