Immigration Services are currently experiencing a backlog in processing registrations. Following the completion of a registration, it may take a further two weeks to receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card via post.

If you are a visa-required national and are in possession of your valid, in-date Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, you do not require any type of visa to facilitate your return to Ireland following travel.

If you are a non-visa required national, you also do not require an IRP card or any type of visa to enable your return to Ireland following travel.

To facilitate Non EEA Nationals legally resident in the State who are required to renew their current permission and who wished to travel internationally during the Christmas period, the Minister is issued 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.

This travel notice has now been extended to 28 February 2026.

The updated notice can be found here: ISD announces initiative to facilitate customers travelling at Christmas

When Should I apply to renew my IRP card?

You can apply to renew your IRP up to 12 weeks prior to its expiry date.

Applicants are strongly advised to apply in a timely manner to allow enough time to process your application prior to the current expiry date.

Note: Stamp 2 applicants (students) must wait until their course starts before they can apply to renew.

All permissions to remain will be renewed from your current expiry date; there is no disadvantage or time lost in renewing prior to expiry.

You must currently be present in Ireland to be eligible to renew your permission to remain online. Applications submitted from outside Ireland will not be accepted.

Further information on renewing your IRP card and the current date of applications being processed can be found here: Renewing your registration permission

What can I do if I have an emergency need to travel and my renewal has not been processed yet?

If an urgent, emergency, or extenuating circumstance arises that necessitates immediate travel you should contact the Registration Office.

Details on contacting the Registration Office can be found here: Submitting Registration or Renewal Queries

It is important to correctly categorise your query to ensure it gets to us in a timely manner.

You should use the following categories: Registration & Irish Residence Permit (IRP) Cards > Online Renewal Applications > I require an IRP card for urgent travel