Ireland Allows Travel with Expired Residence Cards

The Irish government has announced a temporary measure permitting eligible foreign residents to travel with expired Irish residence permit cards until August 31, 2026. This initiative, announced by Minister of State for Immigration Colm Brophy, aims to assist non-European Economic Area nationals who are experiencing delays in the renewal of their residence permits.

The Immigration Service in Dublin is currently facing a backlog, with processing times for residence permit renewals exceeding 17 weeks. Eligible applicants whose renewal applications have been submitted can travel internationally during the summer period using their expired cards.

The Department of Justice and Home Affairs published a statement on July 13, detailing that this arrangement will allow individuals to travel confidently while their applications are being processed. The measure comes amid broader changes in Ireland's employment permit system, which seeks to address labor shortages in various sectors.