How to scan an Irish passport chip and what to do if it will not read

An Irish passport book contains an electronic chip that a compatible phone can read using NFC. Photographing the printed details page is a separate step. The exact chip position across Irish passport models is not confirmed in the official material MyID could verify, so this guide does not identify one cover or corner as correct for every passport.

Check the official MyGovID app requirements on gov.ie

Before you try the chip scan again

1. Use the correct official app

   Start from the Department of Social Protection or MyWelfare page and follow its Apple or Google download link. Check the device and document requirements below.

2. Separate the photograph from the chip read

   At the camera stage, keep the full details page and printed lines in frame and in focus. Good light helps the photograph; it does not strengthen the NFC radio connection.

3. Remove external covers

   Take off the phone case and any removable passport holder. Do not remove, peel or alter the passport's own cover or binding.

4. Start the chip-reading stage inside the app

   Follow the app's illustration and bring the phone's NFC reading area close to the passport. On Android, check that NFC is available and enabled. Menus and antenna positions differ between phones. On iPhone, use the app's scanning screen rather than the ordinary Camera app.

5. Reposition gently, then keep still

   If nothing is detected, adjust the alignment slowly. Once reading starts, stop moving the phone and booklet until the app reports completion.

6. Use the offered retry, then seek help

   Follow the current app prompt instead of repeatedly starting new applications. If it still fails, note the exact error, phone model, operating-system version, app version and failed stage. Do not include passport images or account secrets in a general support enquiry.

Current MyGovID requirements

Item	What to check
iPhone	The Irish App Store listing required iOS 18.6 or later when checked on 6 October 2026. DSP's older guide still says iOS 15, so use the current store requirement when checking installation.
Android	DSP publishes Android 10 as its minimum. Check the official listing on your handset; Android 10 or newer alone does not guarantee compatibility.
Phone hardware	DSP requires NFC and a front-facing camera.
Passport	Use a valid Irish passport book. Passport cards are not accepted for this MyGovID app route.
Store account	DSP says the Apple or Google account must have Ireland set as its location.

What a successful read proves

A camera can read printed passport information. NFC lets the phone communicate with the electronic chip. Validation then checks the authenticity and integrity of the chip data, while holder verification is a separate step. A successful chip read does not by itself mean that the application is approved or that the person holding the phone has been verified.

Privacy and safe support

The Department's privacy statement describes processing passport details, printed and chip photographs, a selfie and biometric comparisons. Additional information entered during the application, including a PPS Number, is not all read from the passport chip. Deletion of temporary app or processor data does not mean that the Department retains no records.

For MyGovID account-verification help, the official contact page lists 0818 927 999 and 071 967 2616, Monday to Friday, 09:15–17:00. Check that page for changes.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the chip in an Irish passport?

It is built into the passport book. MyID has not verified an official location that applies across Irish passport models, so follow the positioning guide in the app handling your check.

Is reading the printed passport lines the same as scanning the chip?

No. The machine-readable zone contains printed information that a camera can read. The camera capture and electronic chip read are different operations.

Can I use my Irish passport card?

Not for the MyGovID app route described by DSP. It requires a valid Irish passport book. Another service's document rules may differ.

Does a failed scan mean I need a new passport?

Do not assume that from a failed app scan alone. Check settings, positioning and the official support route first. MyID cannot diagnose physical passport damage or confirm a document's suitability for travel.

What can I do without a suitable NFC smartphone?

With a basic MyGovID account, a PSC and a mobile number already verified with DSP, the official browser route uses PSC information and a code sent to that mobile. It is a non-NFC route, not a no-phone route. You can also contact a PSC centre about in-person registration.

Sources and limits

• DSP: MyGovID app, published 1 July 2024 and updated 15 October 2025.
• Official Irish App Store listing and official Google Play listing, live requirements checked 6 October 2026.
• DSP privacy statement, updated 4 August 2026.
• ICAO: access to an ePassport chip and ICAO: validation requirements.
• Apple NFC guidance, Google NFC positioning guidance and UKVI passport-scanning guidance. Payment-specific and UK-app-specific rules are not MyGovID requirements.

This guide is based on public documentation, not a hands-on app test. An exact Irish passport chip-location map remains unverified.