Immigration (GNIB)

Registration of immigration permission for people living in Dublin is now operated by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration service (INIS).

Only people living in the greater Dublin area are affected by this change.

People living in the rest of the country should continue to register with their local GNIB immigration office.

Further information on the Burgh Quay Registration Office is available at http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/registration.

It must be emphasised that the nature of the immigration registration process is such that a personal presence is required by applicants to provide their personal details, including biometrics. This is a standard requirement with immigration services throughout the world.

Over 100,000 callers to the building are dealt with each year. Approximately 30,000 non-EEA students who arrive in the State to take up educational opportunities are required under law to register within 90 days of coming here. The vast majority of these arrive in the autumn and are in addition to the normal workload which is dealt with throughout the year without any difficulties.

All registrations at the Burgh Quay Registration office are by appointment only. The office no longer operates a walk-in queuing system.

It should be noted however that the GNIB Public Office is open for people with appointments to register their immigration permission from 8am to 9pm each Monday to Thursday and 8am to 6pm each Friday. The office also remains open through lunchtime.

Non-nationals residing outside of the Dublin Metropolitan Region will continue to register in the Registration District in which they reside and will be required to return to the same Registration Office to collect their Certificate of Registration at a later date.

Existing Certificates of Registration will remain valid until the date on which the certificate is expressed to expire.

The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB)

The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carries out deportations, border control and investigations relating to illegal immigration.   

GNIB is based at 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. It is headed by a Detective Chief Superintendent who reports to the Assistant Commissioner, Organised & Serious Crime.  

If you are residing in the Dublin Metropolitan Region you must register at the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) offices at 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. The registration desk opening hours are:

The Registration Office at the INIS is open to the public from:

Monday to Thursday: 8am. to 9pm
Friday: 8am to 6pm 

Procedure for renewing your GNIB Card:

Are you residing in the Dublin area? 

Renew your card at GNIB, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.

Tel: +353 1 666 9100/1

Further information on the Burgh Quay Registration Office is available at http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/registration.

Are you residing outside the Dublin area? 

Renew your card at your local Garda Síochána District Headquarters Station. To find out where your District Headquarters Station is, contact your local Garda Station.   

In order to obtain a Garda/Police Certificate of Character please apply in writing to your local Garda Station. These are not provided by GNIB under any circumstances. 

Scam alert - Hoax Calls from Phone number 01 6669100

Some customers of Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) have been contacted by telephone by a person purporting to be from INIS.

The caller tells the person that they are the subject of a Deportation Order from the authorities in their country of origin and that they face deportation that day. They are told that INIS is acting on behalf of their own Government to recoup an administration payment which will prevent their immediate deportation.

This payment is to be made to an account in their country of origin. The caller I.D. number that displays is a real INIS number and the caller directs people to the website address and indeed the number will appear, on the face of it, to be legitimate.

This is an attempted fraud. INIS does not and will not contact applicants by telephone in relation to any such payments to accounts abroad. INIS does not under any circumstances request payment for its services over the telephone. Furthermore, any persons facing deportation from the State will have been involved in a detailed process and would be notified in writing by registered post in advance of any planned deportation.

Customers are asked to be vigilant. Do not give details of your immigration application or status to telephone callers unless you are sure who they are.

If someone demands payment of any monies, contact INIS or your local Garda Station immediately.

Link to the Department of Justice and Equality website is available here