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Protecting Your Right to Safe Residence in Ireland

If you are an asylum seeker seeking refuge from war or safety from persecution in Ireland know this: you are not alone. At Gibson & Associates, we understand the emotional weight and uncertainty that comes with seeking International Protection. We are here to walk beside you through every step of the process, offering not just legal guidance—but genuine support, compassion and understanding.

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Your Journey Through the International Protection Process

Ireland’s International Protection process can be complex and emotionally draining. It generally includes

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1. Initial Registration at the IPO (International Protection Office):

You explain your identity and reasons for seeking protection. You’ll receive a Temporary Residence Certificate (TRC).

2. Questionnaire Submission:

You provide detailed information about your identity, family, travel to Ireland and of course, reasons for not being able to return home.

3. Substantive Interview:

This is your opportunity to share your story in depth. It may take months to schedule.

4. IPO Decision:

The IPO will recommend granting or refusing protection. If refused, you can appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT).

5. Appeals and Judicial Review:

If your appeal is denied, a judicial review may be possible—expert legal support is crucial.

Case Studies

What is International Protection?

International Protection is a legal process in Ireland that offers access to safety and residency to non-EEA nationals fleeing their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution or a real risk that they will suffer serious harm – that is a severe violation of their basic human rights – and they cannot obtain protection from the State Authorities in their own country or relocate within the country to escape that harm.

It consists of three main forms:

Refugee Status

For those whose life or freedom is at serious risk due to race, religion, nationality, membership of a social group, or political opinion.

Subsidiary Protection
For individuals who don’t meet the refugee criteria but still face a risk of serious harm (e.g., torture, death penalty, or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment) if returned to their country of origin, or who are at risk of indiscriminate violence in their home country due to an ongoing internal or international armed conflict.
Permission to Remain
A humanitarian option for those who cannot return home safely due to illness, family ties in Ireland, or other compelling reasons not included in the strict definitions for Refugee Status and Subsidiary Protection.

Where to Apply for International Protection

As an asylum seeker, you can apply for international protection at:
Your Port of Entry

You can start the application process at an airport or ferry port upon your arrival in Ireland. This initial step allows you to express your intention to seek international protection. You must complete the formal application at the International Protection Office within five working days of your arrival.

At the International Protection Office
After the initial step, or if you did not apply at your port of entry, you should visit the office to submit your full application.
If you are applying as a family with a child under 18, you should go to the International Protection Office at the Citywest Convention Centre, Dublin 24. If you are applying individually or as part of a group without children under 18, you should visit the office at Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.

How Gibson & Associates Supports International Protection Applicants

We are with you from the start. Our services include:

  • Advising on the process and qualifying criteria
  • Assisting you to prepare for Interview
  • Preparing legal submissions to support your case where necessary
  • Managing Appeals
  • Advising on complex cases (e.g., LGBTQ+, gender-based claims, safe countries of origin)
  • Reviewing decisions for potential Judicial Review application

Most importantly, we treat you with dignity. Your case is not just paperwork—it’s your life.

Our Dedicated Immigration Team

Daireann Gibson
Managing Partner

Amanda Walsh
Partner

Helen Moakley
Senior Solicitor

Kellie McLaughlin
Solicitor

Maura Kavanagh
Solicitor

Sharon Shaw
Legal Manager

Leanne Mclean
Immigration Consultant

Megan McKeon
Immigration Consultant 

Aisling Harden
Senior Legal Support

Lorna Pyper
Senior Legal Support 

Irene Ayaru
Senior Legal Support 

Jade Mullhern
Immigration Consultant

Stacey McGrath
Legal Support

Laura Phelan
Legal Support

Kevina McFadden
Legal Support

Karley Keane
Legal Support

Life While Waiting: Rights, Services & Community

Waiting for a decision can be long and uncertain—but you are not alone. Here’s what you can expect during the process:

 

  • Accommodation: IPAS Centres (Direct Provision) or Emergency Accommodation
  • Medical Care: Basic healthcare through the HSE
  • Legal Aid: Access to Legal Aid Board services
  • Daily Expenses: Small weekly allowances

Ireland’s International Protection Community

As of 2025, thousands from Syria, Ukraine, Nigeria, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Palestine are seeking safety in Ireland. You are not alone.

Support organisations include:

 

  • The Irish Refugee Council
  • MASI (Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland)
  • SPIRASI (for victims of torture or trauma)
  • Nasc Migrant and Refugee Rights
  • Local integration groups in Dublin, Cork, Galway, and beyond

Asylum Seeker Rights in Ireland

If you are an asylum seeker in Ireland, you have rights that entitle you to the following:

  • Permission to arrive and stay in Ireland while your application for international protection is considered by the IPO (or while the IPAT considers any appeal)
  • Access to legal counsel and representation
  • To be treated with respect, dignity and fairness throughout the application process
  • To deliver written submissions to the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration as part of your application for international protection
  • Access to an interpreter of specific gender
  • Confidentiality and privacy
  • To receive written notification of interviews, decisions and other information regarding your application
  • To ask for permission to work if you are still waiting to receive a decision six months after making your application.

Asylum Seeker Responsibilities in Ireland

As an International Protection applicant, you also have a number of responsibilities while awaiting a decision on your application for international protection. These include:

  • Abiding by Irish laws and regulations
  • Cooperating fully and truthfully with international protection process
  • Staying in Ireland unless you have permission to leave from the Minister of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
  • Advising the Minister of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration of any change in address
  • Complying with reporting notices
  • Referencing your name, address, nationality and person ID number listed on your temporary residence certificate in any communication with the International Protection Office or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal
  • Keeping a copy of all the information given you, or that you have given to the IPO or the IPAT, and
  • Not working or running a business without permission.

Building a New Life:

What Comes Next?

If granted protection, you can begin to settle and rebuild:

  • Family Reunification – you’ll have a limited entitlement to have certain family members come to live with you in Ireland
  • Right to Work and Study – You’ll have access to the Irish labour market and education system.
  • Pathway to Citizenship – After three or five years of lawfully residency, depending on your permission, you may apply for Irish citizenship.
  • Residency – You will have access to a renewable Stamp 4 residence card and may sponsor other family members travel to Ireland, subject to the State’s current policy
  • Integration Support – Language classes, cultural orientation, employment advice, and mental health support are available.

You Deserve Safety—and Someone to Stand Beside You

Your journey is courageous. At Gibson & Associates, we’re committed to standing with you—from your first application to your final decision, and beyond.

Let us help you find safety, stability, and a future worth fighting for.

International Protection FAQ's

1. How to appeal an application that is refused?

If your request for international protection is turned down by the IPO, you can appeal the decision to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT). The procedure relating to your Appeal will depend on the decision that you are seeking to Appeal and your country or origin.

You should file your appeal along with any supporting legal arguments with the IPAT in accordance with the procedures that apply to your case. In some cases, you can request an oral hearing. If you are given an oral hearing, you must present your case either in person at the IPAT office in Dublin, or by virtual hearing. You should consider having legal representation to support you when you present your case. If your appeal is denied, your legal adviser can help you in navigating your next steps.

2. Can I bring my family to Ireland?

If your application for international protection is approved, you have the opportunity to ask the Irish government for permission for certain family members to join you in Ireland. Your application must be made to the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration within one year of receiving your protection status. Eligible family members include your spouse, civil partner (provided the relationship existed at the time of your protection application), and unmarried children under 18 years of age. If a minor is granted protection, their parents and siblings may also be considered for family reunification under the Minister’s discretionary policy.

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