In a significant policy shift, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced that effective 13 January 2025, all immigration registration functions will officially transfer from An Garda Síochána to the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of the Department of Justice. This transition marks the full civilianisation of administrative immigration duties, fulfilling a key commitment in the Programme for Government and implementing recommendations by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

Key Changes to Immigration Registration
First-Time Registrations:
From 13 January 2025, all first-time immigration registrations across Ireland must be completed in person at the Burgh Quay Registration Office in Dublin. Applicants must create an account on the new Immigration Service Portal to book their appointment. Please note that applicants who do not bring all required documents or payment cannot complete their registration.
Transition Period for Garda Appointments:
Individuals residing outside Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Limerick, Meath, and Wicklow with confirmed Garda appointments up to 31 January 2025 should attend their scheduled appointments. Alternatively, they can cancel their Garda appointment and rebook through the Digital Contact Centre for Burgh Quay.
Renewals of Immigration Permission:
Renewal applications will continue to be processed exclusively online through the ISD's renewal portal. In-person attendance is not required; applications can be submitted up to 12 weeks before the expiry date.
Impact of the Transition
Minister McEntee highlighted that this transfer frees up over 100 Gardaí, allowing them to focus on essential enforcement and operational tasks, such as ensuring the legal registration of immigration statuses and verifying visa validity. This transition is part of broader reforms to modernise Ireland's immigration system. Notably, 2023 saw record applications, with over 95,000 first-time registrations and 215,000 renewals, totalling over 310,000 applications.
The civilianisation of Ireland’s immigration registration system represents a significant step toward creating a streamlined and modern immigration process. By reallocating Garda resources to enforcement and operational duties and centralising administrative services, Ireland is positioning itself to better manage its growing immigration demands.
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