Significant immigration processing delays in Ireland are impacting various application types. Employers and applicants should account for extended processing times and potential delays during the holiday season, when immigration offices and embassies may close for public holidays. As we recently noted, IRP cardholders are strongly advised to review the expiry dates of their permissions and submit renewal applications at the earliest opportunity.
The current estimated timelines are as follows:
| Employment Permit applications | Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) | Approximately 5 weeks |
| General Employment Permit (GEP) | Approximately 8 weeks | |
| Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit (ICT) | Approximately 8 weeks | |
| GEP & ICT renewals | Approximately 12 weeks | |
| Irish Residence Permit card (IRP) first-time applications | Appointment wait time | 10 weeks (subject to change) |
| Issuance of IRP card | 10-15 working days from the date of appointment | |
| Irish Residence Permit card renewals | Processing of IRP application | Approximately 5 weeks |
| Issuance of IRP card | 10-15 working days after approval email | |
| Visa applications | Visa based on employment permit (CSEP, GEP, ICT, etc.) | Up to 12 weeks depending on location |
| Family visa applications (filed after the main applicant) | 6-12 months depending on location |
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
