Change in circumstance & cessations

We are introducing a simpler and more secure way for you to submit Change in Circumstance applications. From 3rd February 2026 these applications will move from email submission to the Tusla Change in Circumstance and Registration Renewal Portal (available here: Tusla Portal), in line with the existing registration renewal process.

What this means for you:

All Change in Circumstance applications for early years and school age services will be submitted directly through the Tusla Change in Circumstance and Registration Renewal Portal.
Childminders will continue to submit their applications by email.
You will need a Tusla Change in Circumstance and Registration Renewal Portal account to use this system.
All regulatory timeframes will remain the same.

Support and guidance:

We will publish clear information on the Tusla website, including portal guides, step‑by‑step handbooks, and other resources to help you get started.

Phased transition:

To make the change as smooth as possible, there will be a 4-week lead‑in period after the portal goes live. During this time, Change in Circumstance applications will continue to be accepted by email, giving you flexibility while you transition to the new process. CICs will be accepted via email until Friday 27th February 2026.

This update is part of our ongoing efforts to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and provide a more consistent and secure way of managing applications. We believe it will make things easier for you and save valuable time.

If you have any questions or need support with the new process, please do not hesitate to contact the Change in Circumstance Team who will be happy to assist you.

Change in Circumstances

Registered providers are required to notify the Early Years Inspectorate when proposing to make any change to their current registration. This requirement is set out under:

Regulation 8 of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 221 of 2016)
Regulation 7 of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations 2018

All proposed changes are assessed by the Inspectorate to ensure they are lawful and do not pose a risk to children.

Notification Timeframes

Providers must submit notification within the following timeframes:

At least 60 days in advance for changes to Full Day Care, Part-Time, Sessional, Childminding, Drop-In, and Overnight services.
At least 60 days in advance for changes to a School Age service.
At least 7 calendar days in advance for changes to a Temporary service.

Cessations

Registered providers must notify the Early Years Inspectorate of the cessation (closure) of a service within 28 days of the closure.

This requirement does not apply to temporary services.

Submitting Applications

All Change in Circumstance (CIC) applications, for Early Years and School Age Services (not childminders) must be submitted through the Tusla Change in Circumstance and Registration Renewal Portal available here.

A Tusla Change in Circumstance and Registration Renewal Portal account is required to access and use the system.
Regulatory timeframes for CIC applications remain unchanged.

Notifications of cessation (closure) of service must also be submitted through the Tusla Change in Circumstance and Registration Renewal Portal available here.

Notification for proposed change in circumstances and cessations (closures)

Irish Version [coming soon]

For Early Years (pre-school) change in circumstance information, please go to the Early Years (pre-school) Change in Circumstance and cessations page

Support and Guidance

The inspectorate has developed a range of resources to assist providers in using the portal to submit applications correctly. You can access these via the links below:

Portal user guide
Step-by-step handbook
Change in circumstance Infographic
Declaration Form - Change of Registered Provider (No sale of Service)

Our Commitment

The Tusla Change in Circumstance and Registration Renewal Portal provide a secure, streamlined, and consistent way of managing applications. This system is designed to save providers time, improve efficiency, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Contact

For questions or support with the portal process, please contact: cic.eyi@tusla.ie

Information on other service types

For information regarding childminding change in circumstances, referred to as ‘variation in terms of registration’, which will continue to be submitted by email, please visit the Childminding Services Change in Circumstances and Cessations page Change in Circumstances & CessationsTusla - Child and Family Agency

For information on Early Years (pre-school) change in circumstance applications, please visit the Early Years (pre-school) Change in Circumstances and Cessations Page (Changes in Circumstances & CessationsTusla - Child and Family Agency)