Immigration in Ireland in 2014
Date Published: 27-01-2015
The Department of Justice and Equality published provisional figures on immigration-related processing activity in Ireland during 2014.
Key figures for 2014*
Registration of permission to remain in the State
- The number of non-EEA nationals with permission to remain in the State (for longer than 90 days) was provisionally 95,000 in 2014 (compared to 107,000 in 2013).
- Top 6 registered nationalities were from:
- Brazil (12%)
- India (11%)
- China (9%)
- USA (7%)
- Nigeria (6%)
- Philippines (5%)
Visa applications
- In 2014, approximately 101,500 entry visa applications were received, an increase of 6% on 2013 figures. The approval rate for applications received in 2014 was 91%.
- Top 5 nationalities of visa applicants were:
- India (17%)
- Russia (14%)
- China (11%)
- Nigeria (6%)
- Saudi Arabia (5%)
International Students
- From January to November 2014, approximately 49,500 persons (compared with 45,800 for same period in 2013) were given permission to be in Ireland as students.
International Protection and Asylum
- Provisional figures show that 1,444 new applications for asylum were received in 2014 compared to 946 in 2013, an increase of 53%.
- 4,280 persons seeking international protection were accommodated in direct provision centres in Ireland in 2014 compared to 4,390 in 2013.
Return
- Approximately 2,360 people were deported/removed from the State in 2014 including:
- 2,147 persons refused entry into the State at ports of entry and returned to the place from where they had come.
- 111 unsuccessful asylum applicants and irregular migrants who were deported.
- 17 asylum seekers transferred under the Dublin Regulation to the EU Member State in which they first applied for asylum.
- 87 EU nationals returned to their countries of origin on foot of an EU Removal Order.
- 237 people returned voluntarily of which 189 were assisted by the International Organization for Migration.
Immigration data sharing with the UK
- The details of over 100,000 Irish visa applicants were cross-checked against UK records in 2014.
Automated border gates
- In 2014, over 260,000 passengers used the e-gates at Dublin airport
Department of Justice and Equality stated priorities for 2015:
- Civilisation of the border control at Dublin Airport with the 42 civilian immigration officers commencing border control duties in January 2015
- Extending the use of e-gates at Dublin Airport
- Introduction of an on-line appointment system for re-entry visa applications as well as streamlining of registration and visa re-entry processes
- Rollout of the British Irish Visa Scheme including introduction of visa biometrics
- Reform of International Education
- Following enactment of the Protection Bill, introduction of a new single protection system
- Implementation of the recommendations of the Working Group on the protection process including the Direct Provision System following Government approval.
For further information:
See Department of Justice and Equality Press Release
* Figures are provisional