Ireland: New Document Issued to Facilitate Travel for Non-EU/EEA Residents
December 11, 2023
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At a Glance
- The Minister for Justice has issued a Travel Confirmation Notice to facilitate travel of non-EU/European Economic Area nationals with expired residence permission in Ireland who are seeking to travel during the holiday period.
- The Notice requests transportation carriers, such as airlines, to allow these individuals to travel on their recently expired (up to eight weeks) Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card provided the individual has already applied to renew their permission in advance of the expiration date of their IRP card.
- The Notice is valid from December 6, 2023 to January 31, 2024.
- The issuance of the Notice is expected to allow individuals to travel outside Ireland, who would otherwise not be able to do so due to governmental processing delays.
The situation
The Minister for Justice has issued a Travel Confirmation Notice (“Notice”) to facilitate travel of non-EU/European Economic Area (EEA) nationals legally resident in Ireland who are required to renew their current permissions to reside in Ireland and are seeking to travel during the holiday period.
A closer look
- Travel Confirmation Notice. The Notice requests transportation carriers, such as airlines, to allow individuals to travel on their recently expired (up to eight weeks) Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card where the individual has already applied to renew their permission in advance of the expiration date of their IRP card.
- Validity. The Notice is valid from December 6, 2023 to January 31, 2024.
- Documents for travel. Individuals should download and print the travel notice and present this document, their expired IRP card and proof of their renewal application (confirming the date of application) to immigration authorities and airlines, if requested to do so.
- Warning. Typically, those applying to renew their IRP card outside of Dublin will not receive proof of their renewal application, which may present difficulties complying with the terms of this Notice. Further, although the Immigration Service Delivery has advised airlines and foreign missions of these initiatives, it cannot force them to comply. Therefore, some individuals may have their travel disrupted if the airline or country does not agree to accept the Notice, or if they do not have documentary proof of their renewal application.
Impact
Non-EU/EEA individuals resident in Ireland who would not be able to travel outside of the country due to their expired IRP card over the holidays will now be able to re-enter Ireland with the Notice, provided they can comply with its conditions.
Background
There are significant processing backlogs for individuals seeking to renew their permissions to reside in Ireland. Further, after processing, it can take up to two weeks to receive an IRP card via mail.
Looking ahead
After January 31, 2024, these individuals will need to have a valid IRP card again in order to re-enter Ireland after foreign travel.
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].
