Immigration Legal

For International Protection Applicants

The International Protection Process

The International Protection begins when you enter the country and claim asylum. It can be a lengthy process.

Please see The Irish Refugee Council’s Information Hub for videos in various languages on the process - Information on Ireland's international protection system

The main steps involved in the International Protection Process are:

1. Register your asylum application at the IPO or Citywest
2. Complete your questionnaire at the IPO or Citywest (usually on the same day)
3. Undergo your substantive interview with IPO
4. Receive a recommendation following your interview – refugee status, subsidiary protection, permission to remain or a negative decision
5. If positive, receive your ministerial letter confirming status
6. If negative, you can appeal to IPAT on refugee and subsidiary protection status
7. If IPAT review is unsuccessful, IPO can review your case for permission to remain
8. If permission to remain review is negative, speak to your lawyer. You may be issued a deportation order or be presented with the option to voluntarily return

In 2023, the average waiting time for a decision was 13 months (from questionnaire completion to initial decision). Accelerated cases are reduced to 8 weeks.

In 2023, the average waiting time to receive a decision from IPAT for appeals was 5.5 months.

Legal Aid

All asylum seekers are entitled to free legal aid throughout the asylum process. You must make an application to the legal aid board to avail of this. You should do this as soon as possible, after you have submitted your claim for asylum (complete the form and post to your local legal aid office).

You should expect to wait 3-4 weeks to be assigned a solicitor for your case. The name will be emailed to the email address you provided on your application form.

You can request to change your solicitor if you are unhappy with them. You should write to legal aid board explaining why you are unhappy. The board may of may not agree to change your solicitor. This can be a lengthy process.

After the Asylum Process

Permission

Once you receive your ministerial letter confirming your status type, you need to register for your Irish Residence Permit online

You will usually receive your Irish Residence Permit after 1-2 weeks. You no longer need your Temporary Residence Permit (blue card).

Work

You no longer need a work permit to work in Ireland. Your IRP gives you a stamp four which allows you to work.

Social Welfare

You are now entitled to full social welfare benefits. You can apply for relevant social welfare payments online at mywelfare.ie or at your local Intreo office.

Family Reunification 

If you were granted refugee or subsidiary protection status, you are entitled to apply for Family Reunification. You are not entitled to FRU of you have been granted permission to remain.

Travel Document 

If you were granted refugee status, you are entitled to apply for a travel document. If you were granted subsidiary protection, you may be entitled to a travel document (you must demonstrate that you were unable to obtain your own national passport). You are not entitled to apply for a travel document if you were granted permission to remain. You can apply for your travel document on the online immigration portal. 

Naturalisation/citizenship 

If you were granted refugee status, you can apply for citizenship 3 years after your arrival date in Ireland. If you were granted subsidiary protection or permission to remain, you can apply for citizenship 5 years after the date you were granted permission. You can apply for Naturalisation on the Online Immigration Portal. 

Leaving IPAS Accommodation

Once you have leave to remain, refugee or subsidiary protection status, you can apply for social housing. You may be entitled, depending on your income. In Kilkenny, a single person must be earning less than 35,000 euro per year to be entitled to social housing.

If you are approved for social housing, your name will be added to the social housing list and you will become eligible for HAP. It is your responsibility to source private rented accommodation. You will complete section A and the landlord of the accommodation will complete section B. The Housing department in Kilkenny County Council will then pay a fraction of the rent directly to the landlord.

It is vitally important that you start looking for private rented accommodation straight away once you receive your ministerial letter. IPAS are not obliged to accommodate anyone with refugee status, subsidiary protection or permission to remain. They currently allow those with permission to stay in IPAS accommodation for 8 months. After this 8 months, they will issue an eviction.

There is a dedicated support worker in DePaul for those leaving IPAS accommodation. Contact resettlement@depaulcharity.net for support with leaving IPAS.