Due to the transition to an online residence card appointment system, non-European Economic Area nationals who are required to register at the Burgh Quay Registration Office in Dublin are experiencing delays of up to eight weeks in scheduling Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) residence card appointments. Failure to book an appointment on time can result in a lapse of residence permission.

There is currently not a faster option or alternative way to renew a GNIB residence card.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Due to the delays, impacted employees should schedule their GNIB residence card appointment up to 10 weeks in advance of the expiration of their current residence card. Ideally, the appointment should fall within the two-week period before GNIB card expiry.

Since new appointments are still being released, applicants should keep trying to schedule their appointments on the online system.

Foreign nationals experiencing difficulties scheduling their appointment should contact their immigration professional for assistance.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to ireland@fragomen.com.

© 2016 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.