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Afghan Admission Programme to open in December 2021
The Department of Justice has confirmed that the Afghan Admission Programme will open for applications on Thursday 16 December 2021. Up to 500 places will be available on the Programme for current or former Afghan nationals living legally in Ireland. Eligible candidates can apply for temporary residence for four close family members, who are living in Afghanistan or who have … Read More
13 Dec 2021New Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill enacted
The Department of Justice has announced that the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill has completed all stages in the Oireachtas and will be signed into law shortly. The new legislation strengthens laws against people smuggling. It covers a broad range of scenarios including intentionally assisting entry, transit, or presence where the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe … Read More
06 Dec 2021New scheme to regularise long-term undocumented migrants will open in January 2022
The Department of Justice has announced a new scheme to regularise long-term undocumented migrants and their families living in Ireland. Applicants must have a period of four years undocumented residence in the State, or three years in the case of those with children, to be eligible. Successful applicants will be granted an immigrant permission allowing for unrestricted access to the … Read More
24 Nov 2021Failure to hold a valid passport and/or visa among the main reasons for immigration detention in Ireland
New EMN Ireland/ESRI research finds that alternatives to detention, such as regular reporting to a Garda Síochána station, are used routinely for persons being deported or transferred to other Member States. Nonetheless, in 2019, 477 people were detained in Irish prisons for immigration-related reasons, reducing to 245 people in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main reasons for immigration-related prison … Read More
16 Nov 2021Changes to immigration system announced
The Department of Justice has announced a number of immigration changes to simplify the processing of citizenship applications and to facilitate immigration requirements over the Christmas period. From 1 January 2022, new citizenship applicants will no longer be required to submit their original passport with the initial application. Instead, applicants must provide a full colour copy of their entire passport, … Read More
01 Nov 2021Changes to the employment permit systems announced
The Government has announced several changes to the employment permits system for workers outside of the European Economic Area (EEA). Almost all occupations in the construction sector are now eligible for a General Employment Permit; HGV drivers recruited from outside the EEA will be eligible for an employment permit without the limitation of a quota; 350 General Employment Permits will … Read More
29 Sep 2021Afghan Admission Programme approved by Government
The Irish Government has approved the establishment of an Afghan Admission Programme that will provide up to 500 additional places for Afghan family members. Afghan nationals living in Ireland on or before 1 September 2021 will be able to apply to nominate up to four close family members who meet the eligibility criteria and who are currently living in Afghanistan, … Read More
27 Sep 2021Independent group to track progress on ending direct provision appointed
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has announced the appointment of a new three-person independent group to monitor the implementation of the White Paper to End Direct Provision. The provisional tasks of the group will be to monitor the progress of the transition to a new model of accommodation and supports for International Protection Applicants as set … Read More
14 Sep 2021EU-level EMN website undergoing maintenance
Please be advised that the central EMN website is currently undergoing maintenance and some of the links on this website may not work temporarily. Please contact [email protected]’ if you require any EMN synthesis reports or other EMN publications in the meantime.
13 Sep 2021Short stay entry visa processing resumes
The Department of Justice has stated that the processing of short stay entry visa processing has resumed from Monday 13 September. Processing has resumed for visa required nationals legally resident in the EEA who can produce a valid Digital COVID Certificate (DCC). It will also resume for people in this category where they do not have a DCC if they … Read More
01 Sep 2021Immigration decreases by nearly 24% in year to April 2021
The 2021 Population and Migration Estimates released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the number of immigrants is estimated to have decreased by 23.7 per cent year-on-year from 85,400 in 2020 to 65,200 in 2021. The number of emigrants also decreased from 56,500 to 54,000 in the year to April 2021. These combined changes have resulted in net … Read More
23 Aug 2021Processing of international protection applications from Afghan nationals to be expedited
The Irish Government has said that it intends to expedite the processing of current international protection applications from Afghan nationals. Family reunification applications made by Irish citizens and Afghan beneficiaries of international protection will also receive focussed attention, considering the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The Department of Justice estimates that approximately 150 people will be granted permission to enter Ireland … Read More
04 Aug 2021Data used in processing asylum claims mapped in new ESRI/EMN Ireland research
ESRI/EMN Ireland has published research that sheds new light on how data are managed within the international protection procedure in Ireland. Biographical data such as names and date of birth, biometric data such as fingerprints, and details on a person’s protection claim, are collected in the various phases of the procedure. These data form the basis of a person’s application … Read More
28 Jul 20214,400 new Irish citizens naturalised so far in 2021
A total of 4,400 new Irish citizens have been naturalised so far this year since the temporary statutory declaration process opened in January 2021. The new temporary system enables applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty. It has been in place since 18 January 2021. The declaration replaces the requirement for citizenship applicants to … Read More
23 Jul 2021Essential resource for students and researchers: Updated EMN Glossary
An essential resource for students, academics and researchers, the latest version of the EMN Glossary offers an EU-wide multidisciplinary vocabulary of approximately 500 terms and concepts related to migration and asylum, which are translated into over 20 languages. Since its first publication in 2010, the Glossary has been a valuable resource for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers in the field of … Read More
02 Jul 2021Ireland kept on Tier Two watchlist in latest Trafficking in Persons (TiP) report
Ireland has been kept on the Tier-Two Watch List for the second consecutive year according to the recently published 2021 Trafficking in Persons (TiP) report. Published by the U.S. Department of State, the 2021 TiP report notes that while the Irish government has made significant efforts to eliminate trafficking in persons, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts compared … Read More
02 Jul 2021New EU Asylum Agency to be established
The Council of the European Union and European Parliament together with the European Commission have agreed that the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) will be transformed into a new European Union Agency for Asylum. The Agency will have a reserve of 500 experts from Member States and a reinforced mandate. It is intended that the Agency will contribute to more … Read More
22 Jun 2021Latest UNHCR Global Trends report shows 82.4 million were forcibly displaced in 2020
The United Nations Human Rights Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has published the Global Trends report 2020, which shows that nearly 82.4 million people were displaced as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order in 2020. This marks a four per cent increase on the record-high 79.5 million internationally displaced people at the … Read More
16 Jun 2021Lifting of temporary visa restrictions announced
The Department of Justice has announced the lifting of the temporary entry and transit visa restrictions that came into effect on 28 January 2021. Restrictions, including the suspension of visa-free travel, are lifted for nationals of South Africa, Brazil, and other South American countries. The move is in line with the Government’s Resilience and Recovery Plan for Living with COVID-19. … Read More
16 Jun 2021Changes to employment permits system announced
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has announced changes to the employment permits system for workers outside the European Economic Area (EEA). The occupation of Health Care Assistant has been removed from the ineligible occupation list. I; individuals must attain a relevant QQI Level 5 qualification after two years employment in the State and receive a minimum salary of … Read More
09 Jun 2021Shorter residence requirement for naturalisation and longer period for voluntary return among changes planned in new Bill
The Government has approved publication of the General Scheme of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 which provides for a number of legislative changes across different policy areas. The Bill proposes the reduction of the residency requirement for the naturalisation of children born in the State, to parents who are not Irish citizens, from 5 years to … Read More
20 May 2021Family reunification added to priority list of visas currently being processed
The Department of Justice has announced that essential family reunification is one of two new categories being added to the priority list of visas currently being processed. Applications will also be accepted from people who are travelling for essential business or employment purposes and have received an employment permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. People seeking to … Read More
18 May 2021Agreement reached on new EU rules for highly skilled migrant workers under revised Blue Card Directive
The European Parliament and European Council have reached political agreement on a proposal for new rules for the entry and residence of highly skilled workers from outside the EU under the revised Blue Card Directive. The revised Directive was originally proposed in 2016. The new scheme aims to attract new skills and talent by introducing more efficient rules for attracting highly … Read More
17 May 2021Guide to Opening Bank Accounts for international protection applicants and people with status published
A new Guide to Opening Bank Accounts that will make it easier for international protection applicants and people with status to open bank accounts has been published by the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). The guide states that banks in Ireland welcome international protection applicants as banking customers and will now accept temporary residence certificates (TRCs) as proof of … Read More
11 May 2021Proposal for revised National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking in human beings approved
The Government has approved plans for a revised National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to make it easier for human trafficking victims to come forward and be supported. The revised proposal acknowledges that in addition to An Garda Síochána, other state bodies and NGOs can play a role in identifying victims of human trafficking and referring them to the NRM. Currently the … Read More
10 May 2021New migration and asylum measures introduced in response to COVID-19: 2021
Recent developments On 22nd April, the Immigration Service Delivery updated its FAQ document on the ‘Impact of Covid-19 on Immigration and International Protection’ explaining the most recent updates to asylum and migration services in Ireland. Citizenship, immigration registration and permissions On 6th May, the Department of Justice announced that the Registration Office at Burgh Quay will reopen to customers living in … Read More
30 Apr 2021New EMN and OECD Inform on the Impact of COVID-19 on migration and asylum
The European Migration Network and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have published an Umbrella Inform on the Impact of COVID-19 on migration and asylum in EU Member States and non-EU OECD countries in 2020. The Umbrella Inform covers the period March – December 2020 and provides updates on a range of topics, including changes in border procedures, provision … Read More
27 Apr 2021Ombudsman for Children publishes report on The Safety and Wellbeing of Children in Direct Provision
The Ombudsman for Children has published The Safety and Wellbeing of Children in Direct Provision report. The report outlines the findings of an ‘own volition’ investigation initiated by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office in February 2018 into the quality of oversight of direct provision centres by the State, with a specific focus on the protection and welfare of children. The … Read More
27 Apr 2021European Commission publishes the first EU Strategy on voluntary return and reintegration
The European Commission has published the first EU Strategy on voluntary return and reintegration. The Strategy sets out to develop a more uniform and coordinated approach among Member States to better realise the potential of voluntary return and reintegration, and to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of the common EU system for returns for the mutual benefit of the returnees, … Read More
26 Apr 2021Proposals for scheme to regularise undocumented migrants announced
Draft proposals for the scheme to regularise thousands of undocumented migrants in Ireland have been outlined to Cabinet and consultation with stakeholders is underway. Initial proposals for the scheme envision that people with a period of 4 years residence in the State without an immigration permission, or 3 years in the case of those with children would be granted an … Read More
21 Apr 2021Interim report of the Anti-Racism Committee published and public consultation opened
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has published the Interim Report of the independent Anti-Racism Committee. The report, which forms part of the development of a new National Action Plan against Racism for Ireland, outlines the approach the Committee is taking to its work, introduces guiding principles and understandings of racism, summarises the societal and policy context … Read More
19 Apr 2021General Scheme of new hate crime legislation published
The Department of Justice has secured approval from Government Ministers to introduce new hate crime legislation in Ireland. The General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2021 creates new forms of certain existing criminal offences, where those offences are motivated by prejudice against a protected characteristic, such as race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, … Read More
14 Apr 2021European Commission publishes new Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings
The European Commission has published a new Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings (2021-2025). The strategy highlights the importance of reducing demand that fosters trafficking; breaking the business model of traffickers; protecting, supporting, and empowering the victims with a specific focus on women and children; and promoting international cooperation. It calls for a comprehensive response to the problem from … Read More
14 Apr 2021Update on temporary system for granting citizenship during COVID-19
The Department of Justice announced that almost 1,200 people have received citizenship since the opening in January 2021 of a temporary system for granting citizenship during the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary system enables citizenship applicants to complete the naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty. The signed statutory declaration replaces the requirement for citizenship applicants to attend citizenship ceremonies … Read More
26 Mar 2021Ireland records 67% decrease in first-time asylum applications in 2020
Latest Eurostat figures show that Ireland received a total of 1,535 first-time asylum applications in 2020, a decrease of 67% when compared to 4,740 applications made in 2019. Ireland made a total of 1,275 first-time decisions in 2020. Of these decisions, there were 620 grants of refugee status, 120 grants of subsidiary protection and 200 grants of humanitarian status. Approximately … Read More
26 Mar 2021Changes to requirements for children to acquire Irish citizenship planned
The Department of Justice has announced that the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 will contain new provisions on the naturalisation of children born in Ireland, whose parents are not Irish citizens and who are not entitled to citizenship at birth. According to the changes, the number of years a child born in Ireland, who is not entitled to citizenship … Read More
16 Mar 2021Informal European Council meetings of Ministers of Home Affairs and Ministers of Foreign Affairs
On 11th and 12th of March, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee attended informal meetings of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers, where the retention of electronic communication data was discussed. The Presidency provided an update on the current state of play and way ahead in relation to the Pact on Migration and Asylum and an exchange of views was held on … Read More
12 Mar 2021Georgia and the Republic of Moldova join the European Migration Network with observer status
The European Migration Network (EMN) has announced the addition of Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, both with observer status, to the EMN. This is the first time that participation in the EMN has been extended outside of the European Economic Area (EEA). Agreed working arrangements establish the conditions of the cooperation between the European Commission and Georgia and Moldova … Read More
26 Feb 2021White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Protection Support Service published
The White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service has been published by the Department of Justice. The White Paper sets out the Government’s approach to fulfilling the commitment in the Programme for Government 2020 to end direct provision and replace it with “a new International Protection accommodation policy centred on a not-for-profit … Read More
25 Feb 2021Department of Justice Plan 2021 and Statement of Strategy published
The recently published Justice Plan 2021 and a wider three-year Department of Justice Statement of Strategy, 2021-2023 contain five goals. One of these is the “delivery of a fair immigration system for a digital age”. A total of 43 direct actions fall under this goal for 2021. According to the Statement of Strategy, the Department of Justice plans to: develop a … Read More
02 Feb 2021CJEU Ruling: Asylum applicants subject to Dublin transfer decisions should not be excluded from access to the labour market
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on 14th January 2021 published its ruling on two preliminary references from Ireland (joined cases C-322/19 and C-385/19) concerning access to the labour market for applicants for international protection subject to Dublin transfer decisions. KS, MHK, RAT and DS applied for international protection in Ireland between 2015 and 2018. They were … Read More
28 Jan 2021Reduced waiting period for international protection applicants to access work announced
The Department of Justice has announced new measures that will allow international protection applicants to seek access to the labour market six months after they make their application. Previously, applicants had to wait nine months after making their international protection application before applying for permission to work. Furthermore, an applicant’s permission to work will now last for 12 months, rather … Read More