Ireland: Information for stateless people and those at risk of statelessness fleeing Ukraine
2. ROUTES TO INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION
Ireland offers three forms of protection: refugee status, subsidiary protection, and temporary protection. The
Temporary Protection Directive has been implemented into Irish law. Stateless persons may apply for all forms
of protection, subject to eligibility criteria.
The Irish authorities will not return any individuals to Ukraine during the war. People who are not eligible for
temporary protection may still apply for international protection in Ireland. The Irish Government has
indicated that people who were residing in Ukraine without a permanent residence permit will be assisted to
return to their country of origin if it is safe for them to do so (unless Ukraine is their country of origin), with
the support of the International Organisation for Migration.
What is it?
Refugee Status
Subsidiary Protection
Temporary protection
Protection under the 1951
Convention Relating to the
Status of Refugees
For persons who do not
qualify as a refugee but the
International Protection
Office of Ireland considers
that they face a real risk of
suffering serious harm in
their country of origin
Yes
Temporary protection for
eligible persons fleeing the
war in Ukraine
Can stateless
Yes
and/or
undocumented
persons apply?
Where to
apply?
Procedure &
rights
The application must be
Same as Refugee Status
made in person as soon as
possible on arrival, either at
the airport or seaport
where the person arrived in
Ireland or after entry to
Ireland at the International
Protection Office (IPO),
Irish Naturalisation and
Immigration Service
The authorities will
Same as Refugee Status
consider whether the
person qualifies for a
refugee declaration (or a
subsidiary protection
declaration); applicants
complete a preliminary
interview; all available
documents relevant to the
claim should be provided to
Yes, if they meet eligibility
criteria (i.e., beneficiaries
of international protection
or equivalent national
protection in Ukraine, and
their family members; or
permanent residence in
Ukraine and cannot return
to country of origin);
unclear whether
undocumented persons are
eligible and how they can
apply for protection
Dublin Airport, or at one of
the Ukrainian Support
Centres in Cork, Dublin,
Limerick or Rosslare Port
Upon arrival at a reception
hub, applicant will be given
a permission letter by the
Department of Justice
confirming they have been
granted temporary
protection