July 13, 2026 | Ireland’s Minister of State for Migration, Colm Brophy, has announced an interim Notice to Employers in response to significant processing delays affecting Irish Residence Permit (IRP) renewal applications.
The Immigration Services Registration Office at Burgh Quay in Dublin is currently experiencing exceptionally high application volumes, resulting in processing times that exceed 17 weeks for some registration renewal categories. Following approval of a renewal application, applicants may also experience an additional delay of up to two weeks before receiving their new IRP Card.
Interim Measures Introduced
To address the impact of these delays on employers and foreign national employees, the Department has introduced a temporary arrangement that will remain in place until August 31, 2026.
Under this interim measure, employees may continue to live and work in Ireland under the conditions of their existing permission where:
- Their IRP Card has expired
- They hold a valid, in-date Employment Permit, where required, or hold an immigration permission that does not require an Employment Permit to access employment, and
- They submitted an application to renew their registration (including applications involving a change of stamp category) before their current IRP Card expired.
Importantly, this provision applies to all expired IRP Cards, regardless of the number of weeks that have elapsed since expiry, provided the renewal application was submitted on time and accompanied by all required documentation.
Evidence Requirements
To benefit from this interim concession, employees must be able to demonstrate that:
- Their renewal application was submitted before the expiry of their current IRP Card, and
- All required supporting documentation was uploaded at the time of application, including a valid Employment Permit where applicable.
Applicants who submitted their renewal application online will have received a confirmation receipt that includes:
- The date of application, and
- A unique application reference number (OREG number).
This receipt can be used as evidence that a renewal application has been lodged and is under consideration.
Proof of Registration Following Approval
All registration renewal applications within Ireland are processed through the online immigration portal. Once an application has been approved, applicants receive an “application completed” email confirmation.
This email may be used as proof of registration while the applicant is awaiting delivery of their new IRP Card.
Important Limitation
The interim notice does not apply to individuals whose immigration permission expired before they submitted a renewal application. In such cases, normal immigration compliance requirements continue to apply.
Looking Ahead
The interim arrangements are intended to provide certainty for employers and employees while the Department works to address current processing backlogs. The Department has confirmed that these temporary measures will remain in place until August 31, 2026, after which the existing Notice to Employers will continue to apply.
What Employers Should Do
Employers should review the immigration status of affected employees and retain evidence that:
- A timely renewal application has been submitted
- The employee holds a valid Employment Permit where required, and
- Any approval notifications or application receipts are kept on file for compliance purposes.
Organizations with employees awaiting IRP Card renewals should ensure that internal right-to-work verification processes reflect these temporary measures through August 31, 2026.
If you have employees affected by IRP Card renewal processing delays or require assistance with Right to Work compliance, please contact the Newland Chase Ireland team.
This alert is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please contact Newland Chase directly for case-specific guidance.
