Ireland Extends Temporary Residence Permission [IRP] Renewal Measures Until August 31, 2026 Amid Processing Delays

Xavi
Jul 14
3 min read

Updated: Jul 14

Ireland extends temporary IRP renewal measures until August 31, 2026 for pending applicants with expired residence cards. — Ireland extends temporary IRP renewal measures until August 31, 2026

DUBLIN — July 14, 2026 — Ireland has introduced temporary measures to address significant delays in Irish Residence Permission (IRP) card renewal processing, allowing eligible individuals with pending renewal applications to continue travelling and, where applicable, living and working in Ireland until August 31, 2026, even if their IRP card has expired.

The interim measure, announced by the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), aims to mitigate the impact of extended processing times that have seen IRP card renewals take up to 17 weeks in some categories.

Quick Facts: Ireland IRP Renewal Measures 2026

Feature	Details
Measure	Temporary extension of rights for pending IRP renewal applicants
Effective Period	July 13, 2026 – August 31, 2026
Who Benefits	Individuals who applied for renewal before their IRP card expired
Travel Rights	Can travel with expired IRP card + ISD travel notice
Work Rights	Can remain and continue working until August 31, 2026
Employment Permit	Must remain valid throughout the renewal process
After August 31	Standard 12-week Notice to Employers policy resumes
Current Processing	Stamp 4 renewals taking approximately 17 weeks

What the New Measures Mean for IRP Holders

Travel with Expired IRP Card (Until August 31, 2026)

IRP card holders with pending renewal applications can now travel with an expired IRP card between July 13, 2026 and August 31, 2026.

Key Requirements:

Must have applied to renew permission before the current IRP card expired
Must print the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) travel notice and carry it when travelling
Must check with airline carrier prior to travel to ensure the airline is aware of and will accept the travel notice

Who Benefits Most:This provision is particularly important for visa-required individuals, whose IRP cards double as their re-entry visa for returning to Ireland.

Remaining in Ireland and Working (Until August 31, 2026)

Individuals can remain in Ireland and continue to work until August 31, 2026, even if their IRP card expires prior to that date, provided they:

Have a valid employment permit (where applicable)
Provide proof that they have applied to renew their registration (including when changing stamp category) before their current IRP card expired
All required documents, including a valid employment permit (where applicable), were uploaded with the application

What Happens After August 31, 2026?

Aspect	After August 31, 2026
Travel	Expired IRP cards cannot be used for travel or re-entry
Work/Stay	The interim provision ends; the standard 12-week Notice to Employers policy resumes
Employment Permit	Must remain valid throughout the duration of residence permission renewal

The 12-Week Notice to Employers Policy

The standard policy allows employees to remain in Ireland for 12 weeks on their existing conditions while their renewal application is processed. After August 31, 2026, this policy will resume.

Important: Both Provisions Apply ONLY If You Applied Before Expiry

Critical Requirement: Both the interim measure and the existing Notice to Employers policy will only apply where an individual has applied to renew their permission prior to the expiration of their current permission.

If you did not apply for renewal before your IRP card expired, you cannot rely on either provision.

Employment Permit Requirements

Individuals currently on an employment permit must:

Ensure their employment permit remains valid throughout the duration of their residence permission renewal
Maintain valid employment permit status to maintain their right to work

Background: Why Processing Times Are Increasing

Processing times for IRP cards have been consistently increasing since the end of 2025 across all categories of stamp numbers:

Category	Processing Time
Stamp 4	Approximately 17 weeks
Stamp 1 (General Employment)	7–15 weeks
Stamp 1G (Graduate)	7–11 weeks
Other Categories	Varies

Previous Extensions

In December 2025, the ISD extended the Notice to Employers grace period from eight weeks to 12 weeks to address the concerns of both employers and foreign nationals.

Looking Ahead: Digitization of the Immigration System

Further digitization of the immigration system is anticipated in the upcoming months.

Currently, all renewal applications for IRP cards have been centralised in Dublin through the ISD's online application platform
Despite centralisation, processing times have not decreased
It remains to be seen how further digitization, alongside work towards a Single Permit procedure, will impact processing times

Practical Advice for Affected Individuals

Action	Why It Matters
Print the ISD travel notice	Required for travel with expired IRP card
Check with your airline	Ensure they will accept the travel notice and expired IRP card
Apply for renewal before expiry	Both provisions only apply if you applied before your card expired
Maintain valid employment permit	Required to continue working during the renewal process
Monitor official announcements	The ISD may provide further guidance on future measures
Plan ahead for August 31, 2026	After this date, the standard 12-week policy resumes