Migrant Rights Centre Ireland Urges Lower Residence Permit Fees

The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) has submitted a pre-budget proposal for Budget 2027 urging the Irish government to lower the €300 annual fee for the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card. The advocacy group proposes capping first-time registration fees at €75 and renewals at €55, noting that the state spends only €20.44 to produce each card.

According to the MRCI, the current fee is among the highest in Europe and generates nearly €80 million in annual revenue. The group reports that non-EU workers are facing delivery delays of up to 16 weeks, which has resulted in travel restrictions and job losses.

To address these delays, the MRCI is seeking a 30 percent increase in staffing at the Immigration Service Delivery's registration division. This request follows a 138 percent increase in registrations between 2021 and 2025. Director Neil Bruton characterized the current fee as unfair given the poor quality of service migrants currently receive.