The short answer
- Applied before your card expired? You’re in the queue. With a valid permit, or a permission that doesn’t need one, you can keep working for up to 12 weeks.
- Applied after, or not at all? ISD says you’re out of permission: not permitted to stay or work in Ireland. Under the Immigration Act, you’re unlawfully present.
- There are routes back for some situations: spouses and parents of Irish citizens, family dependants, former permit holders and students.
- Get independent advice first, then contact ISD. Don’t ignore it.
Check where you stand
Enter when your card expired and when you applied, if you did.
Out-of-permission check
Were you in time, and if not, what can you do now?
Worked out in your browser: nothing you enter is sent to us or saved. Based on ISD’s notice to employers, family, Reactivation and student pages and the Immigration Act. This isn’t legal advice: if you’re out of permission, talk to an adviser.
The one date that matters
| You applied before the expiry date | You applied after it, or not at all | |
|---|---|---|
| Your status | In the queue, in permission | Out of permission from the day after expiry |
| Work | Usually allowed for up to 12 weeks after expiry, on your current conditions | Not allowed |
| What to do | Keep your OREG email and reply to any ISD request within 14 days | Stop working, get advice, and look at the routes below |
What being out of permission means
- No work. ISD says you’re not permitted to remain or work in the State.
- Unlawfully present. The Immigration Act 2004 says a non-national in Ireland without permission is unlawfully present.
- No re-entry visa. ISD only gives re-entry visas to people in permission through their return date.
- A gap in your residence. Time out of permission doesn’t count towards citizenship or Stamp 5.
- Refusal risk. If an application is refused and you have no other permission, ISD may issue a proposal to deport you under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999.
Routes back into permission
| Your situation | The route ISD describes | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Married to, or in a civil partnership with, an Irish citizen | The Spouse of Irish National application form. Your spouse must have earned €40,000 over the last 3 years, not counting welfare | Customer Service Portal |
| Parent of an Irish citizen child | The Parent of an Irish Citizen Child application form | Customer Service Portal |
| Dependant of family here (Irish, or on Stamp 1, 4 or 5) | The Family Dependent application form | Customer Service Portal |
| Held an employment permit and fell out of the system through no fault of your own | The Reactivation scheme: a temporary Stamp 1 for 6 months to find a job and a permit | Customer Service Portal |
| Student, out of permission for less than 6 months | An extension of student permission, for exceptional circumstances | ISD’s online portal |
| De facto partner | Not accepted without a valid permission: you’d apply for preclearance from outside Ireland | n/a |
| Anything else | Explain your situation to ISD | Customer Service Portal |
What to do now
- Stop working until you’re back in permission.
- Get free, independent advice from Citizens Information, the Immigrant Council of Ireland or the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland.
- Contact ISD through its Customer Service Portal, explaining what happened, with your OREG number if you applied late and any evidence of why.
- Use the route for your situation, if there is one, with all the documents it asks for.
- Don’t travel until you know where you stand.
Common mix-ups
Common questions
What happens if I apply to renew after my IRP expired?
ISD's notice to employers says that if your permission expired before you applied, you're considered out of permission and not permitted to remain or work in Ireland. Applying afterwards doesn't change that.
Can I keep working if I applied late?
No. The 12 weeks of cover on your existing conditions only apply if you applied before your card expired. If you applied after, you can't work.
Is there a grace period after my IRP expires?
No grace period is set out for people who didn't apply in time. The 12-week provision in ISD's notice to employers covers only people who applied before expiry.
My IRP expired. How do I get back into permission?
It depends on your situation. Spouses and civil partners of Irish citizens, parents of Irish citizen children and family dependants can apply with ISD's forms through the Customer Service Portal. Former permit holders who fell out of the system through no fault of their own can apply to the Reactivation scheme. Students out of permission for less than 6 months can apply for an extension in exceptional circumstances. Otherwise, contact ISD and get advice.
Does time out of permission count towards citizenship?
No. Only time with a valid permission counts as reckonable residence, so a gap can delay your citizenship and Stamp 5 dates.
Can I leave Ireland and come back?
ISD only gives re-entry visas to people who are in permission through their return date, and entry at the border is always at the officer's discretion. Get advice before you travel.
Where can I get free advice?
Citizens Information, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland all give free, independent advice.
Sources
All sources checked on 3 Oct 2026.
- Notice to employers regarding employees awaiting renewal of their IRP cardImmigration Service Delivery
- Immigration Act 2004, section 5 (revised)Law Reform Commission
- Spouse or civil partner of an Irish nationalImmigration Service Delivery
- The parent of an Irish citizen childImmigration Service Delivery
- Family dependantsImmigration Service Delivery
- Reactivation Employment Permit SchemeImmigration Service Delivery
- Student permission (extension of student permission)Immigration Service Delivery
- De facto partner of an Irish or non-EEA nationalImmigration Service Delivery
- Frequently asked questions for registrationImmigration Service Delivery