News and updates
Updates on Irish immigration rules, permits and fees, with an explanation of each change and who it affects.
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Multi-factor authentication now required for the ISD portal
From 7 August 2026 every login to the Immigration Service Delivery Customer Service Portal needs an authenticator app.
IRP renewals exceed 17 weeks as ISD issues summer notices
Immigration Service Delivery published an employer notice and a travel notice on 13 July 2026 to cover people whose card expired while a renewal was pending.
Family reunification income threshold rises to €75,000 over three years
Irish citizens sponsoring a spouse or child must show €75,000 gross income over three years, up from €40,000. Protection holders must wait two years before applying.
Employment permit occupations review announces 32 changes
Six roles added to the Critical Skills list, nine removed from the Ineligible list, new quotas for the seafood sector, and a review of the 50:50 rule for health and social care.
Temporary protection permissions extended to 4 March 2027
Temporary protection permissions were extended automatically to 4 March 2027, with no application required.
1,850 new General Employment Permits for meat processing and dairy
Quotas of 1,000 permits for meat processing operatives and 850 for dairy farm assistants were released with effect from 17 December 2025.
Citizenship residence requirement rises to five years for protection holders
From 8 December 2025 people granted international protection generally need five years of reckonable residence before applying for naturalisation, up from three.
New salary threshold roadmap for employment permits to 2030
The General Employment Permit minimum rises to €36,605 and the Critical Skills minimum to €40,904 from 1 March 2026, with annual increases to 2030.
Children of employment permit holders move to Stamp 1G and gain the right to work
From 26 November 2025 dependent minor children of permit holders are registered on Stamp 1G instead of Stamp 3. Existing Stamp 3 permissions were varied automatically.
Occupations lists review opens for submissions
The Department of Enterprise opened a public consultation on the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists from 23 July to 19 September 2025.
Student finance requirement rises for non-visa nationals
From 30 June 2025 non-visa-required students on one-year courses must show access to €10,000, matching the requirement for visa-required students.
Visa requirement introduced for Trinidad and Tobago
From 12 May 2025 nationals of Trinidad and Tobago need an Irish visa before travelling, and a transit visa to pass through the State.
Town Planner added to the Critical Skills list, home carer quota raised by 1,000
From 10 March 2025 Town Planning Officer became a Critical Skills occupation and the home carer and care worker quota increased by 1,000 permits.
Visa requirement introduced for Eswatini, Lesotho and Nauru
From 10 March 2025 nationals of Eswatini, Lesotho and Nauru need an Irish visa before travelling, and a transit visa to pass through the State.
The Employment Permits Act 2024 is now fully in force
The Employment Permits Act 2024 replaced the Acts of 2003 and 2006 and established the Seasonal Employment Permit in law.