23rd December 2020.

The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, T.D., has announced a further temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions to 20 April 2021. This applies to permissions that are due to expire between 21 January 2021 and 20 April 2021.

This is the sixth, and expected to be the final, extension of permissions implemented since the outset of the pandemic. Renewal is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions will continue to apply. This further extension will apply to the same 3 primary categories of people as before, whose permissions are due to expire between 21 January 2021 and 20 April 2021:

1. Renewal of existing permissions / registrations

People who hold a current valid permission, or a permission that has already been extended under the previous notice(s).

2. Awaiting first registration

People granted permission to land at a port of entry on condition they register at Burgh Quay or their local AGS registration office within 3 months but who have yet to do so.

3. Short stay visas

People in the country on foot of a short stay visa and who have been granted permission to remain for less than 3 months who may be unable to leave the State and return home due to uncertainties caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Level 5 restrictions

Given the announcement by Taoiseach Micheal Martin T.D. that the country will return to Level 5 restrictions on 24 December, the Registration Office in Burgh Quay will close to the public from this evening, 23 December. First time registrations require the taking of biometrics - fingerprints - and therefore cannot be carried out online. The Public Office will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so and customers who have had appointments cancelled will be prioritised at that time. We thank our customers for their understanding and patience during this difficult time.

Further information is available at the following link - http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR20000324