Minister Brophy announces interim Notice to Employers regarding renewal of registration
Update Explained
The Minister announced a temporary measure addressing the delay in processing the renewal of Irish Residence Permit (IRP) cards. Due to high application volumes, the processing time can exceed 17 weeks, with an additional two weeks needed to receive the card after renewal. While waiting for renewal, if an employee's IRP card has expired, they may remain in Ireland under the original card's conditions until August 31, 2026, provided they have applied for renewal and included necessary documents. This involves maintaining evidence of the renewal application and having a valid employment permit, if needed. The extension applies unless the IRP card expired before the application for renewal was submitted. People eligible for a Stamp 4 upgrade with a recently expired Stamp 1 are covered and do not need an employment permit to continue working. The situation is not applicable if the permit expired before renewal application submission. To track application status, applicants can use the Immigration Service's portal.
What changed
Expired IRP card holders can remain in Ireland under existing conditions until August 31, 2026, if they apply for renewal on time.
Why it matters
Individuals with proof of having applied for IRP renewal can legally remain in Ireland under their previous permissions despite card expiry, as long as they applied before expiration and included required documents.
Who is affected
- Holders of recently expired IRP cards with pending renewal applications
- Individuals eligible for a Stamp 4 upgrade with recently expired Stamp 1
Key dates
End
Aug 31, 2026
End date until which individuals can remain under expired IRP card conditions, if renewal was applied before expiry.
Key details
- Processing time for IRP card renewals is over 17 weeks.
- Interim measure extends validity of existing conditions until August 31, 2026, if renewal requirements are met.
- Valid employment permit or exemption from needing one must be maintained.
Important notes
The interim measure does not apply if the current IRP card expired before a renewal application was submitted.