25 signatures reached
To: Colm Brophy TD, Minister of State for Migration; the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration; and Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Cut Ireland’s IRP Renewal Waiting Times
We call on the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) to substantially reduce IRP renewal waiting times by increasing processing capacity and introducing a clear, reliable processing timeframe. We also call for regional/local processing capacity to be restored or introduced where necessary to prevent recurring backlogs.
Why is this important?
People who follow Ireland’s immigration rules should not face months of uncertainty simply because the system does not have enough capacity to process their renewals promptly.
Thousands of non-EEA residents in Ireland depend on their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) as evidence of their immigration permission. This includes international students, graduates, workers and families who study, work, pay taxes and contribute to communities across the country.
The current delays are significant. Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) states that it is experiencing an “extremely large volume” of IRP renewal applications. As of September 2026, some Stamp 2 student applications being processed were applications submitted in July. ISD also states that the current approximate processing time for IRP renewals is around 10 weeks, with additional time potentially required for the new card to arrive.
These delays have real consequences. People can reach the expiry date of their current IRP while still waiting for a renewal they applied for on time. Although ISD provides temporary protections in certain circumstances, an expired physical IRP card can still create uncertainty around proving immigration status, employment and international travel. Visa-required nationals who leave Ireland before their renewal is completed may need to obtain a new entry visa to return, except where specific temporary arrangements apply.
International students face a particular difficulty: while most applicants can apply up to 12 weeks before their IRP expires, ISD states that Stamp 2 students must wait until their course starts before applying for renewal. This reduces their ability to avoid delays simply by applying months earlier.
The Government has already had to introduce temporary measures in response to renewal backlogs. In 2026, processing times exceeded 17 weeks for some categories, leading to an interim extension protecting the employment rights of people waiting for renewals.
This should not become normal.
We are asking for a system that is efficient, properly resourced, transparent and capable of handling predictable demand. That should include substantially shorter processing times, sufficient staffing, clear processing targets and consideration of regional or local processing capacity where this could reduce pressure on the centralised system.
International residents who comply with Ireland’s immigration requirements deserve a renewal system that works within a reasonable and predictable timeframe.
Please sign this petition and help us call for a better IRP renewal system.