Thousands of legal residents in Ireland rely on timely renewal of their Irish Residence Permits (IRPs) to work, travel, study, support their families, and contribute to Irish society.

However, many applicants are experiencing prolonged delays in the processing of online IRP renewal applications. Some individuals have been waiting for months without clear communication, realistic timelines, or a way to escalate urgent cases. Not only that but the Immigration Delivery Service refuses to communicate.

These delays have real consequences:

• People are unable to travel for work, family emergencies, or important personal commitments.
• Workers are unable to change jobs or accept new employment opportunities.
• Businesses are affected when key staff cannot travel or complete immigration-related requirements.
• Families experience stress and uncertainty while waiting for decisions.
• Applicants are left without meaningful updates on the status of their applications.
• Some applicants have been cut off from their banks and access to finances, being left unable to pay bills.

We recognise the importance of maintaining a secure and efficient immigration system. However, legal residents should not face significant hardship due to administrative delays beyond their control.

We call on the Department of Justice to:

• Publish accurate and transparent processing times for IRP renewals.
• Allocate additional resources to reduce the current backlog.
• Establish a clear escalation pathway for urgent and exceptional cases.
• Improve communication with applicants throughout the renewal process.

Provide regular public updates on progress in reducing delays.


Ireland benefits enormously from the contributions of immigrants, international workers, students, entrepreneurs, and families who have chosen to make this country their home. We ask the Government to ensure that the IRP renewal system is efficient, transparent, and fair for all.

Please sign this petition if you support timely and transparent processing of IRP renewal applications in Ireland.