Migrant Rights Centre Ireland Urges Government to Reduce Immigration Fees
While Budget 2025 promised some relief to many Irish households gripped by the current cost-of-living crisis, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland feels that the government hasn’t taken adequate measures to lessen the financial strain of immigration costs.
Migrant Rights Centre Ireland Fair Fees Campaign spokesperson, Mina Benyamine, has called out the Irish Government for failing to reduce the exorbitant Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card fee of €300 for everyone over the age of 18. It costs a further €300 to renew the card annually.
This yearly registration fee poses an unnecessary financial burden on families that are already struggling to make ends meet in the climate of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in Ireland.
Benyamine has labelled these costs as “extortionate and unfair”, adding, “The Minister for Justice committed to a review last year and we cannot see how the government can justify keeping the fee the same when we understand they have a budget surplus of well over €20 billion.”
In the period between 2013 and 2023, IRP cards generated €318 million in revenue for the state.
As pointed out by the MRCI, it costs the state a meagre €20.50 to produce and deliver the card to the recipient. Between 2013 and 2023, it cost the state €22 million.
2023 saw The Department of Justice collecting a record breaking €71 million from issuing IRP cards to migrants. This is an increase of €18 million from 2022’s figure.
According to MRCI, the fee is also significantly higher when compared to equivalent permits in other European countries. A fellow member of the EU, Greece, only charges €16 for its permit.
Kareshma Sookharry, a single mother from Mauritius working as a catering assistant, spoke about the difficulties she faced with regards to the cost-of-living.
Sookharry stated, “There were times when we had to go without basics just to have money to pay the fee. I pay monthly rent of €1,300 on top of bills, food, childcare, medical expenses while also supporting my parents. The IRP card fees always leave us in a big hole financially.”
Neil Bruton, co-director of the MRCI states, “The issuing of an IRP card is a simple and inexpensive procedure, just like renewing a passport.”
“A standard 10-year passport costs €75 and a driving licence costs €55 for first time and renewal and lasts 10 years. Yet the price of an IRP card is much higher and is charged every year.”
He adds, “Reducing these fees is the right thing to do and will show that Ireland values students, workers and families who make their home here and contribute so much to our society.”
The Department of Justice has responded by saying that the costs associated with the IRP card are justified, as it ensures the individual receives an authentic document along with secure biometric indicators that are protected by an advanced encryption system.
A spokesperson states, “The standard registration fee of €300 payable by an applicant is designed to reflect the full effort and cost, beyond the physical cost of producing the card itself, in processing registrations”.
The department argues that while there was no reduction in the fee, it is a justified amount, as these fees maintain immigration services by covering most of the overhead costs, like paying employees maintaining computer systems, and it also helps to modernise the immigration support services that are in place.
The spokesperson added, “The minister anticipates that the current structure of fees and permissions will be subject to further examination and review as the overall process of modernising the immigration system progresses and this will, of course, be the subject of appropriate consultation.”
