Minister McEntee announces further temporary extension of immigration permissions

26 March 2021

  • For permissions due to expire between 21 April 2021 and 20 September 2021
  • Applies to people with permission extended under previous notices
  • For permissions registered by the Immigration Service and An Garda Síochána


The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, T.D., has today announced a further temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions to 20 September 2021. This applies to permissions that are due to expire between 21 April 2021 and 20 September 2021 and includes permissions that have already been extended by the previous 6 temporary extensions.

Announcing the measure, Minister McEntee said:

“As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, I want to reassure people whose immigration permissions are due to expire shortly that your legal status in the country will continue to be maintained. To do this, I am introducing a further automatic extension to 20 September 2021 for anyone already holding a valid permission.

“This extension will benefit those who cannot get an appointment to register or renew an existing permission. However, I encourage anyone who can renew, particularly Dublin-based customers who can use the online system, to do so and not to wait until September.

“It is intended this will be the final temporary extension of immigration permission, however we will continue to keep the situation under review as part of our national response to the pandemic.”

The temporary extension of immigration permissions means that people who held a valid permission to be in the State in March 2020 are legally permitted to remain until 20 September 2021, even if  their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card has expired and they are awaiting a new one. Renewal is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions will continue to apply. Tens of thousands of people will benefit from this measure.

The Registration Office in Burgh Quay remains closed as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions announced by Government in December. Customers who were issued with appointments for first time registrations, will be contacted directly by the Immigration Service and they will be prioritised for appointments once the Public Office can safely reopen. We thank our customers for their understanding and patience during this difficult time.

Notes

This further extension will apply to the same 3 primary categories of people as before, whose permissions are due to expire between 21 April 2021 and 20 September 2021:

1.      Renewal of existing permissions / registrations
People who hold a current valid permission, or a permission that has already been extended under the previous notice(s).

2.      Awaiting first registration
People granted permission to land at a port of entry on condition they register at Burgh Quay or their local AGS registration office within 3 months but who have yet to do so.

3.      Short stay visas
People in the country on foot of a short stay visa and who have been granted permission to remain for less than 3 months who may be unable to leave the State and return home due to uncertainties caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

All renewals in the Dublin area are being processed online only since 20 July 2020, at: https://inisonline.jahs.ie. Therefore, it is also open to customers resident in the Dublin area to make an online renewal application.

Renewals outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau through the Garda Station network. Information on the contact details for all the registration offices outside Dublin is available at: https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/reopening-of-registration-offices.html.     

Since 2 December 2020, customers renewing their permission are no longer required to submit their passport to have an immigration stamp attached by a Registration Office. Further details are available at: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/new-arrangements-for-renewal-of-registrations.

The Registration Office in Burgh Quay has been closed since 23 December due to COVID-19 restrictions. First time registrations require the taking of biometrics – fingerprints – and therefore cannot be carried out online. The Public Office will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so and customers who have had appointments cancelled will be prioritised at that time.

Departemt of Justice and Equality
Amif
Government of Ireland
Government of Ireland
European Union AMIF
Tusla
Departemt of Justice and Equality
Clare County Council
This project is co-financed by the European Commission under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2014 - 2020 and is supported by the Department of Justice and Equality.
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