International Protection

International Protection is a form of protection granted to those fleeing persecution in their home countries and is granted on the basis of an assessment of an individual’s circumstances.

International Protection

There are two important forms of international protection in Ireland:

1. Refugee status, and
2. Subsidiary Protection

To qualify for international protection, a person must make an application to the International Protection Office. An applicant will be granted either refugee status or subsidiary protection where it is found that they meet the relevant definition, as defined under International and EU law.

Refugee

A refugee is a person who is outside their country of origin/ country of former habitual residence, owing to a ‘well-founded fear of persecution’ linked to one or more of the below five grounds:

• Racial identity
• Religion
• Political Opinion (can be imputed or by association)
• Nationality
• Membership of a Particular Social Group (e.g. gender, sexual orientation, disability, etc.

Subsidiary Protection

If it is decided that you are not a refugee, you may qualify for subsidiary protection if there are substantial grounds for believing that you would face a real risk of suffering serious harm if returned to your country of origin/country of former habitual residence.

To be eligible for Subsidiary Protection a person needs to demonstrate that they face ‘serious harm’ in their country of origin, for instance:

• Death penalty or execution
• Torture or inhuman or degrading treatment
• Serious threat to your life due to indiscriminate violence in international or internal armed conflict (war).

International Protection

Applicants for International Protection must lodge their applications at CityWest Reception Centre, Dublin 24.

The Address for the CityWest Reception Centre is:

International Protection Office, CityWest Reception Centre, Garters Lane, Saggart, Dublin, D24A38Y

Before you apply, see here.

Screening:

Applicants must undergo a screening process which can last a maximum of 7 days. This will include:

• A Vulnerability Assessment. This is to determine whether or not the applicant has special reception or special procedural needs.*
• Biometric data will be taken.
• Applicants will also prepare their application for international protection (applicants may avail of legal counselling services).
• Before an applicant is granted access to the international protection process in Ireland, a pre-examination of their application may take place. At the end of the screening process, an applicant will then be referred to one of a number of procedures.

Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR):

The AMMR gives member state’s powers to determine if an application should be heard in another EU member state, for example, where an application is already lodged in that state. This would mean that the applicant is not being granted access to the international protection process in Ireland. There is a right of appeal in respect of any such decision.

Admissibility:

Where an applicant has been granted international protection in another EU member state, or can avail of the protection of another country, they may not be admitted to the international protection process in Ireland. There is a right of appeal in respect of any such decision.

Where AMMR does not apply and/ or an application is found to be admissible, applicants will be granted access to the international protection process.

Standard Procedure:

Once the application is lodged, the next step within the process is the personal interview. Applicants will be notified of this interview in advance and may seek legal advice and/ or representation.

In accordance with EU law, a decision on an application processed through the standard procedure will be provided within 6 months save where a disproportionate number of third-country nationals or stateless persons make an application for international protection within the same period, complex issues of fact or law are involved, or the delay can be attributed to the applicant. A decision can also be postponed due to an uncertain situation in the country of origin which is expected to be temporary. However, and notwithstanding the above exceptions, the application must be processed within 21 months from the lodging of an application.

Accelerated Procedure:

The International Protection Act 2026 provides that some applications will be accelerated. Applicants will likely receive their interview date upon application. Applicants can also expect to receive a first instance decision within 3 months.

Applications may be accelerated where the applicant:

• in lodging his or her application and presenting the facts, has only raised issues that are irrelevant
• has made clearly inconsistent, contradictory, clearly false or obviously improbable representations or representations which contradict relevant and available country of origin information
• intentionally misled the authorities
• makes an application merely to delay, frustrate or prevent the enforcement of a decision for his or her removal
• comes from a designated safe third country
• is considered a danger to national security
• makes an application which is a subsequent application which is not inadmissible
• entered the territory of the State unlawfully and, without good reason, has not made an application as soon as possible
• entered the territory of the State lawfully and, without good reason, has not made an application as soon as possible
• is coming from a country with a international protection recognition rate of 20% or lower**

Asylum Border Procedure:

The asylum border procedure provides for a full consideration of an international protection application, including appeal, at a designated border centre, for example City West. Applicants are not considered to be legally in the state and restrictions on their movement will apply.

Instances where the border may apply include following:

• an application made at an external border crossing point or in a transit zone
• apprehension in connection with an unauthorised crossing of the external border
• disembarkation in the State after a search and rescue operation
• relocation in accordance with Article 67(11) of the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation

Instances where the border procedure shall apply include where the above apply and the applicant:

• after having been provided with the full opportunity to show good cause, is considered to have intentionally misled the authorities
• is considered a danger to national security
• is coming from a country with a international protection recognition rate of 20% or lower**

**Note that EUAA reporting has found that the recognition rate for Ukrainian nationals is currently 59%

Statutory Appeal:

It is also possible to appeal a decision of the International Protection Office not to grant either Refugee Status or Subsidiary Protection. Appeals are lodged to the Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals (TARA)

*Special Procedural and/ or Reception Needs:

Where special procedural and or/ reception needs are identified within the screening process, and it is not possible to meet those needs within the accelerated procedure or border procedure, these proceudres will not apply.

International Protection

1. Those awaiting a decision on their application:
   
   Those applicants whose applications are processed through the standard procedure and accelerated procedure are granted a right to reside for the purposes of their engagement with the international protection process. This right is revoked if the applicant is refused international protection.
   Those applicants whose applications are processed through the border procedure do not have a legal right to reside in Ireland.
   
   
2. Those granted International Protection:
   
   Those granted international protection have a right to reside and will receive a ‘stamp 4’ residence permit which is renewable upon expiry.
   

International Protection

1. Those awaiting a decision on their application:
   
   Access to the labour market is limited for international protection applicants. Applicants may access the labour market only in circumstances where they have not received a first instance decision within 6 months.
   
   
2. Those granted International Protection:
   
   If granted International Protection, individuals can access the labour market, as freely as an Irish citizen.

International Protection

1. Those awaiting a decision on their application:
   
   Whilst in the international protection process, applicants are not permitted to leave Ireland without the permission of the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, which is typically only granted in exceptional circumstances.
   
   
2. Those granted International Protection:
   
   Those granted international protection are permitted to travel outside of Ireland. However they are advised not to return to their countries of origin as to do so could place them in danger and undermine their claim. Refugees, and in some limited circumstances beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, are entitled to a Refugee Convention Travel Document.

International Protection

1. Those awaiting a decision on their application:
   
   International Protection Applicants are entitled to accommodation through the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). Accommodation provided may be quite basic, emergency accommodation and could be anywhere in the country, including in some instances in remote rural locations.
   
   
2. Those granted International Protection:
   
   Those granted international protection can access mainstream housing supports as freely as an irish citizen,
   This includes Social Housing Support and Rent Supplement.

International Protection:

1. Those awaiting a decision on their application:

In some instances, applicants for international protection may have their free movement within the state restricted. This can include:

A requirement to reside in a specified place:

• For reasons of public order
• Where there is a risk of the applicant absconding

Or

A requirement to report to the authorities:

• For reasons of public order
• Where there is a risk of the applicant absconding
  
  

2. Those granted international protection

Beneficiaries of international protection are free to move within the state without restriction.

International Protection

1. Those awaiting a decision on their application:
   
   International Protection Applicants who are residing in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), are entitled to a weekly allowance of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child. International Protection Applicants are not entitled to Child Benefit.
   
   
2. Those granted International Protection:
   
   Those granted international protection can access mainstream social welfare supports on an equal basis as Irish citizens subject to meeting the eligibility criteria. For more information see here.

International Protection

Those granted international protection may apply for naturalisation after 5 years residency subject to eligibility criteria. See our information hub page here for further updates.