Ireland has introduced a temporary travel concession permitting eligible foreign residents to use recently expired Irish Residence Permit (IRP) cards for international travel until August 31, 2026, as authorities work to address delays in residence permit renewals.
The measure, announced by the Minister of State for Migration, Colm Brophy, is intended to support legally resident non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals whose applications for permit renewal are still being processed.
According to a report by The Punch, the development was contained in a statement published on the website of Ireland’s Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Immigration on July 13 and sighted on Wednesday.
According to the department, the Immigration Services Registration Office at Burgh Quay in Dublin is currently experiencing a sharp increase in renewal applications, resulting in processing times of more than 17 weeks for some categories of applicants.
It said, “The Immigration Services Registration Office Burgh Quay, Dublin, is currently experiencing a very large volume of applications with a current processing time to renew an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card in excess of 17 weeks for some categories.”
ADVERTISEMENT
It added that after the renewal of registration is completed, applicants may wait a further two weeks before receiving their new IRP cards.
To ease travel during the summer period, the department said eligible applicants whose renewal applications were submitted before their current IRP cards expired would be allowed to travel using the expired cards.
It stated, “To facilitate Non EEA Nationals legally resident in the State who are required to renew their current permission and who wish to travel internationally during the summer period, the Minister is issuing a Travel Confirmation Notice requesting carriers to allow individuals to travel on their recently expired IRP card where an application to renew their permission was submitted in advance of the expiry date of their IRP card.”
According to the department, the arrangement applies from July 13 to August 31, 2026.
Read Also
Read Also: Ireland, Spain take first European steps towards economic sanctions against Israel over Gaza
ADVERTISEMENT
“Non-EEA Nationals in the State who are required to apply for a renewal of their IRP card may use their current recently expired IRP card to enable them to travel in confidence from 13 July 2026 to 31 August 2026, provided an application to renew their registration permission was submitted in advance of the expiry date of their IRP Card,” the statement added.
The department advised travellers to print and carry the Travel Confirmation Notice, their expired IRP card and proof that they submitted a renewal application before the card expired.
It also urged travellers to contact their airlines before departure to ensure the temporary arrangement would be recognised and warned those transiting through third countries to verify whether the travel notice would be accepted before booking flights.
“The Department will advise all airlines and foreign missions of the initiatives in place. The Department will continue to process applications for renewals,” it said.
The latest measure comes as Ireland continues to face mounting backlogs in processing residence permit renewals, with applicants in several immigration categories reportedly waiting up to 17 weeks for renewed documentation.
ADVERTISEMENT
The announcement also follows recent changes to Ireland’s employment permit system, including reforms aimed at addressing labour shortages in sectors such as construction, healthcare, transport, agri-food and specialist services.
