Updates and announcements 2017

11 December 2017

From 11 December the existing registration certificate (GNIB card) has been replaced by a new registration certificate called the Irish Residence Permit (IRP).

The IRP does not give you any new rights or entitlements.

For example, an IRP does not allow you to travel to or live freely in other EU countries. All existing travel and immigration rules still apply.

5 December 2017

Ireland invites proposals for projects focussing on the voluntary return of third country nationals for the period 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 to be supported through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).

Applications are now invited. The closing date/time is 5pm on Wednesday 20 December 2017.

Read more about AMIF 2018

27 October 2017

The Registration web appointment system has the most up-to-date information about appointments for the Burgh Quay Registration Office.

Some independent (third party) apps may re-use information from the appointment system, eg to assist with bookings.

Neither the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (Burgh Quay Registration Office) nor the Garda National Immigration Bureau are associated with these apps in any way.

If you have a query about these apps or how they re-use information from the appointment system, contact the app developers directly.

Read more about registration web appointment system

23 October 2017

The run-up to the Christmas and New Year period is the busiest time of the year for the processing of re-entry visa applications.

Customers applying at this time of year should take account of the requirements set out on the re-entry pages on the INIS website, as well as the information below.

We strongly advise customers to submit their postal applications by Friday 17 November, if travelling over the Christmas and New Year period, to ensure that they receive their visas in good time.

Applications by post

The most convenient and straightforward way to apply for a re-entry visa is by registered post. Postal applications are usually completed within 10 - 15 working days of receipt. This may increase slightly during busy periods.

Applications should be made using the Re-entry Visa Application Form available on the INIS website.

The form, all documentation required and the appropriate fee (payable by postal order or bank draft) should be sent by registered post only to the address below:

Re-entry Visa Processing Office
Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service
Department of Justice and Equality
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2
D02 XK70

Tracking information for re-entry visas that have been issued by the office, can be requested by send an email to reentryqueries@justice.ie.

Applications by appointment

There is no need to attend the public office in person. However, if you wish to do so, appointments can be made on-line at http://reentryvisa.inis.gov.ie.

A limited number of appointments are available, therefore it is advised that you apply by registered post and in good time.

A small number of emergency appointments are also available each day to cover an unforeseen event, such as the death or serious illness of a family member.

Please note that upcoming travel plans will not be considered an emergency. Documentary evidence will be requested by the office in order to establish a genuine emergency.

Do not come to the office without an appointment.

Contacts

All queries not addressed by the information above should be forwarded to reentryqueries@justice.ie.

Emails are currently being answered within 48 hours.

Find out how to apply for a re-entry visa

19 October 2017

The citizenship ceremony scheduled for Monday 16 October 2017 in the Convention Centre Dublin was postponed in the interests of public safety as part of the national response to the serious warnings over Storm Ophelia.

Rescheduled date Monday 27 November

This ceremony has now been rescheduled for Monday 27 November at the same venue.

Invitation letters are currently being prepared and are issuing to those who were invited to the postponed ceremonies on the 16 October.

The same arrangements for attendance will apply to you on 27 November as applied on the 16 October.

Read more about the citizenship ceremonies and download the attendee lists.

If you are unable to attend on your rescheduled date please contact the Citizenship help-desk on citizenshipinfo@justice.ie.

Registration certificates

In view of the exceptional circumstances, if your immigration permission as shown on your registration certificate (GNIB card) expired following the cancellation of the citizenship ceremony, you do not need to renew it in advance of the rescheduled ceremony of 27 November. You will still be granted citizenship at the rescheduled ceremony as long as you were in permission on 16 October.

If, however, you plan to travel outside Ireland before the rescheduled ceremony you will need to apply for a new registration certificate (GNIB card). The registration certificate will be made valid until 31 December 2017.

There will be no fee charged for this extension.

If you live in Dublin please make an emergency appointment by emailing the Burgh Quay Registration Office at burghquayregoffice@justice.ie.

For all other counties, please contact your local Garda Registration Office.

You must bring your original invitation to the 16 October citizenship ceremony to your appointment.

Re-entry visas

If you are from a visa required country you will need a re-entry visa to return to Ireland if you are travelling before the rescheduled ceremony.

Further details on how to apply for a re-entry visa and the documentation required, can be found on the Re-entry Visas section of the INIS website.

Queries in relation to obtaining a re-entry visa can be forwarded to reentryqueries@justice.ie.

Read more about citizenship ceremonies

22 September 2017

New regulations relating to the making of applications for subsidiary protection in the State will come into effect from 2nd October 2017. These Regulations are being introduced to take account of jurisprudence from the Court of Justice of the European Union (the CJEU) in Case C-429/15 E.D. v Minister for Justice and Equality ECLI:EU:C:2016:789 and the Court of Appeal in the same case E.D. v Minister for Justice and Equality (No.2) [2017] IECA 20.

If you are a person who has been refused refugee status in the State since 10 October 2006 and you were subsequently invited to apply for subsidiary protection under the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006 or the European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2013 and:

a) you did not make an application because you believed that you were not entitled to do so on the basis that the 15 working day time limit had expired, or

b) you made a late application for subsidiary protection, which application was, on the basis that the 15 working day time limit had expired, not considered or investigated

subject to the provisions of the 2017 Regulations, you are now eligible under those Regulations to apply for subsidiary protection.

To avail of this process under the 2017 Regulations you must meet the following criteria:

i. you must be present in the State on 2 October 2017.

ii. you must apply in person at the International Protection Office.

If you have been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection in this State or in another EU Member State you are not eligible to apply under this process.

Read further details on how to apply

8 September 2017

Nurses with a contract to work must now apply under the Atypical Working Scheme.

Read more about the Atypical Working Scheme

1 September 2017

Early in 2017 the De Facto Immigration Permission for partners of Irish nationals was revised to:

• Relax the criteria around the issue of couples living with parents
• Reduce the co-habitation requirement down to 1 year

This revised scheme was kept under review over the last few months and it has now been decided that the co-habitation requirement will revert to 2 years.

This is to ensure consistency with other immigration schemes, such as the EU Treaty Rights De Facto Scheme. The issue of living with parents will be kept under review.

This change is effective from 1 September 2017. Information and application forms on this website have been updated accordingly.

Read about the revised rules and download the De Facto application forms

24 August 2017

An update to the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) was published today.

You must choose a college/course from ILEP if you are a non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss national and you wish to study in Ireland (except if you are coming to Ireland to study for a 'semester abroad').

Download the new Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP)

10 July 2017

Do not submit original documents for proof of residence with your application for citizenship.

If you submit an original document, make a copy of it for your own records first.

Documents that you submit with your application will not be returned to you. We keep them to preserve the integrity of your file.

See a list of documents you can submit with your citizenship application

10 July 2017

The next day of citizenship ceremonies will be held on Monday 16 October 2017 at the Convention Centre, Dublin.

Read more about citizenship ceremonies

1 June 2017

New immigration rules for trainee accountants (no stamp 1A) have been published. The new rules clarify:

• Time allowed to complete a qualification
• Academic progress
• Changing courses
• Work placements
• Rules for accounting technicians

Download the new rules for trainee accountants on stamp 1A

30 May 2017

The next citizenship ceremony will be held on Monday 19 June 2017 at the University Concert Hall Limerick. Over 300 candidates will attend.

Download an attendee list and get directions to the event

10 January 2017

Make sure to book your renewal appointment up to 10 weeks before your registration expires.

Do not leave it to the last minute. Last year, 100,000+ people visited a registration office and most appointments are booked early.

Extra appointments

If you need an appointment within the next 2-3 weeks, check the website at 2:30pm every day.

A small number of extra near-term appointments are released every afternoon. If you do not find a near-term appointment straightaway, keep trying. It may take you 2 or 3 days to find one.

Cancellations

Always cancel your appointment if you cannot attend. If you do not cancel, you less likely to find an appointment when you need one.

Currently 10% of all attendees are 'no-show'. This makes it harder for people to find appointments.

Find out how to make a registration appointment in Dublin