IrelandAsylum / refugee status

Asylum in Ireland in Ireland

International protection is the Irish asylum procedure for people who cannot return to their country of origin because of a well-founded fear of persecution or a risk of serious harm. The application is assessed by the International Protection Office (IPO); the outcome is refugee status, subsidiary protection or a refusal.

Threshold

There is no salary threshold; state support may be available

Processing time

Timeframes vary

Work

Restricted at the early stages; access is possible after a waiting period

Residence

Live at the registered address, comply with reporting/registration requirements

Source: ipo.irishimmigration.ie — International Protection Office (asylum)

Who can apply and what you can be granted

Who can make an application

You cannot safely return to your country of origin: there is a well-founded fear of persecution or a real risk of serious harm
The authorities of the country of origin cannot or will not protect the applicant
You can make an application in Ireland in person — this is a guaranteed right that does not depend on how you came to the country
The application is registered and made at the Citywest Reception Centre in Saggart

What status you can be granted

Refugee status — where there is a well-founded fear of persecution on grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group
Subsidiary protection — where the applicant does not meet the refugee criteria but on return would face a general risk of serious harm at home, for example because of war
Programme refugee — the status for those invited to Ireland by government decision in response to a humanitarian request, usually from UNHCR

Documents to gather

There may be no ready set of documents — at registration whatever you have with you is collected and your biometrics are taken.

Passport and other identity documents, as well as travel documents — if you have them
Fingerprints and a photograph — taken from all applicants for the Eurodac database
Personal and contact details, and information about relatives already in Ireland or another EU+ country
Where necessary — the results of a medical examination and a vulnerability assessment

How the process runs

The procedure for applications made after 12 June 2026.

1
Registration and making the application
The application is registered at the Citywest Reception Centre: fingerprints and a photograph are taken, documents are examined, you are asked about relatives in Ireland or another EU+ country, and a medical examination and vulnerability assessment may be carried out.
2
Admissibility check
up to 2 months
Not for every application: the authorities check six questions — whether the applicant has received protection before, whether they can be returned to a safe country, whether they made the application more than 7 days after a return decision and others. As a result the application is either rejected or examined further on its merits.
3
Personal interview
The applicant explains in detail why they are seeking protection and do not want to return home. Failure to attend without a valid reason or refusal to answer questions is treated as withdrawal of the application.
4
Decision
The International Protection Office (IPO) decides whether to grant international protection or to refuse it, and communicates the decision in a language the applicant understands. Where the application is refused, a decision to return the applicant to their country of origin is issued at the same time.

Who you can bring with you

The rules apply only to those who have already been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection, and take effect 2 years after that decision.

Spouse, civil or de facto partner — if the relationship began before the application for refugee status in Ireland

A family reunification application can be made no earlier than 2 years after the status was granted

An unmarried child under 18

The same two-year waiting period after the sponsor was granted status

An adult child or parent who is long-term dependent on the applicant, or has a mental or physical illness

The same two-year waiting period

A minor who arrived without an accompanying adult

May ask in writing for the two-year waiting period and/or the requirement not to be a burden on the state to be waived

An applicant under 18

May apply for reunification with their father, mother or another adult who was responsible for them, including an adult brother or sister

Renewal and the grace period

Refugee status is granted for at least 3 years and is then reviewed. Subsidiary protection is granted for at least 1 year and is reviewed after 2 years. Once status is granted you must register and obtain an Irish Residence Permit. Refugees can apply for Irish citizenship after 5 years of reckonable residence.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Asylum in Ireland	Permit for shortage occupations	General employment permit
Visa term	Not a permit with an ordinary renewal; where protection is granted, the corresponding statuses apply	Tied to the employer, at least 9 months with the first one, then a flexible status	Usually 1–2 years, renewable
Money	There is no salary threshold; state support may be available	EUR 40,904 for some critical occupations with a degree; EUR 36,848 for graduates; EUR 68,911+ for other roles	A threshold of about EUR 36,605 for most occupations
Work	Restricted at the early stages; access is possible after a waiting period	Yes, for the employer in the stated role until Stamp 4	Yes, for the named employer/role
Residence	Live at the registered address, comply with reporting/registration requirements	Employment; the 50:50 rule on EEA composition	Actual employment, labour market restrictions

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Where protection is granted, a route to long-term residence is possible

Route to citizenship

Naturalisation is possible after sufficient residence

Frequently asked questions about Asylum in Ireland

Who can apply for international protection in Ireland?

An application can be made by anyone who cannot return to their country of origin because of a well-founded fear of persecution or a real risk of serious harm, where the authorities of that country cannot or will not protect them. You can make the application in person — this is a guaranteed right.

What is the difference between refugee status and subsidiary protection?

Refugee status is granted where a person has a well-founded fear of persecution on grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group. Subsidiary protection is granted to those who do not meet those grounds but on returning home would face a general risk of serious harm — for example because of war in the country.

How long does it take to process an application?

Under the standard procedure the IPO issues a decision within 6 months of the application being made. Under the accelerated procedure — no later than 3 months after the application. Under the border procedure — up to 3 months from the registration of the application, and within that period the first decision, the appeal and the return decision must all be completed.

Can you work while the application is being processed?

You cannot work without permission. You can apply for permission to work if no decision has been taken on the international protection application within 5 months.

Can my family come to me in Ireland after status is granted?

Yes, but only 2 years after a refugee or subsidiary protection declaration is granted — you cannot apply for family reunification earlier. Those who can join you are a spouse or partner (if the relationship began before the application), children under 18, and adult children and parents who are long-term dependent on the applicant or have a disability. An unaccompanied minor can ask in writing for this waiting period to be waived.

What should you do if the application is refused?

The decision can be appealed to the Tribunal for Asylum and Return Appeals (TARA). Decisions refusing refugee status, refusing both forms of protection, finding an application inadmissible and return decisions can all be appealed. You can obtain a lawyer from the Legal Aid Board free of charge for the appeal.

Are an interpreter and free legal assistance provided?

Yes. If the applicant does not speak English, an interpreter is provided free of charge at registration, when making the application and at the personal interview. Legal advice and legal representation from the Legal Aid Board are also available free of charge at any stage of the procedure.

What happens if you do not attend the personal interview?

If the applicant does not attend the interview without a serious and justified reason, the international protection application is treated as withdrawn and the case will no longer be examined. The same applies if the applicant refuses to answer questions without a serious reason.

Other ways to move to Ireland

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Ireland.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.