The Irish government has launched an urgent recall affecting nearly 13,000 passports issued between 2022 and early 2024. This unprecedented move follows the discovery that a significant batch of passports lacked the mandatory ‘IRL’ country code-an essential identifier in international travel and border security. Without this code, travelers risked facing complications or outright rejection when crossing foreign borders, prompting immediate action from the Department of Foreign Affairs to mitigate potential disruptions.

Officials have outlined the key implications for affected passport holders, emphasizing the swift replacement process. To streamline the recall, Ireland advises passport owners to check their document’s serial numbers against the…