With Irish Residence Permit (IRP) renewals now taking up to seven weeks, Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has activated its annual “Travel Confirmation Notice” so that non-EEA residents can leave and re-enter Ireland over the holiday period even if their new IRP card has not yet arrived.
From 8 December 2025 until 31 January 2026, travellers may present (1) the downloadable Travel Confirmation Notice, (2) their most recently expired IRP card and (3) email proof that they filed the online renewal application before the card expired. Airlines operating into Ireland and all Irish border points have been instructed to recognise the notice as temporary evidence of legal residence.
![Christmas travel relief: expired IRP cards accepted for re-entry from 8 Dec 2025 to 31 Jan 2026]()
The measure is a critical safety-valve for global assignees and their families: last December the same waiver covered 19,500 trips, ISD data show. Without it, business travellers risked being denied boarding on return legs or being forced to apply for emergency re-entry visas at Irish embassies abroad—an option that is costly and subject to limited appointment slots.
Employers should circulate the notice to staff immediately and confirm that all pending renewals were lodged before the IRP expiry date. Those who missed the deadline still need a re-entry visa and face processing times of up to two weeks. Travellers transiting a third country must also check that jurisdiction’s visa rules, as the confirmation notice only guarantees entry into Ireland.
ISD emphasises that the concession is temporary and will not be extended beyond 31 January. Applicants whose renewals remain pending after that date will need to postpone travel or secure a re-entry visa through standard channels.
From 8 December 2025 until 31 January 2026, travellers may present (1) the downloadable Travel Confirmation Notice, (2) their most recently expired IRP card and (3) email proof that they filed the online renewal application before the card expired. Airlines operating into Ireland and all Irish border points have been instructed to recognise the notice as temporary evidence of legal residence.
The measure is a critical safety-valve for global assignees and their families: last December the same waiver covered 19,500 trips, ISD data show. Without it, business travellers risked being denied boarding on return legs or being forced to apply for emergency re-entry visas at Irish embassies abroad—an option that is costly and subject to limited appointment slots.
Employers should circulate the notice to staff immediately and confirm that all pending renewals were lodged before the IRP expiry date. Those who missed the deadline still need a re-entry visa and face processing times of up to two weeks. Travellers transiting a third country must also check that jurisdiction’s visa rules, as the confirmation notice only guarantees entry into Ireland.
ISD emphasises that the concession is temporary and will not be extended beyond 31 January. Applicants whose renewals remain pending after that date will need to postpone travel or secure a re-entry visa through standard channels.
