Press release
Minister McEntee announces further temporary extension of immigration permissions - 17 December 2021
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The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has today announced a further temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions to 31 May 2022.
This applies to permissions that are due to expire between 15 January 2022 and 31 May 2022 and includes permissions that have already been extended by the previous eight temporary extensions since March 2020.
Announcing the measure, Minister McEntee said:
"This Christmas, because of the evolving COVID-19 situation and ongoing public health guidelines, many immigration customers may fear they will lose their current immigration permission because of the potential impact of restrictions on the delivery of our services.
"To remove some of the worry and stress caused by this uncertainty, 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 31 May 2022 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 needs to renew an existing permission, particularly Dublin-based customers who can do so online, to do so and not to wait until May when demand will be very high.
"To help meet the existing demand for first-time registration appointments in the Dublin region, my department is introducing a new Freephone telephone booking system in January to ensure those who need an appointment can access one."
Further details on the Freephone system will be available on www.irishimmigration.ie when the service begins. A new online booking system will also be launched early in 2022.
Customers in the State who are entitled to receive a new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card may continue to use their current expired card to enable them to depart from and return to Ireland in confidence over Christmas and until 15 January 2022.
Adult customers who plan to travel abroad beyond 15 January 2022 should apply to renew their immigration permission and receive a new IRP card. Otherwise, they must secure a re-entry visa in Ireland before travelling or in an overseas visa office before returning.
The current suspension of the re-entry visa requirement for any minors travelling with a legally resident parent or guardian, a measure which benefits up to 6,000 children and their families, will continue in line with the new extension until 31 May 2022.
The department’s immigration service is experiencing a high demand for services and the Minister and her officials continue to implement initiatives to deliver benefits for customers.
Outlining the latest improvements, Minister McEntee said:
"From today, Dublin-based customers who have a new passport and who wish to renew an immigration permission will be able to upload their passport biodata page online instead of attending the Registration Office in Burgh Quay. This move will free up staff resources and improve the processing times for existing applications."
Immigration staff are processing 1,000 first-time registrations every week in the Registration Office in Burgh Quay, which is the maximum allowed under current public health guidelines, and the office is open from Monday to Thursday 8am to 8.30pm and Friday 8am to 6pm.
Dublin-based customers can renew a permission online at https://inisonline.jahs.ie
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: www.garda.ie/en/contact-us/station-directory
International English Language Students who have already completed the maximum number of three language courses may continue to work in line with the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) criteria until 31 May 2022 without enrolling in a further English language course.
However, they must register for a new qualifying immigration permission by 31 May 2022 to ensure they can remain in the State after that date.
The new extension will apply to the same three primary categories of people as before, whose permissions are due to expire between 15 January 2022 and 31 May 2022:
People who hold a current valid permission, or a permission that has already been extended under the previous notice(s).
People granted permission to land at a port of entry on condition they register at Burgh Quay or their local AGS registration office within three months but who have yet to do so.
People in the country on foot of a short stay visa and who have been granted permission to remain for less than three months who may be unable to leave the State and return home due to uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission