Ireland allows non-EEA nationals with expired residence cards to travel during Christmas holidays, but conditions apply

Ireland will temporarily issue a travel confirmation notice allowing non-EEA nationals to travel abroad during the Christmas period, despite the expiry of their residence permit, the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has said.

The travel confirmation notice will be valid from December 2 to January 31, 2025.

However, non-EEA nationals must ensure that they submit an application to renew their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) before the expiry date.

The move comes as immigration services face a backlog in processing registrations across several locations.

In a statement, the Department of Justice said, “From December 2, non-nationals living in Ireland with an Irish Residence Permit card that has recently expired may use this expired card as proof of their entitlement to re-enter the State until January 31, 2025.”

The Department said it will advise all airlines and foreign missions of the initiatives in place.

Passengers intending to travel under these arrangements should print the travel confirmation notice and present it, along with their expired IRP card, and proof of renewal application to immigration authorities and airline carriers, when requested, the Department added.

This notice is not applicable for those whose current permission expired prior to submitting an application for renewal.

Furthermore, passengers with a single entry visa and a prior landing stamp will require a re-entry visa to travel back to Ireland. Those with a valid in-date multi-entry visa are cleared to travel.

For those travelling through a third country to return to Ireland, the ISD said it is a matter for that jurisdiction to require passengers to meet their immigration requirements including visa.

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