· Online Renewal system will apply to all Dublin based non-nationals seeking to renew their immigration registration.
· Minister also announces reopening of Burgh Quay Registration Office from 20 July to facilitate 1st time registrations
Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, today announced the expansion of the online Registration Renewal System to now include all non-nationals based in Dublin who are seeking to renew their registration in the State. This will make the process of registration renewals easier for 10,000s of people every year, and significantly reduce the number of people who need to attend the Burgh Quay Registration Office in person.
Making the announcement, Minister McEntee said,
I’m very pleased to be able to announce the expansion of our online Registration Renewal System. This is good news for our Dublin based customers because it makes the whole process easier and means they can do their renewal from the comfort of their own home instead of having to book an appointment to come into the city and attend Burgh Quay.
Now, all that applicants have to do is complete a form online, upload supporting documents, pay the fee and then submit their passport and current IRP card via registered post. This is much easier and quicker than the previous system, where it could sometimes be difficult to get an appointment.
Between today and 20 July, the online system will be made available to those with an urgent need to travel and who require an Immigration Residence Permit (IRP) card before they travel. The online system will also remain available to students seeking to renew their registrations.
As part of the announcement, Minister McEntee also confirmed that the Registration Office in Burgh Quay would also reopen on July 20 to facilitate those who need to register for the first time. As first time registrations require biometrics (a photograph and fingerprints) to be taken, it is not possible to do these online.
With the reopening of the Registration Office in Burgh Quay we will initially prioritise appointments for people who had their first time registrations cancelled when we had to close the office in March due to COVID-19 restrictions. Immigration Service Delivery will be contacting those affected to organise a new appointment.
It is important that people only come to the Registration Office if they can’t renew online. While Covid-19 is still circulating in the community, we are seeking to reduce the footfall in our Registration Office. This is for the safety of our customers and staff, and to help people adhere to social distancing guidelines.
The expansion of the online system follows a successful pilot programme which saw around 3,500 3rd level students renew their registrations in 2019.
The Garda Naturalisation and Immigration Bureau (GNIB) processes applications outside of Dublin through the Garda Station network. GNIB are currently considering how they can reopen registration offices countrywide while adhering to public health guidelines, and applicants should contact their local office to confirm when they will reopen.