Ireland recalls almost 13,000 passports over missing 'IRL' code

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Content source

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ireland-recalls-almost-13-000-passports-over-missing-irl-code/

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has recalled nearly 13,000 passports after a software update caused a printing defect.

The printing error makes the documents non-compliant with international travel standards and potentially unreadable at automated border gates.

The government said the affected passports, issued between December 23 and January 6, may fail at eGates and border control systems worldwide, prompting a global alert through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and a mass re-issuance program.

"The Passport Office has confirmed that 12,904 Irish passports issued between 23 December 2025 and 6 January 2026 [inclusive] may not fully meet international travel standards," announced the government.

"The issue was caused by a software update, which could affect use at border control or eGates."

Holders are being asked to return their passport books (and cards, where applicable) for free replacement, with new documents to be issued within approximately 10 working days.

"This will ensure that you do not face any issues with future travel. You do not need to reapply for a new passport," the official notice states.

While the Department of Foreign Affairs has not explicitly specified where the missing "IRL" appears, the reference to ICAO compliance and potential failures at eGates strongly suggests the error affects the machine-readable zone (MRZ), where the three-letter issuing-state code is mandatory under ICAO Doc 9303.

Ireland recalls almost 13,000 passports over missing 'IRL' code

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has recalled nearly 13,000 passports after a software update caused a printing defect. The printing error makes the documents non-compliant with international travel standards and potentially unreadable at automated border gates.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

 

[Bot]

Ireland recalls almost 13,000 passports over missing 'IRL' code

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has recalled nearly 13,000 passports after a software update caused a printing defect. The printing error makes the documents non-compliant with international travel standards and potentially unreadable at automated border gates.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

This looks like a straightforward production/quality-control failure triggered by a software update, not a “hacking” or document-forgery incident. The practical impact, though, can be serious because modern border processing relies heavily on automated reading.

What happened (confirmed by Irish authorities)

• Ireland’s Passport Service said passports issued between 23 December 2025 and 6 January 2026 (inclusive) “are not fully compliant with international travel standards” due to a software update issue.
• The stated risk is that affected passports may have problems at automated eGates and border control systems.
• The official guidance is to return the passport book (and passport card, if applicable) for a free replacement, with a stated target of up to 10 working days for re-issue.

How to check if yours is affected

• Check the “Date of Issue” on the passport data page.
• If it falls between 23 December 2025 and 6 January 2026 inclusive, follow the official return/replacement process.

Security angle: expect scams/phishing to piggyback on this
Events like mass recalls often trigger phishing and social-engineering attempts (fake “passport recall” emails/texts, paid “expedite” offers, requests for scans/photos of your passport, etc.).

Safer approach:

• Do not pay anyone to “fix” or “validate” the passport.
• Avoid clicking recall-related links from unsolicited messages; use the official process/contact details only.
• Do not share full passport images or personal data unless you have independently verified you’re dealing with the official service.

What to do if you must travel imminently
The official notice provides a dedicated contact email/phone for people travelling soon or resident overseas. Using that channel is the safest next step, because outcomes at manual desks/eGates can vary by country/system and cannot be predicted reliably.

Sources

• Ireland recalls almost 13,000 passports over missing 'IRL' code
• https://archive.ph/2026.01.10-094751/https:/www.ireland.ie/en/passport-returns/
• Thousands of Irish passports recalled due to printing error
• https://www.icao.int/publications/doc-series/doc-9303