Registration of non-EEA nationals

If you are not a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom or Switzerland, you need permission to enter Ireland. If you want to stay for more than 3 months you must have permission to remain and register your presence in Ireland with Immigration Service Delivery (ISD). This is how you get an Irish Residence Permit (IRP).

You must register if you plan to stay in Ireland for over 3 months and you:

• Are 16 or over
• Are a citizen of a country outside the EEA (this is the EU and Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein), Switzerland and the UK
• Have received permission to remain in Ireland

If you are living in Ireland already and are about to turn 16, you must register with ISD.

People who have recently arrived from Ukraine

The Department of Justice has started to issue Irish Resident Permit (IRP) cards to beneficiaries of the EU Temporary Protection Directive.

You can read about coming to Ireland from Ukraine.

Permission to remain

You may have already applied to ISD for permission to remain in the State and received a letter granting your permission. This could be because you have:

• Refugee or subsidiary protection status following an application for international protection
• Leave to remain following an application for international protection
• Permission to remain in Ireland as the family member of an EEA national
• Permission to remain in Ireland as the family member of an Irish citizen
• Permission to remain as the parent of an Irish citizen child
• Any other permission to remain that was made by application while you were in Ireland

You should bring the letter you got from ISD with you when you go to register.

‘D’ or long stay visa holders

If you have recently come to Ireland on a ‘D’ (long stay) visa, or you are a citizen of a country that does not require an entry visa (non-visa required), you can register with ISD without making a written application in advance. This could be because you are:

• Joining a family member who has international protection in Ireland (family reunification)
• Joining or moving to Ireland with your Irish spouse or family member
• Joining or moving to Ireland with your dependant Irish family member
• An international student
• On a working holiday visa
• Moving to Ireland with an employment permit

As soon as possible following your arrival in Ireland, you should call or email your immigration registration office for an appointment to register.

If you live in Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Limerick, Meath or Wicklow you must book an appointment to register at the Burgh Quay Registration Office. To book an appointment at Burgh Quay Registration Office, you must use the online customer portal.

What must I bring?

The documents you need will depend on the immigration permission you are applying for. You can find out the documents you will need to register with immigration in Ireland on the ISD website.

How much does it cost?

You must pay a fee of €300 for your Irish Residence Permit (IRP). Your IRP is free if you:

• Have refugee status
• Have subsidiary protection status
• Have leave to remain under Section 49 of the International Protection Act 2015
• Are under 18
• Are resident based on your marriage to an Irish citizen
• Are a family member of an EU citizen

What happens after I register?

Following registration with immigration officials, you will be issued with an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) by post.

You must carry your card with you at all times and show it to an immigration officer or the Garda Síochána if requested.

You should inform Immigration Service Delivery if you change your address or your name.

Online renewals

You can renew your permission online.

You must have less than 12 weeks left on your current permission before you can use the online renewal system.

Your IRP card will be posted to you.

The ISD website provides a live update on processing times for renewal applications.

To renew your IRP online, you should:

• Complete the online registration form
• Scan and upload your documents
• Pay the fee
• Get a reference number (by email)

You must scan and upload the following documents when you are applying:

• Biometric page of your current passport (the photo page)
• Front and back of your current IRP

You should also upload documents that show that you are satisfying your immigration conditions. This depends on your situation, and may include:

• Evidence that you are supporting your Irish citizen child
• Proof that you have paid your college fees, have met the attendance requirements and are enrolled in a college course
• Proof that you are living with your spouse or partner (if applying based on your relationship with them)
• Your employment permit

You can read a full list of documents on the ISD website.

Non-EEA nationals who wish to travel abroad must have a valid IRP card to re-enter Ireland. A soft copy of your IRP card is not acceptable for travel.

If you want to travel abroad, you should contact the country that you are travelling to and find out about their requirements, such as the required immigration permission and documentation.

IRP card for Christmas travel

Non-EEA nationals in Ireland may use their current recently expired IRP card, proof of their IRP renewal application and a Travel Confirmation Notice to travel abroad and return to Ireland from 2 December 2024 to 31 January 2025. You can only do this if your application to renew your immigration permission was submitted before the expiry date on your IRP Card.

You can find more detailed information about Christmas travel and IRP cards.

As well as your Irish Residence Permit (IRP), you will also receive a stamp in your passport, which specifies the duration and the conditions of your permission to remain in Ireland. If you are renewing online, you will not receive a stamp in your passport.

The following table lists the different types of stamp issued to non-EEA nationals:

Contact your local immigration registration office.