A new passport card has been unveiled by the Department of Foreign Affairs which will be accepted for travel within the EU and the European Economic Area.

Minister Charlie Flanagan announced details of the new Irish passport card today which will be available from mid-July to all Irish citizens who are over 18 and hold an Irish passport.

The new credit card sized document will be valid for five years at most, or the remaining validity of a person's passport book, and will cost €35.

#Passportcard will cost €35 & be available from mid-July for travel within the EU & EEA - @CharlieFlanagan at launch pic.twitter.com/4jiS0Yvzxb — Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) January 26, 2015

Mr Flanagan said: "The passport card will be particularly useful for young people who use their passport booklet as identification, especially on nights out."

A smartphone app has also been launched, which makes it very easy to apply for the card.

Min for Foreign Affairs launches the new passport card application app #rtenews pic.twitter.com/WswVhGt66s — Joe Mag Raollaigh (@joemagraollaigh) January 26, 2015

It also includes a feature allowing a photograph to be taken that will meet international standards for passports.

"Frequent travellers will find this particularly useful if their passport booklet is with an embassy as part of a visa application process. The new card will also provide a useful backup travel document within Europe in the event that someone loses their passport while travelling," Mr Flanagan added.

A number of security features are incorporated into it, including an embedded hologram photo, on the advice of security experts including An Garda Síochána.

Details on the card will include name, date of birth and passport number.