Registering Your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) for the First Time
Registering Your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) for the First Time
Estimated time
Appointments at the Burgh Quay Registration Office are normally available within about two to three weeks of booking; the IRP card then arrives by post within approximately 15 business days of a successful appointment
Cost
€300 first-time registration fee per adult, payable by card or contactless at the appointment; several categories are exempt
What You Need
Tap to check off items as you gather them
Additional Items
- An immigration permission is the right to be in Ireland granted with your visa or status; registration is the separate step that records it and produces the IRP card.
- The Stamp number printed on your IRP card and in your passport tells you what you may do and how long you may stay — Stamp 1 for employment-permit work, Stamp 1G for graduates and Critical Skills family members, Stamp 2 for study, Stamp 4 for broad residence.
- The IRP is the prerequisite that evidences your right to work for non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss nationals — keep it with your PPS number records when starting employment or dealing with Revenue.
- Renewals are not done at Burgh Quay and do not require an in-person visit; they go through the ISD online renewal portal. This guide covers first-time registration only.
- Since 13 January 2025, ISD — not local Garda stations — handles all first-time registrations nationwide; the former local-Garda route outside Dublin has closed.
Step-by-Step
- 1
Confirm that you must register
Expat New Arrival- Check that you are a national of a country outside the EU, the EEA, the UK and Switzerland — citizens of those areas do not register and receive no IRP card
- Confirm you have been granted permission to stay for more than 90 days, and that you are aged 16 or over (children under 16 do not register at all)
- Note the 90-day deadline: the landing stamp in your passport instructs you to register your immigration permission with Immigration Service Delivery within 90 days of arrival
💡 Tip: EU, EEA, UK and Swiss nationals can stop here — there is nothing to register and no fee to pay. This process applies only to non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss nationals staying more than 90 days.
- 2
Create a Customer Service account
Expat New Arrival- As soon as you arrive, create an account on the ISD Customer Service Portal — the online self-service portal operated by Immigration Service Delivery
- This account is the only valid channel for booking your first-time registration appointment
- Keep your login details to hand — you will use the same account later to raise queries or request a refund
⚠️ Watch out: Valid appointments can only be booked through the ISD Customer Service Portal, never through any third party. An appointment offered by an agent or paid intermediary is not valid and will not produce a registration.
- 3
Book your first-time registration appointment at Burgh Quay
Expat New Arrival- Book a first-time registration appointment at the Registration Office, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, D02 XK70, through your Customer Service account
- Appointments are normally available within about two to three weeks of booking; book as early as possible after arrival
- Everyone in every county attends Burgh Quay in person — since 13 January 2025 there is no local Garda-station route outside Dublin
⚠️ Watch out: If no slot is available within your 90-day window, Immigration Service Delivery will not cancel your permission or expect you to leave the country while you wait, provided you are acting in good faith to register. Book the earliest available appointment and keep your booking evidence.
- 4
Prepare your documents
Expat New Arrival- Gather the core set: your passport, the printed and completed address form from your confirmation email, printed copies of the supporting documents for your Stamp, and the €300 fee where applicable
- Check the official Required Documents page for the exact supporting-document checklist for your specific permission type — the set varies by Stamp
- Bring printed copies only; electronic copies are not accepted at the counter
💡 Tip: If any required document is missing, the registration will not be processed — confirm your per-Stamp checklist before you travel to Dublin so a missed appointment does not cost you weeks.
- 5
Attend the appointment and provide biometrics
Expat New Arrival- Attend Burgh Quay in person with your passport, the printed address form, your permission-specific documents and the fee
- Your documents are reviewed, your photograph and fingerprints are taken, and your passport is stamped with the permission granted
- Pay the €300 fee, if you are not exempt, by credit or debit card or contactless — no cash is accepted
- 6
Receive your IRP card by post
Expat New Arrival- Your *Irish Residence Permit (IRP)* card is posted to the address you supplied within approximately 15 business days of a successful appointment, excluding weekends and public holidays
- When it arrives, check that the Stamp number on the card matches the permission stamped in your passport — it tells you what you may do and how long you may stay
- Keep the IRP with your records; for non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss nationals it is the document that evidences your right to work alongside your PPS number
⚠️ Watch out: If the card has not arrived after 15 business days of successful processing, raise a query on the Customer Service Portal. The Registration Office cannot expedite card delivery under any circumstances.
What Could Go Wrong
No appointment available within 90 days: Burgh Quay appointment slots can be several weeks out, and a newcomer may not secure one inside the 90-day window stamped in their passport.
Recovery: Immigration Service Delivery will not cancel your permission or expect you to leave the country while you wait, provided you are acting in good faith to register. Book the earliest available slot and keep evidence of your booking attempts.
A required document is missing at the appointment: If any required document is missing, the registration will not be processed and the appointment is wasted.
Recovery: Work from the official Required Documents page for your specific Stamp before attending, bring printed (not electronic) copies, and confirm the core set — passport, completed address form, permission-specific documents and the fee.
IRP card has not arrived after 15 business days: The card is posted within approximately 15 business days of a successful appointment, but delivery can occasionally run over.
Recovery: Raise a query on the Customer Service Portal. The Registration Office cannot expedite card delivery under any circumstances, so the query route is the correct channel rather than seeking faster issuance.
Costs
| Item | Amount | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-time registration fee (per adult, where applicable) | €300 | Credit or debit card, or contactless, at the Burgh Quay appointment — no cash | Charged per adult. Exempt categories pay nothing — see the exemption notes below. |
| Registration fee — applicants aged 16 to 18 | €0 | No payment required | Young people aged 16 to 18 at the time of registration are exempt from the €300 fee for all Stamp categories. Children under 16 do not register at all. |
| Registration fee — EU-family, Irish-citizen-spouse and protection categories | €0 | No payment required | Exempt: spouses or dependents of an EU citizen holding an EU residence card; spouses, widows or widowers of an Irish citizen; Programme Refugees and persons granted Refugee Status, Subsidiary Protection, Permission to Remain, or reunited under refugee family reunification under the International Protection Act 2015. |
- Payment:
- Credit or debit card, or contactless, at the Burgh Quay appointment — no cash
- Notes:
- Charged per adult. Exempt categories pay nothing — see the exemption notes below.
- Payment:
- No payment required
- Notes:
- Young people aged 16 to 18 at the time of registration are exempt from the €300 fee for all Stamp categories. Children under 16 do not register at all.
- Payment:
- No payment required
- Notes:
- Exempt: spouses or dependents of an EU citizen holding an EU residence card; spouses, widows or widowers of an Irish citizen; Programme Refugees and persons granted Refugee Status, Subsidiary Protection, Permission to Remain, or reunited under refugee family reunification under the International Protection Act 2015.
FAQ
Documents
Who has to register for an IRP?
Non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss nationals aged 16 or over who have been granted permission to stay in Ireland for more than 90 days — to work, study, live or join family. Citizens of the EU, the EEA, the UK and Switzerland do not register and do not receive an IRP card; their right to reside flows from their nationality, so there is nothing to register and no fee to pay. Children under 16 do not register at all — until a child turns 16 their immigration status is assumed to follow their parents'.
What do the common Stamps mean?
The Stamp records what your permission allows. Stamp 1 is permission to work, granted because you hold a valid employment permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit. Stamp 1G is held by post-study graduates and by spouses or de facto partners of Critical Skills permit holders; it counts as reckonable residence toward naturalisation, is renewable annually, and after five years offers a route to Stamp 4. Stamp 2 is permission to study a full-time course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). Stamp 4 is permission to stay with broad access to work and state services without a separate employment permit.
Do I bring original documents or copies?
Bring your passport as the original, plus printed copies of your supporting documents and the address form from your appointment confirmation email. Electronic copies are not accepted at the counter. The exact supporting-document set depends on your Stamp, so confirm the checklist for your specific permission type on the official Required Documents page in addition to the core items every applicant brings.
Costs
How much does first-time registration cost?
The fee is €300 per adult, payable by credit or debit card or contactless only — no cash is accepted at the Burgh Quay counter. Several categories are exempt and pay nothing: applicants aged 16 to 18 (for all Stamp categories), spouses or dependents of an EU citizen who hold an EU residence card, spouses and widowed partners of Irish citizens, and persons granted protection statuses under the International Protection Act 2015. If you paid a fee that was not due, you can request a refund through the Customer Service Portal.
General
Where do I register if I live outside Dublin?
Everyone registers in person at the Registration Office, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, D02 XK70 — there is no local option. Before 13 January 2025 applicants outside Dublin registered at local Garda stations, but that route has closed. Since responsibility transferred to Immigration Service Delivery, every first-time registrant in every county of the Republic books online through the Customer Service account and attends Burgh Quay.
How long until I receive my IRP card?
The card is posted to the address you supplied within approximately 15 business days of a successful appointment — this excludes weekends and public holidays. If it has not arrived after that period, raise a query on the Customer Service Portal. The Registration Office cannot expedite card delivery under any circumstances, so plan around the standard delivery window rather than expecting to speed it up.
Can I book my appointment through an agent or third party?
No. Valid first-time registration appointments can only be booked through the ISD Customer Service Portal, never through any third party. Create your Customer Service account as soon as you arrive and book directly. Appointments at Burgh Quay are normally available within about two to three weeks of booking.
What if I cannot get an appointment within the 90 days?
Book as early as you can after arriving. Where an appointment is not available within 90 days, Immigration Service Delivery will not cancel your permission or expect you to leave the country while you wait, provided you are acting in good faith to register. The 90-day instruction is on the landing stamp in your passport, but a genuine inability to secure an earlier slot does not put your status at risk.
After This Process
- → Apply for a PPS number if you do not already hold one — it is needed for employment, Revenue and most public services, and pairs with the IRP as your non-EU right-to-work evidence
- → Set a calendar reminder before your permission expires — renewals go through the ISD online renewal portal, not Burgh Quay, and do not require an in-person visit
- → If you change address, update your details so future correspondence and any renewal reach you
- → If you paid a fee that was not due, request a refund through the Customer Service Portal
Sources
- ISD — How to register your immigration permission for the first time (irishimmigration.ie ↗)
- ISD — Required documents for first-time registration (irishimmigration.ie ↗)
- ISD — Frequently asked questions for registration (irishimmigration.ie ↗)
- ISD — Immigration permission stamps (irishimmigration.ie ↗)
- Citizens Information — Registration of non-EEA nationals in Ireland (citizensinformation.ie ↗)
- gov.ie — Civilianisation of immigration registration (gov.ie ↗)
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6 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-27
T1 official portal · T2 embassy/consulate · T3 news · T4 community — higher tier wins on conflict. methodology →
- T1Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), Department of Justice — irishimmigration.ie 2026-05-27
Non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss nationals granted permission to stay in Ireland for more than 90 days must register that permission with Immigration Service Delivery within 90 days of arrival. First-time registration is done in person at the Registration Office, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, D02 XK70, after booking an appointment through the ISD Customer Service Portal. Valid appointments can only be booked through the Customer Service Portal, never through any third party. Where an applicant cannot get an appointment within 90 days, ISD will not cancel the permission or expect the person to leave the country while they wait, provided they are acting in good faith to register.
irishimmigration.ie - T1Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), Department of Justice — irishimmigration.ie 2026-05-27
At the Burgh Quay appointment every applicant must bring their passport (or equivalent travel document recognised by the Government of Ireland), a printed and completed copy of the address form attached to the appointment confirmation email, printed copies of the supporting documentation relevant to their permission type, and the registration fee where applicable. Electronic copies are not accepted. The exact supporting-document set varies by the type of permission (Stamp) granted; the official Required Documents page lists the checklist for each permission type. For students, where course fees exceed €6,000 at least €6,000 must be paid before registering, and non-visa-required students must show direct access to €10,000 for courses longer than 8 months or €833 per month / €6,665 total for shorter courses.
irishimmigration.ie - T1Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), Department of Justice — irishimmigration.ie 2026-05-27
The first-time registration fee is €300 per adult, payable by credit or debit card or contactless only — no cash. At the appointment the applicant's documents are reviewed, a photograph and fingerprints are taken, and the passport is stamped with the permission granted. Following successful registration the IRP card is posted to the supplied home address within approximately 15 business days (excluding weekends and public holidays); the Registration Office cannot expedite card delivery under any circumstances, and a query may be raised on the Customer Service Portal if the card has not arrived after that period. A refund of a fee that was not due can be requested through the Customer Service Portal.
irishimmigration.ie - T1Citizens Information Board (statutory body) — citizensinformation.ie 2026-05-27
The €300 fee does not apply to: young people aged 16 to 18 at the time of registration (exempt for all Stamp categories); spouses or dependents of an EU citizen who hold an EU residence card; spouses, or widows or widowers, of an Irish citizen; Programme Refugees and persons granted Refugee Status under Section 47(1) of the International Protection Act 2015; persons granted Subsidiary Protection under Section 47(4); persons granted Permission to Remain under Section 49(4)(a); and persons reunited under refugee family reunification.
citizensinformation.ie - T1Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), Department of Justice — irishimmigration.ie 2026-05-27
Common immigration permission Stamps: Stamp 1 is permission to work, granted to holders of a valid employment permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit. Stamp 1G is held by post-study graduates and by spouses or de facto partners of Critical Skills permit holders; it counts as reckonable residence toward naturalisation and is renewable annually, with a route to Stamp 4 after five years. Stamp 2 is permission to study a full-time course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). Stamp 4 is permission to stay with broad access to work and state services without a separate employment permit.
irishimmigration.ie - T1Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration — gov.ie 2026-05-27
Responsibility for all nationwide first-time immigration registrations was transferred from local Garda stations and the Garda National Immigration Bureau to Immigration Service Delivery, completing the civilianisation of immigration registration. Applicants who previously registered at local Garda stations outside Dublin now book online and attend the Burgh Quay Registration Office in person.
gov.ie