Press release
Minister McEntee announces further temporary extension of immigration permissions
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Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has today announced a further temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions to 20 April 2021. This applies to permissions that are due to expire between 21 January 2021 and 20 April 2021.
Announcing the measure, Minister McEntee said:
"This Christmas, because of COVID-19 and public health guidelines, many in our migrant communities will be unable to visit their loved ones back home or may fear they will lose their current immigration permission because of the potential impact of restrictions on immigration services. What is traditionally a time of joy and celebration may instead be a cause of worry and stress.
"While I cannot change the circumstances caused by the pandemic, I can remove a small measure of that worry by ensuring that immigrants’ legal status in this country continues to be maintained. To do this, I am introducing a further automatic extension to 20 April 2021 for anyone already holding a valid permission.
"This extension will benefit those who cannot get an appointment to register or renew an existing permission. However, I encourage anyone who can renew, particularly Dublin-based customers who can use the online system, to do so and not to wait until April."
This is the sixth, and expected to be the final, extension of permissions implemented since the outset of the pandemic. Tens of thousands of people will benefit from this measure. Renewal is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions will continue to apply.
As a result of the new COVID-19 measures announced by Government today, on health and safety grounds the Burgh Quay Registration Office will close tomorrow, 23 December. Customers with appointments for first time registrations are being contacted directly by the Immigration Service and they will be prioritised for appointments once the Public Office can safely reopen. We thank our customers for their understanding and patience during this difficult time.
This further extension will apply to the same 3 primary categories of people as before, whose permissions are due to expire between 21 January 2021 and 20 April 2021:
People who hold a current valid permission, or a permission that has already been extended under the previous notice(s).
People granted permission to land at a port of entry on condition they register at Burgh Quay or their local AGS registration office within 3 months but who have yet to do so.
People in the country on foot of a short stay visa and who have been granted permission to remain for less than 3 months who may be unable to leave the State and return home due to uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
All renewals in the Dublin area are being processed online only since 20 July 2020, at: https://inisonline.jahs.ie. Therefore, it is also open to customers resident in the Dublin area to make an online renewal application.
Renewals outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau through the Garda Station network. Information on the contact details for all the registration offices outside Dublin is available at: https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/reopening-of-registration-offices.html.
Since 2 December 2020, customers renewing their permission are no longer required to submit their passport to have an immigration stamp attached by a Registration Office. Further details are available at: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/frequently-asked-questions-for-registration/.
The Registration Office in Burgh Quay will close from tomorrow, 23 December due to COVID-19 restrictions. First time registrations require the taking of biometrics – fingerprints – and therefore cannot be carried out online. The Public Office will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so and customers who have had appointments cancelled will be prioritised at that time.