What is the International Protection Bill 2026?

The International Protection Bill 2026 (sometimes know as the PACT) is law that will significantly change Ireland’s asylum process. It is being introduced to align Ireland with new rules coming from the EU.

The 2026 Bill will replace the current laws governing asylum in Ireland: the International Protection Act 2015.

Who will be impacted by the new Bill?

If you apply for asylum from June 12th onwards, your application will be processed under these new rules.

If you applied for asylum before this date, then your application will be processed under the current rules (governed by the International Protection Act 2018).

In the other words, the new rules will mainly impact people who apply for asylum from June 12th onwards. However, some upcoming changes may impact everyone in the asylum process, regardless of when you applied for asylum - the clearest example of this are up-coming to changes to Family Renification.

The extent to which the rules will impact an application will depend on many factors including how someone arrives to Ireland, their country of origin, vulnerabilty etc

Screening

If you arrive to Ireland to claim asylum, you will undergo screening at a screening centre (most likely the Citywest Convention Centre).

If you have an existing immigration permission in Ireland before applying for asylum, you will not have to undergo screening (although the Minister can require it "in the interests of public policy and national security).

What happens during Screening?

• You will have your Fingerprints and photograph taken
• Health: You will be asked to undergo a preliminary health assessment by a medical professional to identify any serious diseases or needs.
• Vulnerabilty: You will undergo a Preliminary Vulnerability Assessment (S.28) to identify if you have any special procedural or reception needs. In other words, you will be asked questions to check if you need special supports to engage with the aslyum process (for example literacy? disability? age?) or to in terms of your accommodation (medical or mental health, pregnancy etc)
• Travel: You will be asked questions about how you traveled to Ireland and what documents you used. Where relevant, you will address the reasons for coming to Ireland "irregularly"
• Information: You will be provided with information on the process (s.26)
• Apply: You will also make your asylum application during this time

How long does it take?

Screening should take place in less than 7 days.

What happens after screening?

An immigration officer will decide, based on the screening process, which procedure your case will be placed in:

• Standard procedure
• Accelerated procedure
• Border procedure
• Inadmissible procedure
• AMMR

The Different Procedures

Which procedure you are placed in will significantly impact how your application is dealt with, especially when it comes to processing times.

The Standard Procedure

6 months - not including appeal