Would you like to travel to Ireland and experience the beautiful scenery and unique culture? You must have an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) when you wish to live in Ireland for more than 90 days. The Irish Residence Permit, a certificate of registration, can prove that you are legally allowed to stay in Ireland to work or study for more than 3 months. The process of applying for an Irish residence permit is simple, so you can read this blog and follow the steps below to complete the application for an Irish residence permit.
What does an Irish residence permit look like?
The Irish Residence Permit (IRP) is a plastic card that resembles a credit card. It bears basic personal information about you, which includes: your name, photograph, signature, date of birth and registration number. On the card, it shows a brief description of your immigration permit, which contains your permit stamp number. In addition, it has a microchip with a copy of your photo, fingerprints and personal details.
Who is eligible for permanent residence in Ireland?
If you wish to apply for permanent residence in Ireland, you must meet the eligibility requirements to qualify for Irish permanent residence. Here you can check if you are eligible for permanent residence.
- Foreign nationals have lived in Ireland for a minimum of five consecutive years and you cannot be absent for a long time. You should know that only certain types of visits to Ireland will be counted towards the five years of continuous residence. If you spend time in Ireland on a tourist visa, it will not count towards residence.
- You have lived in Ireland with some type of work permit, such as an Employment Permit.
- Your Irish Residence Permit is valid when you apply for permanent residence.
- You need to be 16, or you can be a dependent child who needs a residence permit. If you are a family member, such as dependent adult family members, a spouse or civil partner, and elderly parents, you will also need your own Irish residence permit to live in Ireland.
- You should have a good character.
- There are several ways you can apply for Irish permanent residence, such as an Employment Permit, Irish Immigrant Investor Program, Business Permit, or Family Member.
📣Also Read: Complete Guide on Ireland Employment Permit Application
Required documents for Irish residence permit
Before you get ready to apply for an Irish residence permit card, you must first prepare the following documents to complete your Irish residence permit application. Here is the list of required documents.
- You must have your valid passport, proof of medical insurance, and proof that you have sufficient funds to cover yourself (at least €3,000 for longer than six months; €500 per month, if you are staying less than six months).
- You must present other documents depending on the type of permit you have been granted.
- For example, if you are applying for an Employment Permit, you must bring with you the original Work Holiday Authorization.
- If you are an Irish Student Visa holder, you must have the original Letter of Acceptance from your school, proof of tuition fees, and proof of scholarship funding.
Therefore, you must follow the INIS registration instruction letter and bring all the required documents listed in the letter. If you are confused about the documents, you can contact INIS.
How to apply for a residence permit in Ireland
After you have prepared all the necessary documents listed above, you can now apply for an Irish residence permit. Here you can follow the steps and complete the application for an Irish residence permit.
- When you arrive in Ireland and cross the border, you should ask immigration officials for permission to stay for more than 90 days. After your application has been granted, you should make an appointment to attend the Burgh Quay Registration Office in Dublin.
- If you live outside Dublin, you must register with the Garda National Immigration Board (GNIB). You should make an appointment on the Garda website to find the nearest registration office and complete the Irish residence permit.
- If you cannot complete your appointment within 90 days, you can still stay in Ireland while you wait to register. But you must prove that you have tried your best to make an appointment within 90 days.
How long does it take to obtain Irish residency?
The process of obtaining Irish residency is always about six to eight months after you have submitted your application. However, the process time may vary depending on your circumstances. If you do not wish to delay your Irish residency, you must ensure that the application is true and complete. Your application may be delayed or rejected for false or missing documents.
IRP card fees & charges
After you have completed an appointment at the Burgh Quay Registration Office in Dublin, you must pay the Irish residence permit fee of €300 per person. The immigration officer who handles your registration will mail you your Irish Residence Permit card.
How Irish residence permit cards are issued
According to Irish immigration rules, the process of issuing residence permit cards is different. There are two ways to apply for an IRP, depending on whether you are registered in Dublin or outside Dublin.
Registration in Dublin
When you register in Dublin, you need to confirm your exact address and eirode at the registration office. Your IRP will be sent by the immigration officer within 10 to 15 working days. If you cannot receive it within 15 working days, you must contact INIS as soon as possible.
Registration outside Dublin
When you register outside Dublin, you cannot obtain an IRP at the registration centre for the first time. Some parts of the process are managed centrally. Therefore, you will be scheduled on a specific day and time to return to the registration office to collect your IRP.
Conclusion
All in all, you must follow the correct way to obtain your Irish residence permit depending on where you register. To avoid being refused an Irish residence permit card, you must prepare the required documents in advance. In addition, it is necessary to check what documents you need to bring according to the reasons why you want to stay in Ireland.
FAQ
Can I visit the UK with an Irish residence permit?
Of course not. An Irish residence permit can only be used to show that you can live legally in Ireland for more than 90 days. This means that you cannot travel to the UK with an Irish residence permit card. When you want to visit the UK, you need to bring other required documents, such as a passport and visa, depending on which country you are from.
Can I travel to Europe with an Irish residence permit?
No. You are not allowed to travel in Europe with an Irish residence permit. You must have a Schengen visa to travel to the Schengen Area if you are a non-EEA citizen and currently live in Ireland. In addition, when you want to enter other European countries, you should check the required documents with the embassy of the country you plan to visit.
🔍Also Read: Does Irish Ferries Accept Free Travel Pass
How do I renew my residence card?
When your IRP card expires, you must renew it as soon as possible. And you can follow the steps below to renew your Irish residence card depending on where you live.
- Renewing in Dublin
If you live in Dublin City or County, you can renew your residence permit online and complete your online registration form and make an appointment . And you need to prepare common documents, such as a copy of your current card and a copy of the biometric page of your current valid passport. You will need to provide the necessary documents according to your situation, such as proof of your current employment, proof of a student at a university with paid fees and the minimum attendance requirement and the biometric page of your EU family member’s passport.
After you have prepared all the required documents, you must upload them online and pay the renewal fee of €300 (if applicable).
Once you have successfully submitted your application, you will receive your new IRP card within a few weeks.
Renewing Outside Dublin
If you live outside Dublin, you need to contact your local immigration office to book an appointment. You must bring all necessary documents with you.
It is recommended that you make an appointment to renew your Irish residence permit seven weeks in advance of the expiry date of your card. In addition, if you obtain an Irish residence permit that is based on another person, such as your spouse, civil partner, or a relative sponsor, they must attend your appointment with you.
The process of renewing your Irish residence permit is similar to the first-time application of Irish residence permit. Therefore, you can follow the steps above to complete the Irish residence permit renewal as soon as possible.