Registering Your Immigration Permission in Ireland (IRP): What Changed in 2025

If you're not an EU/EEA, Swiss or UK citizen and you plan to stay in Ireland for more than 90 days, you generally need to register your immigration permission and get an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card.

The 2025 change: one registration office

Since 13 January 2025, all first-time registrations nationwide are handled by Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), part of the Department of Justice, at the Registration Office, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. Local Garda stations no longer register people, so if you live in Cork, Galway or Donegal you'll need an appointment in Dublin. Renewals are generally done online.

Who decides what

• Residence permissions, visas and citizenship: Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice).
• Employment permits, such as the Critical Skills and General Employment Permits: the Department of Enterprise.
• International protection (asylum): the International Protection Office, with appeals to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal.

Citizenship by naturalisation

You usually need five years' reckonable residence in the last nine, including one year's continuous residence just before applying (limited absences are allowed). Spouses and civil partners of Irish citizens can apply after three years. Not every permission counts as reckonable residence — check before you apply.

When to get a solicitor

Straightforward applications can often be made without legal help. A solicitor is worth it if you've been refused, your permission has lapsed, you've had a deportation notice, or you're making an international protection claim.