Further Blanket Extension of Immigration Permissions until January 20, 2021

The situation

Due to processing delays and closures arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to ensure that foreign nationals do not have a lapse in status, the government is automatically renewing all immigration permissions (including Irish Residence Permit cards, passport stamps and previously extended permissions) due to expire between September 20, 2020 and January 19, 2021, until January 20, 2021 on the same basis as the existing permission.

A closer look

• Previously extended immigration permissions. Employees whose immigration permissions were previously extended under blanket extensions in March, May, July and August are covered by the new extension if their expiry date falls between September 20, 2020 and January 19, 2021.
• Employment Permits excluded. As before, the blanket extension does not apply to the validity of Employment Permits; Employment Permit holders (Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit, Intra-Company Transfer, among others) should continue with their regular renewal processes.
• Dublin residents. Residents of Dublin should renew their IRP cards through the new online system, which was implemented on July 20, 2020; first-time registrations will still require an in-person appointment. This last blanket extension should allow additional time for these residents to have their IRP cards processed so that they do not have a lapse in status.
• Residents outside Dublin. Residents outside Dublin should continue to try to secure in-person appointments with their local registration office, both for first-time registrations and renewals. This last blanket extension should allow additional time for these residents to have their IRP renewal cards processed so that they do not have a lapse in status. The online renewal process is still not available for non-Dublin residents.

Impact

Foreign nationals with expiring immigration permissions will be able to continue to legally stay in Ireland until January 20, 2021 while they are unable to submit renewal applications, receive their renewed IRP cards or attend a first-time registration appointment.

Background

This is the fifth blanket extension granted by the Irish authorities since March 2020 in order to ensure that foreign nationals do not have a lapse in status due to processing delays and closures arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Looking ahead

It is hoped that the backlog of renewal applications will clear by January 20, 2021. It is not clear at this time if an online system will be implemented for those residents outside of Dublin to renew their IRP cards.

Access Fragomen’s dedicated COVID-19 microsite for the latest updates on this rapidly developing situation.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].