Immigration in Ireland in 2017

23 May 2018

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service published Immigration in Ireland: Annual Review 2017.

Key figures for 2017

Migration to Ireland

  • In 2017, 128,000 people from non-EU were legally living in Ireland (increase of 13,000 on 2016).

Visa applications 

  • In 2017, approximately 125,527 entry visa applications were received, an increase of 1% on 2016 figures. The approval rate for applications received in 2017 was 89%.
  • Top 5 nationalities of visa applicants were:
    • India (20.6%)
    • China (13.4%)
    • Russia (11.1%)
    • Pakistan (5.1%)
    • Nigeria (4.6%)

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 108,000 in 2017.
  • Top 5 registered nationalities were from:
    • Brazil (14.6%)
    • India (13.5%)
    • China (9%)
    • USA (7.4%)
    • Pakistan (5.7%)

Citizenship

  • 8,199 citizenship certificates issued in 2017.
  • Top 5 nationalities awarded citizenship were:
    • Poland (16.5%)
    • Romania (9.3%)
    • India (8.1%)
    • United Kingdom (6.5%)
    • Nigeria (8%)

International Protection and Asylum

  • 2,926 new applications for asylum were received in 2017.
  • 5,096 persons seeking international protection resided in State-provided accommodation. 
  • Top 5 countries of application:
    • Syria (19%)
    • Georgia (10%)
    • Albania (10%)
    • Zimbabwe (9%)
    • Pakistan (7%)

Refugee Resettlement and Relocation programmes

  • In 2017, 515 people transferred from Greece under the EU relocation programme.
  • 792 refugees have been resettled in Ireland at the end of 2017, under EU resettlement programme.

Return

  • 3,968 people were deported/removed from Ireland in 2017 including:
    • 3,746 persons refused entry into Ireland at ports of entry and returned to the place from where they had come.
    • 140 unsuccessful asylum applicants and irregular migrants who were deported.
    • 56 asylum seekers transferred under the Dublin Regulation to the EU Member State in which they first applied for asylum.
    • 82 EU nationals returned to their countries of origin on foot of an EU Removal Order.
    • 181 people returned voluntarily of which 96 were assisted by the International Organization for Migration.

Department of Justice and Equality stated priorities for 2018 include:

  • Continue to participate in Brexit discussions.
  • Implement the EU Passenger Name Records Directive (May 2018).
  • Implement the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive.
  • Improve immigration controls and security at ports of entry.
  • Improve processing rate for international applications.
  • Review immigration legislation and systems.
  • Administer the Immigration Investor Programme.

For further information: