IRELAND ACTIVATES THE EU TEMPORARY PROTECTION DIRECTIVE FOR PERSONS FLEEING WAR IN UKRAINE The European Union Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55 EC) which allows Ukrainian nationals, their family members and certain other non-EEA nationals to apply for temporary protection in Ireland has now commenced. Who is eligible to avail of Temporary Protection in Ireland? The following [...]

The Department of Justice have announced the introduction of a new form of the Irish Residence Permit (IRP Card) valid from the 1st of March 2022. IRP Cards are issued to non-EEA nationals who are registered with the Irish immigration authorities as living, working, studying in Ireland. The new version of the IRP Card includes [...]

Following the visa waiver announced by the Irish Department of Justice last week for Ukrainian citizens, our immigration team has received a substantial number of queries from Russian citizens and non-EEA national persons residing in Russia seeking to apply for visas to travel to Ireland. Examples include spouses of Irish citizens seeking to obtain Long [...]

The Irish government has announced that Ukraine nationals will no longer require a visa in order to enter the Irish State. Ordinarily Ukrainian nationals travelling to Ireland are required to obtain pre-entry clearance by way of an Irish visa in order to enter the State however in light of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, [...]

The Immigration Service Delivery of the Department of Justice has announced that the closing date for applications pursuant to the Afghan Admission Program has been extended to the 11th March of 2022. Previously the scheme had been scheduled to close on the 24th of February 2022 however due to a lack of clarity on some [...]

Minister McEntee announces further temporary extension of immigration permissions Applies to permissions due to expire between 15 January 2022 and 31 May 2022 Extension applies to people with permissions extended under previous notices For permissions registered by the Immigration Service in Dublin and An Garda Síochána nationwide For the full announcement, see the following link: [...]

The Minister for Justice has issued a press release to confirm the opening of the Afghan Admissions Programme. The Programme will open for a period of eight weeks from 16th December for 2021 and it will enable Afghan nationals living in Ireland to apply for temporary residence for close family members in Afghanistan to join [...]

Following on the discovery of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron, the Irish government has introduced new rules which must be complied with by all persons entering Ireland by airplane or boat. Previously when travelling to Ireland, persons were required to present the following upon arrival: An EU Digital COVID Certificate as evidence that the holder has been [...]

As a result of the recently discovered Covid-19 variant Omicron,  the Minister for Justice Ms Helen McEntee signed an urgent statutory instrument into law on Friday the 26th of November in order to control travel to the Republic of Ireland for citizens of South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia and Lesotho. The order took effect from [...]

Important Changes to Citizenship Application Process, Extension or Irish Residence Permits and suspension of Re-entry visas for Children under 16. Applicants for Irish citizenship will no longer be required to submit their original passport with their initial application under changes coming into effect from next year. Instead, they can provide a full colour copy of [...]