Country Update 2026: IRELAND
- Hiro Ino
- Jun 7
- 2 min read
Contributed by: Hiro Ino (Hiro Ino & Co. Solicitors & Notary Public)
May 2026
1. Legislative Changes
International Protection Act 2026
Signed in to law on the 22 April 2026 (to come in force from 12 June 2026) the Act overhauls the International Protection system in Ireland:
Mandatory Screening: All applicants will undergo immediate identity, biometric, security, and vulnerability checks upon arrival.
Strict Timelines: Claims will be processed under new, clearly defined mandatory deadlines (such as 3 months for accelerated procedures and 2 months for inadmissibility checks).
Eurodac Integration: Biometric and travel document data collection requirements will be expanded to applicants aged six and older.
2. Business Immigration
In 2025, Ireland issued over 31,044 work permits to non-EU nationals, down 25% from 2024.
Several reasons for decline: new processing system delays, weaker demand in some sectors and natural fluctuation.
Roadmap for employment permit threshold (2026 to 2030):
Gradual increases from 1 March 2026 through 2030.
General Employment Permit: €34,000 → €36,605.
CSEP with degree: €38,000 → €40,904; without degree: €64,000 → €68,911.
Meat processors, horticultural workers, healthcare assistants, home carers: €30,000 → €32,691.
First increase effective 1 March 2026; further phased adjustments through 2030.
3. Family based immigration
Spousal Work Rights: As of 15 May 2024, spouses and partners of holders of Intra-Company Transfer and General Employment Permits can work in Ireland without needing a separate permit. They are now issued an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) Stamp 1G instead of Stamp 3.
Stamp 4 Eligibility: From 3 April 2024, certain employment permit holders can apply for Stamp 4 permission after 21 months of employment in the state, rather than 21 months of holding Stamp 1 permission.
4. Asylum
International Protection Act 2026
Ireland is overhauling its asylum processing system to expedite decisions and reduce costs.
Accelerated Processing: The new system aims to decide asylum claims within three months, replacing the current average of 29 months.
Reception Centres: A network of reception centres will be established to handle claims, with plans to create 14,000 state-owned accommodation beds by 2028.
Movement Restrictions: Under the EU Migration Pact, some asylum seekers may face movement restrictions and be required to stay in accommodation centres.
Increased Deportations: The government plans to increase deportations, with projections suggesting over 4,000 deportation orders in 2026.
5. Deportation
Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 – still stands.
6. Citizenship
Immigration policy (announced on the 26 November 2026) - most changes for refugee status holders -
qualifying period extended from 3 to 5 years, new good character and self-sufficiency requirements
International protection applicants must not have received certain social protection payments in the two years before applying for citizenship.
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