IRP Renewal Delays in Ireland: What Employers Need to Know (July 2026 Update)

Employers across Ireland may currently have international employees whose Irish Residence Permit cards have expired while their renewal applications remain pending.

The Immigration Services Registration Office is dealing with a significant backlog. In July 2026, the Department of Justice confirmed that processing times exceed 17 weeks for some renewal categories, with the delivery of a new IRP card potentially taking a further two weeks after approval.

To provide clarity for employers and employees, the Department has introduced a temporary measure allowing eligible employees to continue living and working in Ireland while their applications are being processed.

Here is what employers need to know.

What is an Irish Residence Permit?

An Irish Residence Permit, commonly called an IRP card, confirms that a non-EEA national is legally registered to live in Ireland.

The card records the type of immigration permission held by the person, such as Stamp 1, Stamp 1G, Stamp 2 or Stamp 4. The conditions attached to that permission determine whether the person can work in Ireland and whether they also require an employment permit.

An IRP card is not itself an employment permit. Some employees must hold both a valid immigration permission and an employment permit, while others have an immigration permission that allows them to work without a separate permit.

What temporary measure has been introduced?

Under the temporary measure announced in July 2026, an eligible employee whose IRP card has expired can continue to remain in Ireland under the conditions of their existing permission until 31 August 2026.

This applies regardless of how many weeks have passed since the employee’s IRP card expired, provided the required conditions are satisfied.

This means that an eligible employee does not automatically lose their right to work simply because their physical IRP card has expired while a correctly submitted renewal application is awaiting processing.

Who is covered by the temporary measure?

The temporary provision applies where the employee:

• Submitted their renewal application before their existing immigration permission expired.
• Uploaded all the documents required to support the application.
• Holds a valid, in-date employment permit where one is required.
• Has permission that allows access to employment.
• Can provide evidence that the renewal application was submitted on time.

The measure can also apply when an applicant has requested a change of stamp category, provided the application was submitted before their current permission expired and all supporting documents were included.

Who is not covered?

The timing of the application is critical.

If the employee submitted their renewal application after their existing immigration permission had already expired, the temporary measure does not apply.

Employers should therefore not assume that every employee with an expired IRP card is automatically covered. The employer should establish when the application was submitted and whether the employee met the relevant requirements.

Employees whose permission depends on an employment permit must also have a valid, in-date permit. Immigration Service Delivery advises that applications submitted without the required valid employment permit may be refused.

What evidence should employers request?

Employees who submit an online renewal application receive a receipt confirming:

• The date on which the application was submitted.
• A unique application number, known as an OREG number.

This receipt can help demonstrate that the employee applied before their existing permission expired.

Where applicable, the employer should also check that the employee has a valid employment permit covering their role.

Once the renewal has been approved, the applicant receives an application-completed email. The Department has confirmed that this email can be accepted as proof of registration while the employee waits for their new IRP card to arrive.

Depending on the employee’s circumstances, an employer may therefore ask to see:

• Their expired IRP card.
• The renewal application receipt.
• The application submission date.
• The OREG application number.
• Their valid employment permit, where required.
• The application-completed email, once approval has been granted.

Employers should handle and retain this information in accordance with their usual data-protection and right-to-work procedures.

Can an employee continue working with an expired IRP card?

An employee may continue working under the conditions of their existing permission where all the requirements of the temporary notice are met.

In practical terms, the expiry of the physical card does not necessarily mean that the employee must be removed from the workplace. The employer should first confirm that the renewal was submitted before expiry, that all necessary documentation was provided and that any required employment permit remains valid.

The employee must continue to comply with the conditions attached to their existing immigration permission. The temporary measure does not give them broader access to employment or change the conditions of their stamp.

What happens after 31 August 2026?

The temporary measure allowing eligible employees to remain under their existing conditions regardless of the number of weeks elapsed is currently due to continue until 31 August 2026.

However, this does not mean that all protection for employees awaiting renewal will disappear on that date.

The Department has stated that its existing Notice to Employers will continue to apply after 31 August 2026. Under that notice, an eligible employee may generally continue to remain and work under the conditions of their existing permission for a maximum of 12 weeks after the IRP card expires, provided the renewal was submitted before expiry and the other requirements were met.

Employers should check the latest official guidance after 31 August, as the temporary measure may be amended, extended or replaced.

When should employees apply to renew their IRP?

Eligible applicants can generally submit an IRP renewal application up to 12 weeks before their existing card expires.

Immigration Service Delivery advises applicants to apply in good time. Renewing early does not result in the employee losing time from their existing permission, as the renewed permission runs from the current expiry date.

Employers with a significant international workforce may want to introduce a reminder process that identifies upcoming IRP and employment-permit expiry dates. However, responsibility for maintaining valid immigration permission ultimately remains with the employee.

How can an employee check their application?

Immigration Service Delivery publishes information about the renewal applications currently being processed, broken down by stamp category. This information is updated regularly.

Applicants can also check the status of their case through the Immigration Service Delivery Customer Service Portal.

Processing times can vary depending on the application category, the complexity of the case, whether additional documentation is required and the number of applications being handled.

What should employers do now?

Employers should review any cases involving employees whose IRP cards have expired or will expire shortly.

A sensible process would include:

1. Confirming the expiry date shown on the employee’s current IRP card.
2. Checking whether the renewal was submitted before that date.
3. Requesting the renewal receipt and confirming the submission date.
4. Checking that any required employment permit remains valid.
5. Recording what documents were reviewed and when.
6. Reviewing the case again once the renewal decision is issued.
7. Monitoring official guidance as the 31 August 2026 deadline approaches.

Where there is uncertainty about an employee’s immigration status or entitlement to work, employers should obtain appropriate immigration or employment-law advice rather than relying solely on general online information.

Supporting an international workforce

The temporary measure provides important reassurance for employers whose workers are caught in the current renewal backlog. However, it does not remove the need to check each employee’s individual circumstances carefully.

The key distinction is whether the employee submitted a complete renewal application before their existing permission expired and continues to meet the conditions attached to that permission.

At Beacon Recruitment, we help Irish employers source skilled international candidates and navigate the practical considerations involved in overseas recruitment.

Planning to recruit internationally? Contact Beacon Recruitment to discuss your workforce requirements and the support available throughout the recruitment process.