International Protection Act 2026

International Protection Act 2026 Permanent Page URL View by Section Amharc de réir Ailt View Full Act Amharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDF Oscail PDF Priontáil an tAcht Iomlán Previous Section Alt Roimhe Next Section An Chéad Alt Eile Priontáil an tAlt 2026 INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION ACT 2026 PART 1 Preliminary and General Chapter 1 Preliminary and general 1. Short title and commencement 2. Interpretation 3. Regulations and orders 4. Service of documents 5. Repeals 6. Expenses Chapter 2 Designation of Determining Authority, conduct of examinations and application of certain concepts 7. Designation of Determining Authority 8. Examinations conducted in accordance with Qualification Regulation 9. Individual assessment of applicability of concept of first country of asylum 10. First country of asylum for unaccompanied minor 11. Application of concept of safe third country 12. Safe third country for unaccompanied minor 13. Application of concept of safe country of origin PART 2 Eurodac and Screening Chapter 1 14. Definitions (Part 2) (Chapter 1) 15. Taking of data and transmission of data to Eurodac 16. Taking of data from person referred to in Article 18 of Eurodac Regulation 17. Management of biometric data and other data 18. Designated person 19. Offence of processing data in Eurodac contrary to Article 1 of Eurodac Regulation Chapter 2 20. Definitions (Part 2) (Chapter 2) 21. Designation of screening centre 22. Obligation to travel to screening centre 23. Alternative arrangements for screening of certain applicants 24. Obligation to inform applicant 25. Obligations of applicant under Part 2 26. Provision of information to applicant 27. Legal counselling 28. Consultation with legal representative 29. Preliminary health assessment 30. Preliminary vulnerability assessment 31. Guarantees for minors 33. Screening form 34. Cultural mediator 35. Termination of screening PART 3 Application for International Protection Chapter 1 Making, registration and lodgement of application 36. Application for international protection 37. Application on behalf of minor 38. Application on behalf of person lacking capacity 39. Registration of application 40. Lodgement of application 41. Submission of elements and documents Chapter 2 Appointment of representatives for unaccompanied minors 42. Definition (Part 3) (Chapter 2) 43. Competent authority (Part 3) (Chapter 2) 44. Best interests of child (Part 3) (Chapter 2) 45. Requirement to notify the competent authority 46. Designation of provisional representative and appointment of representative 47. Appointment of provisional representative persons and representative persons 48. Power to appoint substitute provisional representative person and representative person 49. Consequences of appointment of provisional representative person or representative person 50. Functions of provisional representative person and representative person 51. Cessation of designation or appointment of representatives and consequences of cessation 52. Modification of certain references (exceptional situations) 53. Regulations (Part 3) (Chapter 2) Chapter 3 Assessments to determine age of applicant 54. Best interests of child (Part 3) (Chapter 3) 55. Age assessments 56. Multi-disciplinary assessment 57. Medical examination to determine age 58. Age assessment in Member State other than the State 59. Request by applicant for further age assessment 60. Decision by Determining Authority to arrange further age assessment 61. Estimated date of birth 62. Confirmation of age based on verifiable information 63. Regulations (Part 3) (Chapter 3) Chapter 4 Consequences of making application 64. Authorisation to enter State 65. Right to remain in State 66. Limitation on right to remain 67. Duty to cooperate 68. Exception from right to remain 69. International protection applicant card Chapter 5 Withdrawal of application 70. Explicit withdrawal of application 71. Implicit withdrawal of application Chapter 6 Subsequent application 72. Subsequent application PART 4 Reception Conditions Chapter 1 Definitions and application 73. Definitions (Part 4) 74. Application of Part 4 Chapter 2 Material reception conditions 75. Provision of material reception conditions 76. Allocation of accommodation 77. Reception needs of minors 78. Schooling and education for minors 79. Language courses and vocational training 80. Health care 81. Assessment of special reception needs 82. Provision of information to applicants 83. House rules 84. Travel documents for applicants Chapter 3 Reduction or withdrawal of material reception conditions 85. Definitions 86. Reduction or withdrawal of material reception conditions 87. Making a decision under section 86 88. Section 86 decision based on applicant’s conduct 89. Appeal of section 86 decision Chapter 4 Monitoring of reception conditions 90. Definitions (Part 4) (Chapter 4) 91. Monitoring body 92. National Standards and monitoring of accommodation 93. Provision of information to monitoring body 94. Authorised persons 95. Inspection of accommodation centres 96. Prohibition against certain conduct in relation to inspection 97. Inspection reports 98. Statutory notifications to monitoring body 99. Notification of serious incidents PART 5 Restriction of Freedom of Movement and Detention Chapter 1 Preliminary and general 100. Application of Part 5 101. Particular reasons to believe that person might abscond Chapter 2 Restrictions of freedom of movement 102. Requirement that applicant reside in specific place 103. Requirement that applicant report to competent authorities 104. Matters to be taken into account 105. Form and content of requirement restricting freedom of movement 106. Assistance for unaccompanied minor 107. Power to vary restriction of freedom of movement 108. Review of restriction of freedom of movement 109. Appeal from decision of review officer 110. Request to reside temporarily outside specified place Chapter 3 Detention and alternatives to detention 111. Prohibition of detention on certain grounds 112. Grounds of detention and application of alternatives to detention 113. Alternatives to detention 114. Measures relating to minors 115. Application of alternative to detention 116. Power to vary requirement under section 113 117. Appeal of requirement under section 113 118. Arrest and detention of applicants 119. Detention as last resort 120. Offences (Part 5) 121. Rights of detained person 122. Detention of persons with special reception needs 123. Notification to Child and Family Agency where minor in custody of detained person 124. Administrative delay while applicant is in detention 125. Conditions of detention PART 6 Asylum and Migration Management Chapter 1 Preliminary and general 126. Interpretation (Part 6) 127. Best interests of child (Part 6) 129. Minister to provide applicant with information on application of Asylum and Migration Management Regulation 130. Minister may request another Member State to take charge of applicant to bring family together Chapter 2 Determination of Member State responsible 131. Minister to determine Member State responsible 132. Determination of Member State responsible — assessment whether applicant poses threat to internal security 133. Personal interview for determining Member State responsible 134. Offence of forging or altering recording or summary of Article 22 interview 135. Circumstances in which Article 22 interview may be omitted Chapter 3 136. Request by State to other Member State to take charge of, or take back, applicant 137. Functions of Minister where State is transferring Member State 138. Minister to take transfer decision 139. Notification of transfer decision 140. Appeal against transfer decision 141. Request to remain in State pending appeal 142. Additional functions of Minister in relation to transfer decision 143. Transfer of applicant from State to Member State responsible 144. Powers of immigration officer, etc. for purposes of facilitating transfer 145. Arrest and detention of applicant subject of transfer decision Chapter 4 Procedures where State is Member State responsible 146. Request by other Member State to State to take charge of, or take back, applicant for international protection 147. Procedure where State takes charge of, or takes back, applicant for international protection PART 7 Examination of Applications for International Protection Chapter 1 Medical examination for indications of past persecution or serious harm 148. Determining Authority may request medical examination for indications of past persecution or serious harm Chapter 2 Examination procedure 149. Examination of applications 150. Determining Authority may prioritise examination of applications for international protection Chapter 3 Personal interviews 151. Requirement to give applicant opportunity of personal interview 152. Requirements for personal interviews 153. Conduct of personal interview 154. Legal assistance at personal interview 155. Report and recording of personal interviews Chapter 4 Decisions on applications 156. Decision on applications for international protection and notification of decision 157. Assessment of admissibility of application 158. Duration of examination to determine whether application is inadmissible 159. Decision to reject application as inadmissible 160. Finding that applicant’s country of origin is safe country of origin 161. Rejection of application and issuance of return decision 162. Examination of merits of application 163. Determining Authority may decide not to grant refugee status 164. Decision on merits of application 165. Grant of refugee status following decision that person qualifies as refugee 166. Grant of subsidiary protection status following decision that person is eligible for subsidiary protection 167. Rejection of application as unfounded 168. Duration of examination procedure on merits 169. Examination procedure to conclude within 21 months of lodging of application 170. Duration of examination procedure where court annuls decision of Determining Authority and refers back 171. Decision that applicant qualifies as refugee 172. Decision that applicant does not qualify as refugee and is eligible for subsidiary protection Chapter 5 Special procedures 173. Accelerated examination procedure 174. Duration of accelerated examination procedure Chapter 6 Asylum border procedure 175. Conditions for applying asylum border procedure 176. Deadlines under asylum border procedure 177. Prioritisation of examination of applications in asylum border procedure 178. Application by person deemed to be national security risk 179. Mandatory application of asylum border procedure 180. Application of special procedures to applicants in need of special procedural guarantees 181. Determination of Member State responsible and relocation where asylum border procedure is applicable 182. Application of asylum border procedure where applicant is transferred to State 183. Exceptions to asylum border procedure 184. Restrictions on freedom of movement during asylum border procedure 185. Minister to notify where number of applications in border procedure reaches maximum PART 8 Appeals to Tribunal 186. Definitions (Part 8) 187. Appeals 188. Right to remain in State pending appeal 189. Request to Tribunal to be allowed to remain pending appeal 190. Provision of information, submission of documents to Tribunal 191. Oral hearing 192. Recording of oral hearing 193. Examination by Tribunal 194. Withdrawal and deemed withdrawal of appeal 195. Decision of Tribunal 196. Effect of judicial review on right to remain in State 197. Duration of appeal to Tribunal 198. Procedures for appeals and requests to remain PART 9 Content of International Protection 199. Definitions (Part 9) 200. Application of Part 9 201. Information for beneficiaries of international protection 202. Extension to beneficiaries of international protection of certain rights 203. Permission for beneficiaries of international protection to reside in State 204. Permission to reside for family members of beneficiaries of international protection 205. Permission to enter and reside for family members of beneficiaries of international protection 206. Application by unaccompanied minors for waiver of certain requirements under section 205 207. Travel document 208. Cancellation and surrender of travel document 209. Offences relating to travel document 210. Meaning of “false” and “making” 211. Proceedings relating to offences under section 209 committed outside State 212. Regulations (section 205) PART 10 Voluntary Return and Withdrawal of International Protection 213. Option to voluntarily return 214. Withdrawal of international protection 215. Appeal of withdrawal of international protection PART 11 Chapter 1 Return decisions 216. Return decision where application is inadmissible on certain grounds, unfounded, manifestly unfounded or withdrawn 217. Entry ban notice 218. First country of asylum or safe third country return decision 219. Making of return decision before decision under Part 3 or 7 220. Coming into effect of return decision 221. Exceptions to making of return decision 222. Requirements on person subject of return decision 223. Arrest and detention (Part 11) 224. Continuance of detention under section 223 225. Prohibition of refoulement Chapter 2 Return border procedure 226. Application of Chapter 2 of Part 11 227. Requirements on person to whom Chapter applies 228. Designated centre 229. Refusal of authorisation to enter State 230. Arrest and detention under return border procedure 231. Cessation of return border procedure Chapter 3 232. Power to enter premises 233. Issue of travel document for purpose of return 234. Review of detention under Part 11 PART 12 Humanitarian Admission Framework, Programme Refugees, Temporary Protection and Crisis and Force Majeure 235. Definitions (Part 12) 236. Programme Refugees 237. Temporary protection 238. Revocation of temporary protection 239. Crisis and force majeure PART 13 Chapter 1 Definitions (Part 13) 240. Definitions (Part 13) Chapter 2 Establishment of Tribunal 241. Establishment day of Tribunal 242. Establishment of Tribunal Chapter 3 243. Functions of Tribunal 244. Composition of Tribunal 245. Terms of appointment and conditions of office of Appeals Officers 246. Resignation and removal of Appeals Officers 247. Functions of Chief Appeals Officer 248. Delegation of functions of Chief Appeals Officer 249. Power of Deputy Chief Appeals Officer to perform functions of Chief Appeals Officer 250. Functions of Appeals Officers 251. Director of Tribunal 252. Staff of Tribunal 253. Power of member of staff to perform functions of Director Chapter 4 254. Annual report of Tribunal 255. Reports of Chief Appeals Officer 256. Reports of Director PART 14 Chief Inspector of Asylum Border Procedures Chapter 1 Definitions (Part 14) 257. Definitions (Part 14) Chapter 2 Establishment of Office of Chief Inspector of Asylum Border Procedures 258. Establishment day of Office of Chief Inspector 259. Establishment of Office of Chief Inspector Chapter 3 Appointment and functions of Chief Inspector of Asylum Border Procedures 260. Appointment of Chief Inspector 261. Resignation and removal of Chief Inspector 262. Acting Chief Inspector 263. Functions of Chief Inspector 264. Staff of Chief Inspector Chapter 4 Governance and accountability of Chief Inspector of Asylum Border Procedures 265. Establishment and role of Advisory Board 266. Membership of Advisory Board 267. Meetings of Advisory Board 268. Member ceasing to be member of Advisory Board 269. Annual report of Chief Inspector 270. Accountability to Oireachtas Committees Chapter 5 Complaints, investigations and inspections 271. Inspections and complaints of designated asylum border facilities 272. Recording and handling of complaints 273. Formal investigation 274. Other actions by Chief Inspector following formal investigation Chapter 6 275. Offences under Part 14 276. Prohibition on unauthorised disclosure of confidential information PART 15 Miscellaneous Provisions 278. Prohibition on publication or broadcast of certain information 279. Designation of safe countries of origin 280. Designation of safe third countries 281. Prioritisation by Tribunal of certain appeals and requests to remain 282. Contingency plan 283. Family tracing for unaccompanied minors 284. Sharing of information for performance of functions PART 16 Transitional Provisions 285. Application of Act to certain applications 286. Transitional provisions relating to repeals under section 5 287. Transitional provisions relating to appointment of Appeals Officers under Part 13 288. Amendment of section 2 of Act of 2015 289. Continued application and effect of Act of 2015 290. Internal protection 291. Amendment of section 21(16) of Act of 2015 292. Amendment of section 27(1) of Act of 2015 293. Amendment of section 28 of Act of 2015 294. Amendment of section 62 of Act of 2015 PART 17 295. Amendment of Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 296. Amendment of Child Care Act 1991 297. Amendment of Act of 1995 298. Amendment of section 23C of Road Traffic Act 1961 299. Amendment of Schedule to Bail Act 1997 300. Amendment of Act of 1999 301. Amendment of section 5 of Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act 2000 302. Amendment of Immigration Act 2003 303. Amendment of Act of 2004 304. Amendment of Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 305. Amendment of Schedule 3 to Broadcasting Act 2009 306. Amendment of Schedule 1 to National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 307. Amendment of Children First Act 2015 308. Amendment of section 24 of Prisons Act 2015 309. Amendment of section 12(2) of Act of 2018 310. Amendment of Childcare Support Act 2018 311. Amendment of section 5(1) of Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021 312. Amendment of Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 313. Amendment of section 8 of Employment Permits Act 2024 SCHEDULE 1 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees Done at Geneva on 28 July 1951 SCHEDULE 2 Protocal Relating to the Status of Refugees Done at New York on 31 January 1967 Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (No. 64) Bail Act 1997 (No. 16) Broadcasting Act 2009 (No. 18) Child Care Act 1991 (No. 17) Childcare Support Act 2018 (No. 11) Children Act 2001 (No. 24) Children First Act 2015 (No. 36) Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (No. 19) Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (No. 32) Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (No. 24) Companies Act 2014 (No. 38) Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 (No. 39) Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021 (No. 42) Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (No. 8) Data Protection Act 2018 (No. 7) Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 (No. 5) Dentists Act 1985 (No. 9) Education Act 1998 (No. 51) Employment Permits Act 2024 (No. 17) Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 (No. 22) European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 (No. 45) European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 (No. 20) European Parliament Elections Act 1997 (No. 2) Extradition Act 1965 (No. 17) Health Act 1947 (No. 28) Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (No. 27) Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 (No. 22) Housing Act 1988 (No. 28) Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act 2000 (No. 29) Immigration Act 1999 (No. 22) Immigration Act 2003 (No. 26) Immigration Act 2004 (No. 1) International Protection Act 2015 (No. 66) International War Crimes Tribunals Act 1998 (No. 40) Interpretation Act 2005 (No. 23) Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (No. 26) Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 (No. 65) Medical Practitioners Act 2007 (No. 25) National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 (No. 47) Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 (No. 41) Official Languages Act 2003 (No. 32) Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 (14 & 15 Vict., c.93) Prisons Act 1970 (No. 11) Prisons Act 1972 (No. 7) Prisons Act 2015 (No. 57) Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (No. 14) Protection of Children (Hague Convention) Act 2000 (No. 37) Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 (No. 33) Refugee Act 1996 (No. 17) Road Traffic Act 1961 (No. 24) Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (No. 26) Solicitors Act 1954 (No. 36) 2026 INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION ACT 2026 An Act to provide for the entry into, and presence in, the State of persons seeking international protection, while having regard also to the power of the Executive in relation to these matters; to give effect to Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast); to give further effect to Regulation (EU) 2024/1347 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection and for the content of the protection granted; to give further effect to Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a common procedure for international protection in the Union and repealing Directive 2013/32/EU; to give further effect to Regulation (EU) 2024/1350 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147; to give further effect to Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof; to give further effect to Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on asylum and migration management; to give further effect to Regulation (EU) 2024/1358 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on the establishment of ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of biometric data in order to effectively apply Regulations (EU) 2024/1351 and (EU) 2024/1350 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 2001/55/EC and to identify illegally staying third country nationals and stateless persons and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by Member States’ law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes; to give further effect to Regulation (EU) 2024/1359 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 addressing situations of crisis and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147; to give further effect to the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on the 28th day of July 1951 and the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees done at New York on the 31st day of January 1967; to provide for the gathering of information from applicants for international protection; to provide for permission to enter and reside for family members of beneficiaries of international protection; to provide for the removal from the State of certain persons; to provide for the establishment of a body to be known as An Binse um Achomhairc i dtaobh Tearmainn agus Filleadh Oifig an Phríomh Chigire Nósanna Imeachta Teorann um Thearmann International Protection Act 2015 ; to amend the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 , the Child Care Act 1991 , the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 , the Immigration Act 1999 , the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act 2000 , the Immigration Act 2004 , the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 , the Children First Act 2015 and certain other enactments; and to provide for related matters. nd April, Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows: OJ L, 2024/1346, 22.5.2024 OJ L, 2024/1347, 22.5.2024 OJ L, 2024/1348, 22.5.2024 OJ L, 2024/1350, 22.5.2024 OJ L, 212, 7.8.2001, pp 12-23 OJ L, 2024/1351, 22.5.2024 OJ L, 2024/1358, 22.5.2024 OJ L, 2024/1359, 22.5.2024