Customers holding an Irish Residence Permit card that was in-date at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, will now have its validity period extended to 15/01/2022. This means that they may use their current expired card to enable them to depart from and return to Ireland in confidence over Christmas and until 15/01/2022.
Anyone travelling during this time will be able to print a copy of a travel confirmation notice (see link below) and display this with your existing IRP card to show proof of residence when returning to Ireland before 15/01/2022.
The re-entry visa requirements for children under the age of 16 have also been suspended until 15/01/2022.
The Department is engaging with airline carriers to notify them of this new arrangement and to ensure that the process runs smoothly. It can also be displayed as proof of residence for employment purposes or to access any State services and supports that people are ordinarily eligible for.
If you are staying outside Ireland for longer than 15/01/2022, you are advised to renew your IRP card before you travel if possible. If you have been unable to renew before you travel, intend to stay abroad beyond 15/01/2022 and come from a visa-required country, you will have to apply for a visa to re-enter Ireland at your destination using the AVATS online system.
The full announcement can be found here