Ireland’s Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has issued a last-minute extension to its temporary Travel Confirmation Notice, a document that allows non-EEA residents whose Irish Residence Permit (IRP) cards have recently expired to leave and re-enter the State while their renewal applications remain in process. Announced on 4 February, the reprieve pushes the travel window out to 28 February 2026 and was welcomed by advocacy groups and global-mobility managers alike.(envoyglobal.com)
The measure addresses a registration backlog that has left thousands of foreign knowledge workers, dependants and students waiting weeks for replacement cards. Under the extension, carriers may board travellers who present three items: the expired IRP card, the new ISD Travel Confirmation Notice (downloadable from irishimmigration.ie) and the e-mail receipt showing that a renewal application was submitted before the card lapsed. Border officers have been briefed to accept the combination as sufficient proof of legal residence.
For individuals and companies that prefer additional reassurance, VisaHQ can help navigate Ireland’s ever-changing travel requirements. Its dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers real-time guidance on IRP renewals, visa options and supporting documentation, and its specialists can liaise with carriers to verify that passengers have everything needed for a smooth departure and re-entry.
![Government extends Travel Confirmation Notice, letting non-EEA residents with expired IRP cards fly until 28 February]()
For employers, the change removes the immediate risk of assignment delays and “stranded employee” scenarios over the mid-February school-break period, when many international staff plan trips home. Mobility teams should nevertheless verify that renewal applications were filed before the original expiry and remind travellers that the concession ends on 28 February—after that date, the standard rule requiring an in-date IRP card will again apply.
Immigration lawyers note that the backlog stems from both higher demand and the transition of registration duties from An Garda Síochána to ISD regional offices. While online renewals have improved processing times in Dublin, card production and postal delivery add a further two weeks. The American Chamber of Commerce Ireland has urged the Department of Justice to prioritise a permanent digital-status solution, arguing that physical cards are a “single point of failure” for internationally mobile talent.
In the meantime, employers are advised to: (1) keep copies of renewal filings on file for audit purposes; (2) brief line managers on potential return-to-work delays if cards or passports are held for additional checks; and (3) monitor ISD updates, as further extensions—or an earlier revocation—remain possible if backlog metrics change.
The measure addresses a registration backlog that has left thousands of foreign knowledge workers, dependants and students waiting weeks for replacement cards. Under the extension, carriers may board travellers who present three items: the expired IRP card, the new ISD Travel Confirmation Notice (downloadable from irishimmigration.ie) and the e-mail receipt showing that a renewal application was submitted before the card lapsed. Border officers have been briefed to accept the combination as sufficient proof of legal residence.
For individuals and companies that prefer additional reassurance, VisaHQ can help navigate Ireland’s ever-changing travel requirements. Its dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers real-time guidance on IRP renewals, visa options and supporting documentation, and its specialists can liaise with carriers to verify that passengers have everything needed for a smooth departure and re-entry.
For employers, the change removes the immediate risk of assignment delays and “stranded employee” scenarios over the mid-February school-break period, when many international staff plan trips home. Mobility teams should nevertheless verify that renewal applications were filed before the original expiry and remind travellers that the concession ends on 28 February—after that date, the standard rule requiring an in-date IRP card will again apply.
Immigration lawyers note that the backlog stems from both higher demand and the transition of registration duties from An Garda Síochána to ISD regional offices. While online renewals have improved processing times in Dublin, card production and postal delivery add a further two weeks. The American Chamber of Commerce Ireland has urged the Department of Justice to prioritise a permanent digital-status solution, arguing that physical cards are a “single point of failure” for internationally mobile talent.
In the meantime, employers are advised to: (1) keep copies of renewal filings on file for audit purposes; (2) brief line managers on potential return-to-work delays if cards or passports are held for additional checks; and (3) monitor ISD updates, as further extensions—or an earlier revocation—remain possible if backlog metrics change.
