I propose to take Questions Nos. 2196, 2197 and 2198 together.
The Registration Office of my Department continues to experience an exceptionally high demand for first time registration appointments and immigration permission renewal applications.
I understand that the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, and I can assure the Deputy that my Department is utilising every avenue available to facilitate as many applicants as quickly as possible and to increase processing capacity.
The Registration Office is open seven days a week to facilitate customers to process both first time registration appointments and online renewals, with significant additional staff assigned to this work. This is having an impact and wait times are reducing, and I expect times to reduce further over the summer months.
In the meantime, I can advise the Deputy that I recently published an updated interim employer notice and a notice to facilitate customers travelling during the summer months to alleviate pressure on applicants while the Department continues to reduce the wait times.
Where an employee’s Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card has expired and they are unable to obtain a new one by the expiry date of their current IRP card, they are still permitted to work and to remain in the State until 31 August 2026. This applies to all expired IRP cards regardless of the number of weeks elapsed, but is subject to the applicant submitting their renewal application prior to their current IRP card expiring. Further information on this notice can be found at the following link (www.irishimmigration.ie/minster-announces-interim-notice-to-employers-regarding-renewal-of-registration/).
It is important to note that the existing Notice to Employers (www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/notice-to-employers/) will continue to apply after 31 August 2026.
Furthermore, the previous travel arrangements made for people awaiting a renewal of their IRP card who intend to travel has been reinstated until 31 August 2026. People may use their recently expired IRP card to travel until the end of August 2026, provided an application to renew their registration permission was submitted in advance of the expiry date of their IRP Card. Further information can be found on the ISD website at the following link (www.irishimmigration.ie/isd-announces-initiative-to-facilitate-customers-travelling-during-the-summer-months/). Information in this regard has been issued to airlines.
The Registration Office provide a live application processing date broken down by stamp category, which is updated every Monday, and is available at the following link: Renewing your registration permission if you live in the Republic of Ireland - Immigration Service Delivery (/www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/renewing-your-registration-permission-if-you-live-in-the-republic-of-ireland/)
Applicants can check the status of their immigration application on the Portal, which can be accessed at the following link: www.portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
It is also open to any person to request to have their renewal application expedited due to extenuating circumstances, and they can do so by contacting the Registration team of the Department via the Customer Service Portal. They will need to explain their circumstances and the urgent need to travel. All such requests are considered on a case by case basis.
Details on how to submit a query to the registration office can be found here: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/submitting-registration-or-renewal-queries/
Once an individual reaches 16 years of age and are in possession of a valid temporary protection certificate, they can book a first time registration appointment with my Department and register their immigration permission in the normal manner. Further information is available at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-register-your-immigration-permission-for-the-first-time/information-on-registering-your-immigration-permission-for-the-first-time/
All temporary protection certificates valid up to 4 March 2026 are now valid until 4 March 2027 and as such can be used when applying for an IRP card. It should be noted that the Temporary Protection certificate is the permission to be in the State and grants Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection access to all services and also the right to work.
Information on the number of reported cases in which Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection have been unable to commence employment, renew employment contracts or access education is not recorded by my Department.
