Ireland’s Minister of State for Migration, Colm Brophy, has issued an interim Notice to Employers to mitigate the impact of prolonged processing times for Irish Residence Permit (IRP) renewal applications. The notice remains in effect until 31 August 2026 and allows employees with expired IRP cards to continue working provided they meet specific conditions.
Interim measures (effective until 31 August 2026)
Employees may remain in Ireland and retain their employment if:
- Their IRP card has expired.
- They hold a valid, in‑date Employment Permit (or an immigration permission that does not require a permit).
- They submitted a renewal application before the expiry of their current IRP card, including any change‑of‑stamp applications, and supplied all required documentation.
The concession applies regardless of how many weeks have passed since the card’s expiry, as long as the renewal was lodged on time.
Evidence required
To rely on the interim concession, employees must be able to show:
- Proof that the renewal application was filed before the IRP card expired.
- Confirmation that all supporting documents, including a valid Employment Permit where applicable, were uploaded at the time of filing.
Applicants who used the online portal receive a confirmation receipt containing:
- The application date.
- A unique reference number (OREG number).
This receipt serves as evidence that the renewal is under consideration.
Proof of registration after approval
Once an application is approved, the system sends an “application completed” email. This email can be used as proof of registration while the applicant awaits the physical IRP card.
Limitation
The interim notice does not cover individuals whose immigration permission expired before they submitted a renewal application. Standard compliance requirements continue to apply to those cases.
Guidance for employers
Employers should:
- Verify the immigration status of staff affected by the delays.
- Retain copies of renewal application receipts, approval notifications, and evidence of a valid Employment Permit where required.
- Adjust internal right‑to‑work checks to reflect the temporary measures through 31 August 2026.
These steps will help ensure compliance while the Department of Migration works to reduce the current backlog, which has pushed some renewal processing times beyond 17 weeks, with an additional two‑week wait for the new IRP card after approval.
Source article: newlandchase.com
