Press release
Minister McEntee announces transfer of immigration administrative functions to free up Gardaí for enforcement work
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD is pleased to announce that with effect from 8 July 2024, responsibility for first time registrations and renewals of Irish immigration residence permission for non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss nationals residing in counties Cork and Limerick, will transfer from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) to the Registration Office of the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of the Department of Justice.
With this transfer, approximately 80% of all national registrations and renewals have now transferred from An Garda Síochána to the Department of Justice.
This represents a further significant civilianisation of the immigration residence permission registration process, as recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. In 2023, there were some 10,000 first registrations and 22,000 renewals of permission carried out by Gardaí in Cork and Limerick.
From 8 July 2024:
• first time registrations for individuals residing in these counties will be registered at the Burgh Quay Registration Office in Dublin;
• applications for renewal of permission can be submitted using the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) online renewal portal
Welcoming today’s announcement Minister McEntee stated:
“I am committed to pursuing all opportunities to civilianise administrative functions within An Garda Síochána, in line with the recommendation contained in the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report.
“Nationwide, over 100 Gardaí have been assigned to immigration duties, including registration. Civilianising registration functions releases valuable Garda hours to focus on operational and enforcement matters, such as deportations and investigations.
“The transfer of registration functions for counties Cork and Limerick represents an important step forward in this effort.
“My Department is working to modernise its immigration processes and provide more efficient services for customers.
“Individuals in Cork and Limerick will now be able to renew their immigration permissions online, thereby removing the requirement for customers in these counties to attend in person appointments.”
The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (COFPI) recommended that ultimately, immigration administrative functions should transfer from An Garda Síochána to the Department of Justice. It is anticipated that the nationwide transfer of registration functions to the Department of Justice can be substantively completed by early 2025.
ENDS.../
Notes to Editors:
First-time registrations
From 8 July 2024, first time registrations for applicants residing in Cork and Limerick will be required to register their immigration permission at the Registration Office located at 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. Appointments for first time registration can be booked using the Freephone number (1800 800 630). Operators are available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday to arrange appointments.
Applicants will be required to provide the operators with their passport details and a valid email address to arrange an appointment.
Renewals
Applicants residing in Cork and Limerick will be able to renew their immigration permissions online from 8 July 2024 and will not need to attend the Burgh Quay Registration Office or their local Garda station in person. Renewal applications can be made at: https://inisonline.jahs.ie
The Immigration Service website provides a live processing update for online renewal applications being processed. To ensure an equitable immigration system, applications are processed in the order in which they are received.
Applications for first time immigration residence permission registration must be made within 90 days following arrival of the person in the State. Once permission is granted, applicants may apply to renew it or to seek to change Stamp category up to 12 weeks in advance of the permission expiring to allow sufficient time for processing.
The GNIB will continue to undertake first registrations and renewals of permission for persons residing outside of counties Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow, Cork and Limerick until the final transfers of registration responsibilities to the Department of Justice take place, which is anticipated to be completed in early 2025.