Due to prolonged employment permit processing times at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, more foreign workers must now apply for a temporary extension of their Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) residency card while their renewal permit is processing. The GNIB has now also introduced additional evidentiary requirements to obtain this temporary extension.
Previously, foreign workers could obtain a temporary GNIB residency card extension by providing a dated copy of the employment permit application as proof of a pending renewal application.
Effective immediately, a receipt of payment to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is now also required to obtain a temporary GNIB residency card. This new requirement prolongs the GNIB residency card application process by at least a week, and could leave the foreign worker out of status if they wait to renew their employment permit close to the expiry of the permit.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Foreign workers should apply for employment permit extensions as early as possible to avoid being out of status, and should ensure to apply for a temporary extension of their GNIB card before expiration.
Employers are advised to register for Trusted Partner status to avail of the much shorter employment permit processing time (currently three weeks).