IrelandResidence
Ireland residence permit (IRP) registration
Registering an immigration permission and the Irish Residence Permit (IRP)
In short
Anyone from outside the EU, EEA, UK and Switzerland staying in Ireland for more than 90 days must register their permission with Immigration Service Delivery and receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card. First registration takes place at the Registration Office on Burgh Quay, Dublin, usually costs €300, and the card shows your stamp, which defines what you may do. Renewals are online.
Apply on ISD Customer Service Portal checked 23 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- The IRP card is valid for the period of the permission granted (for example one academic year on Stamp 2, two years on Stamp 4).
- Validity
- Renewed before expiry; a valid IRP card lets visa-required holders leave and re-enter Ireland without a re-entry visa.
- Fee
- €300Registration and most renewals cost €300, paid by card; some permissions are free. Booking an appointment is free.
- Processing time
- Card posted within about 10 working days of first registration. Online renewals: ISD said in June 2026 that most categories take about 6 to 8 weeks and none more than 16 weeks, with up to 15 more business days for the card.
- Work
- Depends on the stamp: for example Stamp 1 with a permit, Stamp 1G and Stamp 4 without a permit, Stamp 2 up to 20 or 40 hours, Stamp 0 and Stamp 3 no work.
- Family
- Each family member registers separately; children under 16 accompanied by a parent with valid permission do not currently need a re-entry visa.
- Path to permanent residence
- Time on Stamps 1, 1G, 3, 4 and 5 is reckonable for citizenship; Stamp 2 and Stamp 0 are not.
- Where to apply
- In Ireland only: first registration in person at Burgh Quay, renewals online through the ISD portal.
Who must register
All non-EEA, non-UK and non-Swiss nationals who want to stay longer than 90 days to work, study, live or join family must register within 90 days of arrival. Since 13 January 2025 Immigration Service Delivery, not the Garda National Immigration Bureau, registers everyone in the Republic of Ireland. The IRP card is not an identity card, but you should carry it and show it when asked; it does not give rights to live in other EU countries.
First registration step by step
Book an appointment on the ISD registration booking system; new slots are released on a rolling 90-day basis. Because of very high demand, ISD has confirmed that holding a booked appointment is enough to remain until that date, even if it falls after your first 90 days. At the Registration Office, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, your documents are checked, your photo and fingerprints are taken and the fee is paid by card; the visit should take about 30 minutes.
Emergency first-time appointments are granted only in exceptional cases; holidays and business trips do not qualify.
- Create an account and book a first registration appointment on the ISD system soon after arrival.
- Check the required documents list for your permission type and bring originals.
- Attend Burgh Quay, check in at the kiosk, give fingerprints and a photo and pay €300 by card.
- Receive the IRP card by post within about 10 working days and check the stamp and dates.
- Renew online up to 12 weeks before expiry, uploading your IRP card, passport page and stamp-specific documents.
Travelling while registered
With a valid IRP card, visa-required nationals need no re-entry visa. If you leave while a renewal is pending and your card has expired, you will need a D entry visa from the nearest Irish embassy to return. Emergency re-entry visas are considered only for genuine, unforeseen urgent travel and must be requested before leaving Ireland.
Renewing online
Apply on the ISD online renewals portal up to 12 weeks before the IRP expires; the new permission starts from your current expiry date, so applying early costs nothing. You must be in Ireland. If you applied before expiry, a notice to employers lets you keep the conditions of your previous permission for up to 12 weeks after expiry while waiting. Unanswered requests for documents lead to refusal after 14 days.
ISD publishes weekly, by stamp category, the submission date it is processing. Do not request expedited renewal for routine travel.
What your stamp means
Stamp 0: independent means, no work. Stamp 1: work with an employment permit or operate a business if a letter allows. Stamp 1G: graduates and spouses of CSEP, GEP, ICT holders and researchers, work without a permit. Stamp 2: full-time ILEP study with limited work. Stamp 3: no work, for example volunteers or certain dependants. Stamp 4: work and business without a permit. Stamp 5: permission without condition as to time.
Documents
Required documents
Identity
- Passport with the visa (if visa required) and landing stamp
Travel
- Proof of your address in Ireland, for the card to be posted
Money
- Debit or credit card to pay the €300 fee if it applies
Insurance
- Proof of private medical insurance where required (students, Stamp 0)
Other
- Appointment confirmation email from the ISD booking system
- Documents for your permission type: e.g. employment permit, college letter and fee receipt, ISD approval letter or marriage certificate
Frequently asked questions
How much does an IRP card cost in Ireland?
Registration usually costs €300, paid by card at the appointment; renewals of most permissions also cost €300.
What if I cannot get a registration appointment within 90 days?
ISD will not cancel your permission; having booked an appointment is enough to remain in Ireland until that date.
Can I travel while my renewal is being processed?
Visa-required nationals who leave with an expired card need a D visa from an Irish embassy to return. Plan travel after renewal where possible.
Can I keep working while my renewal is pending?
Yes, if you applied before your card expired: you keep the previous conditions for up to 12 weeks after expiry under ISD’s notice to employers.
Official sources
- Immigration Service Delivery – Registering your immigration permission for the first time
- Immigration Service Delivery – Irish Residence Permit (IRP)
- Immigration Service Delivery – Immigration permission stamps
- Immigration Service Delivery – Renewing your registration permission
- Immigration Service Delivery – Information on online renewal timelines (30 June 2026)
- Immigration Service Delivery – First time registration appointments notice
- Immigration Service Delivery – Travel and re-entry visas
- Immigration Service Delivery – Required documents for first registration
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Ireland
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
- Transit visa Maximum stay: No stay: a transit visa only allows passage through an Irish airport or seaport to another country.
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
- Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
- Entrepreneur and start-up visa Maximum stay: 2 years at first, renewed for 3 years, then in 5-year instalments.
Study and training
- Student visa Maximum stay: Permission follows the course; the total time on student permission is capped at 7 years (8 years including the graduate stage for level 9 graduates).
- Language course visa Maximum stay: Up to 8 months of permission per course; at most three courses, two years in total, after which only a higher education programme can be continued.
- Researcher visa Maximum stay: As long as the hosting agreement and the registered permission run.
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Unpaid: up to 90 days, with no extension. Paid via Internship Employment Permit: up to 12 months. Paid via AWS: up to 12 months.
Work
- Work visa Maximum stay: Initial permit up to 2 years, renewable for up to 3 more years; after 5 years a permit is generally no longer needed.
- Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Issued for 2 years; it is not renewed but replaced by Stamp 4 permission from the Department of Justice.
- Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Up to 24 months initially, extendable to a maximum stay of 5 years; trainees up to 12 months.
- Job seeker visa Maximum stay: 12 months for level 8; up to 24 months (12 + 12) for level 9 and above, within the 7-year (level 8) or 8-year (level 9+) limit on student permission.
Family
- Family reunification visa Maximum stay: Permission follows the sponsor’s permission and must be renewed with it.
- Spouse and partner visa Maximum stay: Stamp 4 permission, renewed online while the relationship and residence continue.
Residence
- Retirement visa Maximum stay: Temporary permission renewed on a TPER renewal form while you remain financially independent.
- Permanent residence Maximum stay: Stamp 4 usually 2 years at a time; Long Term Residency 5 years; Stamp 5 valid until your passport expires.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Maximum stay: While the application and any appeal are pending you may stay as an applicant; recognised refugees and subsidiary protection holders receive a residence permission.