In a move to modernise its immigration services, the Department of Justice has announced that applicants nationwide can now renew their Irish Residence Permits (IRPs) online.
“From today, immigration permissions that are due to expire from 4 November onwards can be renewed online using the ISD portal. This means that applicants across the country will no longer be required to attend in person at their local Garda Station,” the Department of Justice said in a statement.
Until recently, the online renewal system was only available to those who resided in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Cork and Limerick.
However, as far as first time registerations are concerned, applicants living in Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Cork and Limerick will continue to book an appointment to register at Burgh Quay in Dublin. For those living in other parts of Ireland, they should contact their local Garda Immigration Office for details on registering for the first time.
Commenting on the move, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said: “The transfer of registration functions nationwide is a crucial step forward in this effort.”
“I am determined to take any and all opportunities to civilianise administrative immigration functions in An Garda Síochána. Civilianisation allows Gardaí to focus their time on the more operational and enforcement side of their immigration work such as investigations and deportations.”
All online renewal applications, including when requesting a change of stamp, are accepted up to 12 weeks before the IRP card expiry date. IRP cards will be posted directly to the address provided on the application.