With Christmas departures peaking this week, Ireland’s Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has activated a special Travel Confirmation Notice that allows non-EEA residents to leave and re-enter the State using a recently expired Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card. The facilitation window runs from 8 December 2025 through 31 January 2026. Travellers must (1) have filed an online IRP-renewal application before the card expired, (2) carry the expired card, and (3) present the printed confirmation notice plus the renewal-submission email. Airlines and border authorities have been formally briefed.
Context – The measure is a repeat of last year’s scheme but on a larger scale; IRP production backlogs have stretched to six weeks, with postal delivery adding another fortnight. ISD says more than 42,000 renewals are currently pending, driven by record inward migration and a cyber-attack that briefly shut the online registration portal in October.
![Holiday Relief: Ireland Lets Non-EEA Residents Travel on Expired IRP Cards Until 31 January 2026]()
Impact for global mobility – • Corporate travellers whose cards expired last week can proceed with year-end trips or home leave without rescheduling. • Assignees transiting through third countries must still meet that country’s visa rules; some Schengen states have previously refused boarding on expired IRPs, so route selection matters. • Employers should pro-actively distribute the Notice and renewal proof to assignees to avoid last-minute check-in issues.
Practical tips – 1) Download the Notice directly from the ISD website; screenshots on smartphones are not accepted. 2) Check that your renewal email includes the ‘OREG’ reference number and application date. 3) If your trip extends beyond 31 January, postpone travel or request an emergency re-entry visa.
Looking ahead – The Department of Justice says a new biometric card supplier contract will be awarded in Q2 2026 to cut issuance time to five working days. Until then, similar temporary concessions are likely at Easter and summer peak periods.
Context – The measure is a repeat of last year’s scheme but on a larger scale; IRP production backlogs have stretched to six weeks, with postal delivery adding another fortnight. ISD says more than 42,000 renewals are currently pending, driven by record inward migration and a cyber-attack that briefly shut the online registration portal in October.
Impact for global mobility – • Corporate travellers whose cards expired last week can proceed with year-end trips or home leave without rescheduling. • Assignees transiting through third countries must still meet that country’s visa rules; some Schengen states have previously refused boarding on expired IRPs, so route selection matters. • Employers should pro-actively distribute the Notice and renewal proof to assignees to avoid last-minute check-in issues.
Practical tips – 1) Download the Notice directly from the ISD website; screenshots on smartphones are not accepted. 2) Check that your renewal email includes the ‘OREG’ reference number and application date. 3) If your trip extends beyond 31 January, postpone travel or request an emergency re-entry visa.
Looking ahead – The Department of Justice says a new biometric card supplier contract will be awarded in Q2 2026 to cut issuance time to five working days. Until then, similar temporary concessions are likely at Easter and summer peak periods.
