A new credit card-sized identity and residency card for non-nationals which would contain biometric information is being examined by senior Government officials involved in drafting new immigration laws.
It is one of a number of measures likely to form part of an overhaul of the immigration system designed to cope with significant increases in the volume of people seeking to live and work here.
The new residence permit system would be aimed at non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals in Ireland and would show the holder's status, contain biometric data - such as fingerprints - and would be needed to gain access to public services.
A new category of long-term resident is also being considered for non-nationals resident in the State for more than five years. At present the only secure long-term status a non-EEA national can obtain is by way of naturalisation, which may involve breaking links with a person's country of origin.
The entitlements of people with the new long-term resident status would be greater than those of temporary residents and would be similar to those given to Irish citizens.