Registration of non-EEA nationals in Ireland
Information
If you come to stay in Ireland for more than 3 months, and you are not a citizen of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you must register your presence in Ireland with An Garda Síochána. The EEA or European Economic Area consists of the 27 EU member states, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
Section 9 of the Immigration Act 2004 sets out the legal requirement for non-EEA nationals to register in Ireland when staying here for more than 3 months. In practice, this means that you are obliged to register with your local immigration registration officer following your arrival in Ireland. Registering with immigration officials means appearing in person before the Garda National Immigration Bureau (if you are in Dublin) or the District Headquarters in other Garda Districts. When you present yourself before the registration officer you must provide certain information and evidence about your status - see 'Rules' below.
Any changes you wish to make to the length of your stay or status must also
be reported to immigration officials. You must also notify the registration
officer if you plan to move to another Garda District, and report to the
registration officer of that new district within 2 days of arriving to live
there.
What is the purpose of registration?
The purpose of registration of non-EEA nationals is for border control reasons. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) also carries out deportations, border control and investigations related to illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings. The GNIB has specialist units dealing in each area.
What happens after I register?
Following registration with immigration officials, you will be issued with an Immigration Certificate of Registration. The amount of time it takes to issue your Certificate usually depends on which office you attend and how you pay for your Certificate. The Registration Certificate is the size of a credit card and includes your name, address, photograph and your residence details. It is sometimes called a GNIB card as it is issued by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
Asylum seekers receive a different type of certificate - a Temporary Residence Certificate. That Certificate is issued by the Refugee Applications Commissioner.
Registration Certificates are not identity cards. They are however evidence that a person is legally resident in Ireland and you must show evidence of this, if requested by the Gardaí
What stamp will I get in my passport?
As well as your Registration Certificate you will also receive a stamp in your passport which specifies the duration and the conditions of your permission to remain in Ireland. The following table gives a list of the different types of stamp issued to non-EEA nationals:
| Stamp number | Issued to |
| 0 | Persons who are permitted to remain in Ireland for a specific, temporary and limited purpose (pdf), for example, visiting academics |
| 1 | Persons who have received an employment permit, business permission or a working holiday authorisation. |
| 2 | Students who are attending a recognised full-time course of at least one year. They are permitted to work for 20 hours a week during term time and full time during holidays. |
| 2A | Students who are attending a course not recognised by the Department of Education and Skills. They are not permitted to work. |
| 3 | Persons who are not permitted to work. This includes visitors; retired people of independent means; ministers of religion and members of religious orders; spouses, civil partners and dependants of employment permit holders. |
| 4 | Spouses and civil partners of Irish nationals; family members of EEA citizens; Convention and Programme refugees; parents of Irish citizen child granted leave to remain on that basis. They do not need an employment permit or business permission to work. |
| 4 (EU FAM) | Family members of EU nationals who have exercised their right to move to and live in Ireland. They do not need an employment permit or business permission to work. |
Do all non-EEA nationals have to register?
No. Certain groups of people do not need to register. For example, children under 16 who are non-EEA dependants of EU nationals and seafarers whose ship remains at port in the State and who do not land in the State for discharge. Non-EEA family members who are applying for residence under the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 and 2008 still need to register and get a Immigration Certificate of Registration.
Rules
In order to register, you should go to your local immigration registration
office and ask for the registration officer as soon as possible following your
arrival in Ireland- see 'Where to apply' for details of addresses.
You will need to provide the following information about yourself:
- Your full name and your gender
- Your nationality, how and when you acquired it and your previous nationality (if any)
- Date and place of your birth
- Your profession or occupation
- Details of when, where and how you arrived in the State
- Your address in the State
- The address where you last lived outside the State
- Your photograph
- Your signature
You should bring your passport or other document establishing your nationality and identity. You should also bring documentation supporting your residence permission, for example, a work permit.
If you are in government service, you will be asked to state the service concerned, the nature and duration of your service, your rank and appointments held.
The registration officer may also ask you to provide fingerprints, and may ask for further details.
Rates
There is a fee of €150 for the certificate, but you do not have to pay a fee if you are:
- A Programme refugee
- A Convention refugee
- A person who has been reunified with such a refugee under Section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996
- Under the age of 18 at the time of registration
- The spouse, civil partner, widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen
- A family member of an EU national and you qualify for a residence card under EU Treaty Rights
Information on payment methods is set out under 'How to apply' below.
How to apply
Call into your local immigration registration office which is the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) if you live in Dublin and your Garda District Headquarters if you live outside Dublin. The registration officer will take your details and check your documents. If you are obliged to pay the fee, the registration officer will usually issue you with a special bank giro form. You should take this form to a bank and pay the fee.
In 5 immigration registration offices, you can choose to pay by credit or debit card instead of bank giro. These offices are:
Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2
Garda Station, Anglesea Street, Cork
Garda Station, Mill Street, Galway
Garda Station, Henry Street, Limerick
Garda Station, Fr Connolly Way, Drogheda, Co. Louth
If you have applied at any of these offices, you can collect your card as soon as the payment goes through and the card has been printed.
If you have applied at any other immigration registration office, you will have to call back later to collect the certificate, as it will be printed in the GNIB and sent out to the local office.
Renewal
Before your GNIB card expires you should go to your local immigration registration office to renew it - see 'Where to apply below. You will need to bring your passport, your GNIB card and evidence to support your residence permission such a work permit.
Where to apply
Contact your local Garda District Headquarters (if living outside Dublin)
Garda National Immigration Bureau
13/14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2
Ireland
Opening Hours:Mon to Thurs inclusive: 8am to 10pm, Friday 8am to 4pm
Tel:+353 1 666 9100
Homepage: http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=31
Email: gnib_dv@garda.ie
Language
Useful Resources
Related Documents
- Glossary of immigration terms
A list of specific immigration terms with a brief explanation of what they mean. - Residence rights of non-EEA nationals in Ireland
Description of the various forms of residence rights which allow non-EEA nationals to live in Ireland. - Checklist for a non-EEA national living outside Ireland who is
marrying an Irish national in Ireland
Describes the steps to be taken by a non-EEA national who is living outside Ireland and plans to marry an Irish national in Ireland.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.