Do children need to register for an IRP?

The short answer

• Under 16: children aren’t registered and don’t get an IRP card.
• At 16: they register as soon as they can, booking their own appointment, and you go with them.
• 16 and 17: there’s no fee, for a first registration or a renewal.
• Born in Ireland: the registration rules don’t apply at all.

Check your child

Enter your child’s date of birth to see when they register and what changes along the way.

Under 16: nothing to register

ISD says minor children aren’t registered if they’re under 16, and won’t have to register until they reach 16. The Immigration Act 2004 says the same: its registration section doesn’t apply to anyone under 16. Under-16s also aren’t covered by the law’s duty to show your documents on demand.

ISD mentions one exception: a minor may be specifically granted permission to register under EU Treaty Rights.

At 16: registering for the first time

ISD says to register as soon as you reach 16. For a 16 or 17-year-old:

1. They set up their own account on the Customer Service Portal and book their own appointment. You can’t book it for them.
2. You go with them. ISD says a guardian must attend, and anyone whose permission depends on a sponsor needs the sponsor there.
3. Bring the documents for their permission, including proof of your relationship, such as their birth certificate.

The stamp depends on why your family is here. For example, ISD lists dependent children of Critical Skills, General Employment Permit, ICT and multi-site NCHD permit holders and researchers under Stamp 1G, and dependants of an Irish citizen under Stamp 4.

Travelling with children

• Under 16: re-entry visas for under-16s are suspended until further notice. A child living in Ireland can come back with a parent or legal guardian who has an in-date permission. Bring proof of the relationship: a birth or adoption certificate or guardianship papers, a marriage or divorce certificate if your surname is different, or a death certificate if a parent has died. ISD also advises checking with your airline.
• 16 or 17, registered: they travel with their own IRP card and passport.
• 16 or 17, not yet registered: ISD says a visa-required person who leaves before their first registration needs a new entry visa to come back. Register before any trip.

Travelling with only one parent? ISD says an immigration officer may ask for the other parent’s consent: a signed letter with their contact details and a copy of their ID helps.

Born in Ireland

The registration section of the Immigration Act 2004 doesn’t apply to anyone born in Ireland, whatever their age. That’s only about registering: it doesn’t decide whether a child is an Irish citizen.

Common mix-ups

Common questions

Sources