Temporary Protection Renewal to 2027 — What You Need to Do

The extension to 4 March 2027 is automatic — you do not need to reapply for Temporary Protection status itself. But your IRP card has its own expiry date and must be renewed separately. Many people confuse the two. This page explains the difference.

⏱ 7 min read · ✓ Updated 2026 · 🇮🇪 Ireland · 🇺🇦 Ukraine

The status vs the card — two different things

This is the most important thing to understand:

Temporary Protection STATUS — extended automatically to March 2027

You do not need to apply for anything. The EU decision extends the status automatically. Your right to live and work in Ireland continues.

Your IRP CARD — has its own expiry date, must be renewed

The physical card in your wallet has a date printed on it. When that date passes, the card stops being valid as proof of your status — even though your status itself continues. You need to renew the card before it expires.

Check your card nowLook at the expiry date on your IRP card. If it expires within the next 3 months, book a renewal appointment immediately. An expired card can cause problems with employers, banks, and when travelling.

How to renew your IRP card

If your card has already expired

If your IRP card expired and you did not renew it in time, you are in what is called overstay — even though your Temporary Protection status itself was still valid. This can complicate things. You should still book a renewal appointment as soon as possible and explain the situation to the immigration officer. Bring any evidence that you have been living lawfully in Ireland (employment records, tenancy, school letters, etc.).

Get adviceIf your card has been expired for more than a few weeks, contact the Irish Refugee Council (irishrefugeecouncil.ie) or Nasc (nasc.ie) for free advice before your appointment. They can help you prepare.

Travelling outside Ireland with an expired card

Do not travel outside Ireland with an expired IRP cardIf your IRP card expires while you are outside Ireland, you may have serious difficulty re-entering the country. Renew your card before any travel abroad. This applies to travel to the UK as well — under the Common Travel Area, Ireland and the UK have shared immigration arrangements.

More Temporary Protection Guides

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