Ireland’s Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has extended a key travel concession for foreign residents, offering relief to thousands affected by delays in renewing their residence permits.
Under the updated announcement, holders of expired Irish Residence Permits (IRP) can continue to travel abroad and return to Ireland using a Travel Confirmation Notice until February 28, 2026. The arrangement was due to end on January 31 but has now been extended by one month in response to ongoing processing delays.
Who can use this facility?
This concession applies only to:
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People who applied to renew their IRP before the expiry date, and
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Those who have not yet received their new card by post
If you applied after your IRP expired, this facility does not apply and travel is strongly discouraged.
Documents you must carry
When returning to Ireland, travellers must carry all three of the following:
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Your expired IRP card (original physical card only)
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Proof of renewal application – a printed copy of the ISD email showing your OREG number and application date
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Travel Confirmation Notice – downloaded and printed from the ISD website, to be shown to airline staff and immigration officers
Important note for visa-required nationals (including Indian-origin residents)
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If you hold a valid multi-entry visa, you can travel without issue
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If you entered Ireland on a single-entry visa and do not have a re-entry visa, travel without a valid IRP may be risky
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The exemption is an Irish-only measure and may not be recognised by transit countries
For this reason, direct flights to Ireland are strongly recommended. If transiting through countries such as the UK, France or Germany, check transit visa rules carefully in advance.
Emergency travel
Those needing to travel urgently for funerals or serious emergencies can contact their local Registration Office. Sending an email with the subject line “Urgent Travel” and attaching proof such as a flight ticket may help speed up processing.
The ISD has advised residents to keep checking official updates, as further extensions may depend on how quickly renewal backlogs are cleared.