|
Ireland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The IPO now carries out a vulnerability triage assessment to identify the health needs of applicants who have not been accommodated. The aim is to provide the International Protection Accommodation Services and the Health Service Executive with relevant information to recommend priority cases for accommodation allocation. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Ireland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Country of origin information |
The IPAT updated its ‘Guideline on Country Information’, aiming to outline the standards and principles governing the assessment of country information in appeal cases. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Ireland |
2024 |
Institutional |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Department of Justice made efforts to bring the number of tribunal administration staff and tribunal members to a proportional equivalent to the staff numbers and decision-makers in the IPO. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Ireland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) issued an updated Administrative Practice Note aiming to provide clarification on what can be submitted as an appeal. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Ireland |
2024 |
Institutional |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Department of Justice announced 400 new staff to be allocated at the International Protection Office (IPO), aiming to streamline the process and improve efficiency of the office. The IPO also established a new facility in West Dublin and a 12-week training process was introduced for new case officers. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Ireland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
Algeria, Botswana, Brazil, Egypt, India, Malawi and Morocco were added to the list of safe countries of origin. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Ireland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
An Emergency Legislation was drafted in 2024 and adopted in 2025 to allow the return of applicants who entered Ireland from the UK. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Ireland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Reception Conditions Regulation was amended to provide for a quality inspection of reception centres. Following the amendment, the Health Information and Quality Authority was appointed to conduct the inspections. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Ireland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
An agreement was signed between the Irish authorities and Frontex. Garda will escort returnees to Frankfurt, from where Frontex will accompany them to their country of origin. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Ireland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Department of Justice announced a EUR 25 million budget expenditure for immigration. It includes a EUR 5 million investment in digital innovations to modernise immigration systems, reduce processing times, increase returns and strengthen border security. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Ireland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
A project was launched to digitalise appeal files to increase their accessibility. Moreover, a project pilot was introduced to allow the exchange of appeal files between the databases of the Ministry of Justice and the legal representatives, aiming to avoid delays. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Ireland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Access to information |
The IPAT published a new video in its website to inform applicants on second instance procedures. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Institutional |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
Members of the Immigration Appeals Board are no longer appointed part-time. The board will consist of three full-time members, and the chairperson and vice-chairperson have the authority to rule on their own in certain cases. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
An amendment to the Act on Foreigners established that family reunification for holders of subsidiary protection can only be submitted after the status has been renewed once. Exceptions may be granted for urgent care considerations. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
An amendment to the Act on Foreigners added adopted children to the list of those entitled to protection on the basis of family reunification. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
The government amended the regulation on financial assistance for voluntary returns. Those who request assistance before a decision is reached at the appeal stage can receive a higher additional grant than those who request assistance after a decision is reached at the appeal stage. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Institutional |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Appeals Board hired new lawyers, case officers and specialised staff to handle the increased case load more efficiently. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The government introduced a fee for the renewal of residence permits granted on the basis of international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
An amendment to the Act on Foreigners repealed the provision which requires substantive processing of an application within the regular procedure if a final decision has not been issued at the administrative level within 12 months. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
According to amendments to the Act on Foreigners, a residence permit based on additional protection may only be renewed if the conditions for protection are still met. Consequently, a new assessment of the situation in the country of origin must be made before a decision on renewal is taken. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
An amendment to the Act on Foreigners introduced the possibility of dismissing a subsequent (‘repeated’ in Iceland) application if no new grounds or evidence exist to lead to an increased probability of a previous application to be accepted. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
An amendment to the Act on Foreigners changed the prioritisation of cases so that cases nearing the time limit for processing are reviewed first and those which already passed the deadline are processed later. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Directorate of Immigration suspended the processing of applications from Syrian nationals. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Immigration Appeals Board (IAB) provided clarifications on time limits on appeals, their extension, the aspects taken into account when deciding on the length of the deadlines, procedures for assessing the best interests of the child, interviewing procedures and criteria for the suspension of the legal effect of the IAB’s decisions in cases of international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Iceland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
An amendment to the Act on Foreigners shortened the validity period of residence permits connected to protection statuses. Residence permits for refugees, stateless persons and quota refugees are now valid for 3 years instead of 4. Permits for additional protection are valid for 2 years. Permits for family reunification with a refugee can be extended for 3 years but cannot exceed the duration of the principal permit. Humanitarian residence permits are renewed annually, rather than every 2 years. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |