What’s New (updated 26 November 2024)
Here you will find the most recent information on the International Protection Office, as well as information on any relevant changes affecting international protection.
Important Notice
From the 28th November 2024, family applicants, upon arrival at the International Protection Office, Timberlay House AND Citywest Campus will be registered and complete their application digitally on an online customer portal. This mirrors the new process introduced on the 31st July for single applicants.
All other applicants in Timberlay House will complete a digital application from on iPads with the assistance of IPO staff, interpreters and cultural mediators.
In order to facilitate this change, applicants will be allowed to use their phones in the IP public reception office for the sole purpose of setting up a portal account and verifying their details. Free wifi is available for this purpose. Please see here for the IPO mobile phone usage policy.
With effect from the 29th July 2024, the IPO will accelerate the processing of applications for international protection from Jordan.
Accelerated applications undergo the same decision making process as all other international protection applicants, but have their cases dealt with in a more timely manner.
We are preparing to introduce online interviews for applicants to:
- reduce the need for all applicants to travel to Dublin for their interview.
- allow applicants to take part from any location that suits them as long as it meets some minimum criteria.
- increase processing capacity and allow applicants to be invited to interview faster.
- enable the IPO to transition to meet the faster processing requirements of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum by 2026.
What's happening now?
The online interview trial commences this month. 50 identified applicants will be invited to interview in July with their interviews scheduled for August 2024. Their interview letters will contain all the details on how to join the interview online through Zoom.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION
The European Communities (International Protection Procedures) Regulations 2022 and the International Protection Act 2015 (Procedures and Periods for Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2022
INFORMATION NOTE
From 8th November 2022 new procedures will be introduced in the International Protection Office to accelerate the process for making a protection application in Ireland. The introduction of these new procedures are in parallel with a commitment to significantly increase the resources available for the international protection system in Budget 2023.
The main purpose of these new regulations is to establish an accelerated process for international protection applicants from safe countries of origin.
From Tuesday 08 November 2022 any applicant for International Protection attending at the reception of the International Protection Office (IPO) will complete a preliminary interview and will also be required to complete the International Protection Questionnaire (IPO2) regarding their application and the reasons they are looking for protection.
The International Protection Office will have Translation services available to support applicants in completing their International Protection application on the day.
The introduction of the new procedure will allow for a person to have their case dealt with in a more timely manner. Applicants from a safe country of origin will also receive their interview date on the day they apply for international protection which will reduce their waiting time for an interview to a matter of weeks.
The application process remains the same for all international protection applicants and applicants under the new procedure will still have the right to appeal a negative recommendation by the IPO to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal.
All applications for international protection are examined fully and individually on their merits, including those from countries which are designated as safe countries of origin.
Frequently asked questions can be found here.
International Protection Regularisation Scheme is now closed
The international protection strand of the Regularisation Scheme for Long-Term Undocumented Migrants is now closed. Only on-line applications received by
23.59 on Sunday, 7th August 2022 will be accepted under the terms of the Scheme. Any application submitted after this time will not be accepted.
All applications received by the stipulated closing time will be examined in the coming weeks in line with the Scheme’s published criteria and each applicant will be notified directly of the outcome of their application.
Successful Scheme applicants will be granted a stamp 4 based immigration permission that allows for unrestricted access to the Irish labour market. Unsuccessful applicants will be advised of their right to appeal that decision.
ENDS…/
Regularisation scheme for the long term undocumented is now closed
Click here for more information.
Statistics are correct at time of publishing, changes may occur due to data cleansing.
November 2024
- The IPO statistics report for November 2024 is now online
October 2024
- The IPO statistics report for October 2024 is now online
September 2024
- The IPO statistics report for September 2024 is now online
August 2024
- The IPO statistics report for August 2024 is now online
July 2024
- The IPO statistics report for July 2024 is now online
June 2024
- The IPO statistics report for June 2024 is now online
May 2024
- The IPO statistics report for May 2024 is now online
April 2024
- The IPO statistics report for April 2024 is now online
March 2024
- The IPO statistics report for March 2024 is now online
February 2024
- The IPO statistics report for February 2024 is now online
January 2024
- The IPO statistics report for January 2024 is now online
December 2023
- The IPO statistics report for December 2023 is now online
November 2023
- The IPO statistics report for November 2023 is now online
October 2023
- The IPO statistics report for October 2023 is now online
September 2023
- The IPO statistics report for September 2023 is now online
August 2023
- The IPO statistics report for August 2023 is now online
July 2023
- The IPO statistics report for July 2023 is now online
June 2023
- The IPO statistics report for June 2023 is now online
May 2023
- The IPO statistics report for May 2023 is now online
April 2023
- The IPO statistics report for April 2023 is now online
March 2023
- The IPO statistics report for March 2023 is now online
February 2023
- The IPO statistics report for February 2023 is now online
January 2023
- The IPO statistics report for January 2023 is now online
December 2022
- The IPO statistics report for December 2022 is now online
November 2022
- The IPO statistics report for November 2022 is now online
October 2022
- The IPO statistics report for October 2022 is now online
September 2022
- The IPO statistics report for September 2022 is now online
August 2022
- The IPO statistics report for August 2022 is now online
July 2022
- The IPO statistics report for July 2022 is now online
June 2022
- The IPO statistics report for June 2022 is now online
May 2022
- The IPO statistics report for May 2022 is now online
April 2022
- The IPO statistics report for April 2022 is now online
March 2022
- The IPO statistics report for March 2022 is now online
February 2022
- The IPO statistics report for February 2022 is now online
January 2022
- The IPO statistics report for January 2022 is now on-line
December 2021
- The IPO statistics report for November 2021 is now on-line
November 2021
- The IPO statistics report for November 2021 is now on-line
October 2021
- The IPO statistics report for October 2021 is now on-line.
September 2021
- The IPO statistics report for September 2021 is now on-line.
August 2021
- The IPO statistics report for August 2021 is now on-line.
July 2021
- The IPO statistics report for July 2021 is now on-line.
June 2021
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From the 28th June 2021, a new IPO Questionnaire for applicants for International Protection comes into use. This replaces the previous Questionnaire which has been in operation since the commencement of the International Protection Act on the 31st December 2016. From the 28th June 2021, all applicants for international protection will be given the new Questionnaire to complete as part of their application.
The new Questionnaire is in a two part format Part A – Guidelines, Part B – Questionnaire itself. The Guidelines/explanations come to 10 pages with the Questionnaire itself now at 28 pages in length.
This Office has worked in conjunction with the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) to make the new Questionnaire an easier document to read and understand. The Questionnaire has received the NALA Plain English certification mark. Plain English is a way of writing and presenting information that helps someone to understand it the first time they read or hear it. It involves short clear sentences and using everyday words.
The design, language used, font type and spacing all make this new Questionnaire more easily read and understandable while still allowing international protection applicants the scope to include and tell the IPO all the reasons that they are applying for international protection.
The Questionnaire is available in 21 languages:
Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari, English, Farsi, French, Georgian, Kurdish, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish and Urdu.
June 2021
- The IPO statistics report for June 2021 is now on-line.
May 2021
- The IPO statistics report for May 2021 is now on-line.
April 2021
- The IPO statistics report for April 2021 is now on-line.
March 2021
- The IPO statistics report for March 2021 is now on-line.
February 2021
- The IPO statistics report for February 2021 is now on-line.
January 2021
- The IPO statistics report for January 2021 is now on-line..
December 2020
- The IPO statistics report for December 2020 is now on-line.
November 2020
- The IPO statistics report for November 2020 is now on-line.
October 2020
- The IPO statistics report for October 2020 is now on-line.
September 2020
- The IPO statistics report for September 2020 is now on-line.
August 2020
- The IPO statistics report for August 2020 is now on-line.
- Information on TRC renewals can be read here.
July 2020
- The IPO statistics report for July 2020 is now on-line.
June 2020
- The IPO statistics report for June 2020 is now on-line.
May 2020
- The IPO statistics report for May 2020 is now on-line.
April 2020
- The IPO statistics report for April 2020 is now on-line.
March 2020
- The IPO statistics report for March 2020 is now on-line.
February 2020
- The IPO statistics report for February 2020 is now on-line.
January 2020
- The IPO statistics report for January 2020 is now on-line.
December 2019
- The IPO statistics report for December 2019 is now on-line.
November 2019
- The IPO statistics report for November 2019 is now on-line.
October 2019
- The IPO statistics report for October 2019 is now on-line.
September 2019
- The IPO statistics report for September 2019 is now on-line.
August 2019
- The IPO statistics report for August 2019 is now on-line.
July 2019
- The IPO statistics report for July 2019 is now on-line.
June 2019
- The IPO statistics report for June 2019 is now on-line.
May 2019
- The IPO statistics report for May 2019 is now on-line.
April 2019
- The IPO statistics report for April 2019 is now on-line.
March 2019
- The IPO statistics report for March 2019 is now on-line.
February 2019
- The IPO statistics report for February 2019 is now on-line.
January 2019
- The IPO statistics report for January 2019 is now on-line.
December 2018
- The IPO statistics report for December 2018 is now on-line.
November 2018
- The IPO statistics report for November 2018 is now on-line.
October 2018
- The IPO statistics report for October 2018 is now on-line.
September 2018
- The IPO statistics report for September 2018 is now on-line.
August 2018
- The IPO statistics report for August 2018 is now on-line.
July 2018
- The IPO statistics report for July 2018 is now on-line.
June 2018
- The IPO statistics report for June 2018 is now on-line.
May 2018
- The IPO statistics report for May 2018 is now on-line.
- The EU General Data Protection Regulation enters into effect on 25 May 2018. The purpose for which the International Protection Office uses personal data provided to it by applicants, and the rights of applicants with regard to that data, are explained in the Privacy Notice (IPO (PP) 52) which can be viewed here.
April 2018
The IPO statistics report for April 2018 is now on-line.
Designation by the Minister for Justice of certain Countries as Safe Countries of Origin under the International Protection Act, 2015
Under section 72 of the International Protection Act, 2015 the Minister for Justice has designated the following countries as safe countries of origin with effect from Monday, 16 April 2018.
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of), Montenegro, Serbia and South Africa.
Please find a link to Addendum No. 2 to the Information Booklet for Applicants for International Protection (IPO 1) here.
The relevant Statutory Instruments are the International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Countries of Origin) Order 2018, (S.I. No 121 of 2018) and the International Protection Act 2015 (Section 6(2)(J)) (Commencement) Order 2018 which are available on the following links:
International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Countries of Origin) Order 2015, (S.I. No 121 of 2018)
International Protection Act 2015 (Section 6(2)(J)) (Commencement) Order 2018
March 2018
The European Union (Dublin System) Regulations 2018 (SI No. 62 of 2018) came into effect on 6 March 2018. The Regulations give further effect to Regulation (EU) 604/2013 (the Dublin III Regulation) in Ireland and revoke the previous European Union (Dublin System) Regulations 2014 (SI No. 525 of 2014) and the European Union (Dublin System) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (SI No.140 of 2016).
- The IPO March 2018 statistics report is now on-line.
February 2018
- Addendum 1 to Information Booklet for Applicants for International Protection (IPO1) is now on-line.
January 2018
The IPO January 2018 statistics report is now on-line.
December 2017
The IPO December 2017 statistics report is now on-line.
November 2017
The IPO November 2017 statistics report is now on-line.
October 2017
The IPO October 2017 statistics report is now on-line.
September 2017
- The IPO September 2017 statistics report is now on-line.
- Introduction to the European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2017 is now on-line.
- The IPO Information Note on European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2017 English language version is now on-line.
- The IPO Information Note on European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2017 translation version is now on-line.
- S.I. No. 409 of 2017 - European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2017 is now on-line.
- S.I. No. 137 of 2015 - European Union (Subsidiary Protection) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 is now on-line.
- S.I. No. 426 of 2013 - European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2013 is now on-line.
August 2017
The IPO August 2017 statistics report is now on-line.
July 2017
The IPO July 2017 statistics report is now on-line.
June 2017
The IPO June 2017 statistics report is now on-line.
May 2017
The IPO May 2017 monthly statistics report is now on-line.
April 2017
The IPO April 2017 monthly statistics report is now on-line.
March 2017
The IPO March 2017 monthly statistics report is now on-line.
February 2017
The IPO February 2017 monthly statistics report is now on-line.
February 2017
Clarification regarding the deadline for the return of the Application for International Protection Questionnaire (IPO 2) is now on-line.
February 2017
The International Protection Office and UNHCR statement on the prioritisation of applications for international protection is now on-line.
January 2017
The IPO January 2017 monthly statistics report is now on-line.
January 2017
The IPO Information Note on Transitional Arrangements (IPO 12) English language version is now on-line.
January 2017
The IPO Information Note on Transitional Arrangements (IPO 12) translation version is now on-line.
January 2017
The IPO Letter - Category 1 - on Refugee Applications in ORAC (Application for refugee status was made before the commencement date and where a report had not been prepared by ORAC under section 13 of the Refugee Act 1996 by that date) is now on-line.
January 2017
The IPO Letter - Category 2 - Refugee Appeals (Application for refugee status which was on appeal before the RAT before the commencement date but was not decided by the RAT by that date) is now on-line.
January 2017
The IPO Letter - Category 3 - Subsidiary Protection (Application for subsidiary protection was made prior to the commencement date and ORAC had not commenced the investigation of the application by that date) is now on-line.
January 2017
The IPO Letter - Category 4 - Subsidiary Protection (Application for subsidiary protection was made prior to the commencement date and ORAC had commenced the investigation of the application by that date) is now on-line.
January 2017
The Information Booklet for the Applicants for International Protection (IPO 1) English language version is now on-line.
January 2017
The Information Booklet for the Applicants for International Protection (IPO 1) translation version is now on-line.
January 2017
IPO Information Note on Investigations for International Protection and Consideration of Permission to Remain after 31 December 2016 is now on-line.
December 2016
The International Protection Act 2015 is now on-line.
December 2016
IPO Information Note for Applicants for International Protection (Refugee Status and Subsidiary Protection) commencement of International Protection Act 2015 English language version is now on-line.
December 2016
IPO Information Note for Applicants for International Protection (Refugee Status and Subsidiary Protection) commencement of International Protection Act 2015 translation version is now on-line.
