During the pandemic, immigration permissions were extended nine times to allow people who held a valid permission to be in the State in March 2020 to be legally permitted to remain here until 31 May 2022.

In a statement today, justice minister Helen McEntee said the extensions were made in extraordinary circumstances which are returning to normal, and the immigration system will also now return to a more normal way of doing business.

However, she added: “I recognise that additional clarity regarding immigration arrangements post 31 May is required for some groups. In particular, for employees who may be awaiting the renewal of their Irish Residence Permit card and for English language students who intend to enrol in third level courses from September.

“Non-EEA nationals can continue to work if they can provide documentary evidence of their ongoing application to renew their immigration permission to their employer.

“As in previous years prior to the pandemic, English language students who have completed their maximum three eight-month courses and who intend to enrol in third level for an undergraduate or graduate course beginning in the autumn, can apply for a short-term letter of permission based on their proof of application or enrolment. This will provide them with a bridging permission over the summer months until they start their course, which they can then register in the normal way.”