Columban Missionary Fr Bobby Gilmore was one of 14,500 signatures on a public petition organised by the Fair Fees Campaign Group which was handed to the Minister for Justice recently asking her to reduce Irish Residence Permit Card fees.
The Fair Fees campaign group is made up of migrant workers and international students, who are deeply concerned about the extortionate cost of the Irish Residence Permit card especially with the current cost of living crisis. The campaign is lined to the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) which Fr Bobby Gilmore helped to set up.
Minister Helen McEntee has been urged to reduce the current fee of €300 to a level more in line with similar fees charged for other state registrations such as a passport (€75) or driver’s licence (€55).
Migrant rights group hands over public petition, with more than 14,500 signatures, to the Minister for Justice calling on her to reduce extortionate Irish Residence Permit card fees. Picture: Arthur Carron
The Fair Fees group has said they cannot see any justification for the fee to be so high. It costs the State €20.44 to issue each card and other countries charge much less for similar services.
A Department of Justice representative accepted the petition on behalf of the Minister.
Two representatives from the Fair Fees group addressed the supporters gathered at the Department of Justice.
Lijie Shao said, “I came to Ireland over ten years ago to study. I’m working as a tutor and I’m a mother. Just like many others, I’ve got bills to pay, rent, childcare, utilities – and then on top of all that we must pay this fee just for living here? It’s so unfair.”
Senthil Ramasamy added, “This petition we’re handing over today shows a huge amount of support for a reduction in these fees. They are placing an additional and unfair financial burden on migrants. We believe that everybody deserves to be treated equally and fairly in the country they call home.”
Most people living in Ireland from outside the EU are forced to pay this fee every year, some even more often. Last year alone (2022) the government collected €58 million from people paying IRP card fees.
According to the Fair Fees campaign group, “Everybody deserves to be treated equally and fairly in the country they call home. Whether you’ve moved to Ireland to work, study, or join family and loved ones, no-one should be faced with an unwarranted government fee just for registering to live here.”
Onon Dayara, Mongolia, Tao Chang, China and Liesi Scott, South Africa. Picture: Arthur Carron
The Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card costs €300 yet it only costs €20.44 to produce and deliver each card. Most people living in Ireland from outside the EU are forced to pay this fee every year, some even more often.
Non-EU workers such as nurses, chefs, engineers, IT specialists, agri-food workers, truck drivers, international students and each of their family members often have to pay this fee every year.
The fee doubled in 2012 as an austerity measure and it has not been reviewed since. It is much higher than similar fees in other European countries. This high-cost places an additional and unfair financial burden on people.
In total in the past 10 years the state has generated over €300 million (€312,417,602) from IRP cards fees alone yet it has cost just €21 million (€21,282,465) to produce and deliver these cards.
For more information see: https://www.mrci.ie/fair-fees-campaign/
Comparison with other countries
| Ireland | €300 |
| Greece | €16 |
| Spain | €16.08 – €21.87 |
| Austria | €20 |
| Switzerland | €42 |
| Luxembourg | €80 |