Dublin: Ireland’s Immigration Services have advised foreign nationals intending to travel abroad during the Christmas period to apply immediately for the renewal of their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) cards to avoid delays. Non-EU citizens planning international travel are urged to submit their applications via the ISD online portal before October 31, 2024. Officials emphasised that applications submitted after this deadline cannot be guaranteed timely processing.
Currently, the renewal process for IRP cards is experiencing delays due to the high volume of applications received at the Immigration Service Registration Office in Burgh Quay, Dublin. Processing can take up to four weeks, with an additional two weeks required for postal delivery of the renewed card. Even in cases where processing is completed within two weeks, applicants should account for possible postal delays. An up-to-date IRP card is mandatory for international travel and for ensuring seamless return to Ireland.
The Immigration Services stressed the importance of early applications to facilitate timely travel and clarified that renewals submitted after October 31 may not be processed in time for the holiday season.
Work Permits Surge in Health and IT Sectors
In a separate report, Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment (DETE) revealed that 27,181 work permits have been issued between January and August 2023, with the health and social work sector leading at 9,125 permits. The information and communication sector followed closely, with 4,628 permits issued. Other key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and forestry accounted for 2,533 permits.
Foreign nationals represented 12% (3,358) of the total work permits issued in August alone. The department’s 2023 report identified labour shortages in 20 critical sectors, including healthcare, IT, engineering, manufacturing, construction, and transportation, highlighting the ongoing demand for skilled workers across multiple industries.
Irish Samachar English News
{OR} Kindly click to follow the Irish Samachar News channel on WhatsApp