Ireland: Residence Permit Application Process Changes Forthcoming for Residents of Cork, Limerick

• First-time applicants. First time IRP applicants from these counties will need to apply in person at the Burgh Quay Registration Office in Dublin.
• Renewal applicants. IRP renewal applicants from these counties will need to apply online, using the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) Online portal. Beginning July 8, 2024, such individuals can submit their renewal applications a maximum of 12 weeks prior to their IRP card’s expiration date. At this time, it is not advised for affected individuals to submit an online application prior to this date as it may not be processed.
• Current process. Currently, such applicants – both first time and renewal applicants – must apply in person at their local Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) office (located in local police stations).

The application process for first-time applicants from these two counties will be more inconvenient, as affected applicants will need to travel to Dublin; whereas currently they can apply at locations closer to where they live.

Conversely, the renewal application process for individuals from these two counties will be less difficult, given in-person applications will no longer be necessary.

This policy change is part of broader digitisation and centralisation efforts, with registration functions being shifted away from police in local GNIB offices and moved towards the ISD. This includes an identical reform for residents of Counties Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow in April 2024. Transition to the online system will be welcome as wait times for appointments in a number of regional offices continue to exceed 15-20 weeks.

The GNIB will remain responsible for registrations (first-time and renewal) for individuals resident outside Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Cork and Limerick until the transition of registration responsibilities is moved in full to the Department of Justice, which is expected to occur by early 2025.