Registering with the GNIB in Ireland
After being closed for over 3 months due to Covid-19, the Registration Office in Burgh Quay will reopen today, 20 July 2020. I wanted to share with you the three key categories of registering yourself with the GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau) as there have been some changes to registering/re-registering due to Covid-19.
FIRST TIME REGISTRATION IN DUBLIN
The Registration Office in Burgh Quay (this is where all Dublin registrations take place) will reopen today but in a new capacity. This reopening is for appointment holders only. Priority is being given to those who had their first-time registration appointments cancelled and will be contacted directly by Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) with new appointments. Anyone who needs to register but did not previously have an appointment should contact ISD at burghquayoffice@justice.ie and request and appointment. Just an FYI – I have emailed this address a few times pre-Covid and they typically take about two weeks to get back so if you are emailing now, I would say not to be expecting an answer on anything not urgent anytime too soon.
REGISTRATION RENEWAL IN DUBLIN
For those renewing their registration, you will no longer be required to book an appointment online here and attend the registration office in person. Applicants looking to renew their visa permission will now complete an application form online (click here) upload copies of their supporting documents (click here to check the documents required for your renewal) online, pay the applicable fee, and then send their passport and current IRP (Irish Residence Permit) card via registered post. More information on where/how to send your passport and current IRP can be found here. The documents will then be checked and, if approved, the passport will be stamped and returned by registered post and an IRP card issued by express post.
REGISTRATION OUTSIDE OF DUBLIN
If you live in the country (aka: anywhere in Ireland that is not Dublin) you must register at the Garda station (registration office) closest to where you live. The regional registration offices are managed by An Garda Síochána (the Irish police) and are located at the stations around the country. You can find your nearest Garda station here.
You can find the documents you need to bring with you to register for the first time or to renew your registration. You may need an appointment to register at your local Garda station (registration office). It advised to contact the Garda station before you visit to confirm requirements and to check opening days and times.
Personally, I am so happy that the renewal for registration is being moved to an online/post system. When I first moved to Ireland the system to register in Dublin was to queue outside the building and hoping you would be let in as they had a daily limit. One time I queued from 11:00pm the night before to get in at 8:00am the next morning. OUTSIDE.ALL.NIGHT.to renew my visa. It was ridiculous.
Even when they did move to an online booking system, it was a mess. I would spend days refreshing the page hoping an appointment would become available. At one point, people were paying bots to make them appointments. I am hopeful this new way forward will make the life of the GNIB staff and the non-nationals who have to register/re-register less stressful. I am certainly seeing less tears over visa appointments in my future anyway!