The Department of Justice and Equality published the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Immigration in Ireland: Annual Review 2016.
Key figures for 2016*
Refugee Resettlement and Relocation programmes
- In 2016, Ireland has taken in 240 people, mainly Syrian families, from Greece under the EU relocation programme.
- 519 refugees have been resettled in Ireland at the end of 2016, under refugee resettlement programme.
Registration of permission to remain in the State
- The number of non-EEA nationals with permission to remain in Ireland (for longer than 90 days) was approximately 96,000 in 2016 (the same as in 2015).
- Top 5 registered nationalities were from:
- Brazil (13.2%)
- India (12.2%)
- China (9.2%)
- USA (7.9%)
- Pakistan (6%)
Visa applications
- In 2016, approximately 124,225 entry visa applications were received, an increase of 7% on 2015 figures. The approval rate for applications received in 2016 was 90%.
- Top 5 nationalities of visa applicants were:
- India (20%)
- China (13%)
- Russia (10%)
- Pakistan (8%)
- Turkey (5%)
Citizenship
- 10,044 citizenship certificates issued in 2016.
- Top 5 nationalities awarded citizenship were:
- Poland (13%)
- India (10%)
- Nigeria (8%)
- Romania (8%)
- Philippines (7%)
International Protection and Asylum
- 2,244 new applications for asylum were received in 2016 compared to 3,276 in 2015, a decrease of 32%.
- Approximately 4,420 persons seeking international protection resided in State-provided accommodation in Ireland in 2016, a decrease of 5.9% compared with 2015.
On 31 December 2016, the principal provisions of the International Protection Act 2015 commenced providing for the
introduction of a single application procedure for people seeking international protection.
Return
- Approximately 4,446 people were deported/removed from Ireland in 2016 including:
- 3,951 persons refused entry into Ireland at ports of entry and returned to the place from where they had come.
- 428 unsuccessful asylum applicants and irregular migrants who were deported.
- 42 asylum seekers transferred under the Dublin Regulation to the EU Member State in which they first applied for asylum.
- 67 EU nationals returned to their countries of origin on foot of an EU Removal Order.
- 187 people returned voluntarily of which 143 were assisted by the International Organization for Migration.
Key Legislation
- On 31 December 2016, the principal provisions of the International Protection Act 2015 commenced providing for the introduction of a single application procedure for people seeking international protection.
Department of Justice and Equality stated priorities for 2017
- Continue the implementation of the International Protection Act 2015, including the Single Application Procedure for the determination of protection applications.
- Complete the civilianisation of the border control at Dublin airport including transfer of passport control to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS)
- Commence Advance Passenger Information checks against passengers arriving at Irish airports, starting with non-EEA flights.
- Work with other Government Departments to negotiate with our European partners on immigration related matters, including protection of the Common Travel Area (CTA) when the UK triggers Article 50 as part of ‘Brexit’.
- Maintain progress on meeting our commitments under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.
For further information:
See: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Immigration in Ireland: Annual Review 2016
* Figures are provisional
