The following information is for Ukrainian nationals seeking to come to Ireland. Details are changing by the day and this information is accurate up to April 6th. For latest information please contact us.
The Irish Government has centralised essential information for Ukrainians and their families who are arriving in Ireland. The site is available in English, Ukrainian and Russian. Details: http://gov.ie/ukraine
For comprehensive information on immigration, health, housing, education, rights, welfare and other areas of Irish life, please visit the Citizens Information Ukraine section here.
For Limerick specific and further info see resources on this page.
More info below.
I am Ukrainian, do I need a visa to travel to Ireland?
No. On the 25 February the Irish government waived the requirement that Ukrainian people need a visa to travel to Ireland.
The department of Justice has waived all visas for Ukranian nationals. This allows Ukranians entry into Ireland without having to apply for a visa. It is important to note that this allows entry only, and does not permit residence in the state.
Once arrived in Ireland, Ukranian nationals will have 90 days to secure a more permanent status or seek asylum if they wish. Those with EU or Irish family members may be able to attain status this way.
This government statement is available here.
What if I am Ukrainian but do not have a passport?
A passport is usually required to cross a border. The Irish government have told airlines to accept Government issued identity documents, not usually acceptable for international travel, in lieu of a national passport: including, for example, National ID Cards, Birth Certificates, Internal Passports and expired passports.
What if I have lived in Ukraine but am not Ukrainian?
The Temporary Protection Directive applies to all who were residing in Ukraine on the 24th of February 2022.
However, if you are not a Ukrainian national and are a non-eea national, you will need to apply for a visa for entry into Ireland.
Links to the nearest Irish embassy to you can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs website: dfa.ie
What do I need to do when I arrive in Ireland?
The government has set up a one-stop shop at Dublin airport for Ukrainian arrivals.
When you arrive at the airport make yourself known to Department of Justice officials who will be set up in arrivals. They will register you and give you a letter which states your entitlement to the Temporary Protection Directive.
They will also set you up with a PPSN (Personal Public Service Number) which is used to access public services in Ireland.
There will be information on social welfare supports, access to the labour market, housing, and education.
For more information on social welfare supports available to Ukrainians please see this announcement from the DEASP (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The information is available in Ukrainian and Russian.
We are liaising with the government to ensure those who arrive in other ports of entry will have the same supports made available to them.
What if I arrived before the one-stop shop was set up at Dublin airport?
Those who arrived into Ireland before the supports were available at points of entry, can attend one of several HUBS in Cork, Limerick, and Dublin.
They will be able to obtain their PPSN, access social welfare payments, obtain forms for medical cards, and be granted their Temporary Protection document issued by the Department of Justice.
Cork: Hanover St, Centre, Cork, T12 PX62
Dublin: Guild Building, Cork St, Dublin 8, D08 XH90
Limerick: 2nd Floor, Riverstone House, 23-27 Henry St, Co. Limerick, V94 R7YE
The HUB in Limerick will be able to issue Department of Justice TPD documents from the 11th of April, 2022.
What is the temporary protection directive (TPD)?
Temporary protection is an exceptional measure to provide immediate and temporary protection to displaced persons from non-EU countries and those unable to return to their country of origin.
This was a directive created after the Balkan war to deal with a mass influx of refugees. It applies when there is a risk that the standard asylum system is struggling to cope with demand stemming from a mass influx risking a negative impact on the processing of claims.
The directive was triggered on the 3rd of March by EU Ministers.
In Ireland the TPD is transposed into law in section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015.
( https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2015/act/66/section/60/enacted/en/html )
- Who will be eligible for the TPD ?
All EU Member States will grant Temporary Protection to:
· Ukrainians who had been residing in Ukraine before 24 February
· Third country nationals with refugee or permanent residence status in Ukraine.
· The family members of the above categories of persons
In addition, EU Member States may offer TP to:
· Third country nationals with legal residence in Ukraine who are unable to return home
· Stateless persons.
- How long will the TPD last?
The TPD will grant residency for 1 year. This will then be renewable for 6 months ( up to 2 times).
Any further extension to the TPD will be agreed upon by EU ministers.
- What does the TPD entitle me to?
The Temporary Protection Directive allows:
- Access to
the labour market
- Access to social welfare
- Access to medical care
We will update with more information on how the TPD will work in Ireland after details are finalised by the Department of Justice.
How do I apply for asylum in Ireland?
The Irish Government has asked that all Ukranians please register for the Temporary Protection Directive and that there is no need to seek asylum at this present time.
For all others who do wish to seek asylum please follow the below advice.
Any individual can seek international protection, regardless of how they enter the states ( via air, sea, or land). At port of entry they can state to the immigration officer that they wish to seek international protection (aka Asylum).
STEP 1)
All Asylum seekers in Ireland regardless of point of entry must present
themselves physically to the International Protection Office to apply for
Asylum. The office is located at:
79-83 Lower Mount St.
Dublin 2
D02ND99
STEP 2)
The applicant will be asked their reasons for
seeking asylum in a short interview.
They will also have their fingerprints taken & cross-checked against the
Eurodac system. This will inform the Irish government if a previous application
for asylum has been made in the EU.
They will be offered the help of a free state solicitor through the Refugee Legal Service & a space in Direct Provision if they wish to avail of either.
They will have their photo taken for a TRC (Temporary Residence Certificate)
this denotes they are an asylum seeker.
STEP 3)
If the applicant avails of Direct Provision they will be taken to Balseskin DP centre where they will be given PPS number, medical card and await transfer to their more permanent DP Centre.
Vulnerability assessments:
It is here at this step that they should also be given a vulnerability
assessment. This will flag any medical, psychological or other vulnerabilities
that may be experiencing. It will help the department determine which DP centre
will be best suited.
It is important to note that vulnerability assessments are a requirement under the EU receptions condition directive. EVERY applicant should have such an assessment done, regardless of whether they decide to live in DP or not.
STEP 4)
Questionnaire
Once the applicant is accepted into the asylum system, they will be sent their
International Protection Application questionnaire. This is where they will
outline their reasons for seeking asylum, including supporting
documentation.
The questionnaire can be sent either in English or in the applicant’s own language. As this questionnaire will form the basis for the applicant’s claim for asylum it is IMPERATIVE, they receive legal assistance to fill it in.
STEP 5)
Interview
After the applicant completes the questionnaire & submits it to the IPO,
they will be called for at least one interview. Their solicitor should help
them to prepare for the interview. They will be afforded w/ translators for the
interview in their own language.
If they can’t attend their interview for any reason (i.e. illness/injury) they should contact IPO to reschedule. Non-attendance w/out prior warning will be deemed as “non-cooperation” & will negatively impact their asylum case. Rescheduling will not negatively impact on a case.
STEP) 6
Decision/ Appeal
After the interview they will receive formal notice in writing of the
recommendation of the IPO.
If they are granted refugee status or subsidiary protection & do not wish
to appeal any decision, then they must contact the IPO to instruct they
accept
After this they will receive their formal declaration from the Ministerial Decisions Unit.
If they are refused Refugee status, Subsidiary protection, or both, they have a
right to appeal these decisions If they wish to appeal, they need to contact
the IPO.
If upon appeal the applicant is again refused refugee or subsidiary protection, they may be granted Permission to Remain. This will be solely based on the information already available to the department and they will not have another interview.
If unfortunately, the applicant has exhausted all applications and appeals, they will be issued with a deportation order and asked to leave the state.
Where can I get legal advice before applying for asylum?
Where possible you should get legal information or advice before applying for international protection.
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Organisations who can assist with legal advice before applying for asylum:
Irish Refugee Council:
37 Killarney Street
Dublin 1
D01 NX74
Phone: 01 764 5854
Website: https://www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/
Nasc:
34 Paul Street
Cork
T12 W14H
Phone: 021
427 3594
Website: https://nascireland.org/
What if I have passed through another EU country on my way to Ireland?
The Dublin III regulation DOES NOT apply to those eligible for the Temporary Protection Directive.
The Dublin III Regulation is a mechanism for determining which European Union country is responsible for examining an application for international protection (asylum).
If you make your application for international protection, you will have an initial interview with an international protection officer to establish basic information and advise you of your rights.
Your case may also be examined under the Dublin III Regulation to see whether it should be transferred to another EU country. Your case may be one where Ireland requests another EU country to take charge of your application. Examples of this are where another country has issued you with a visa or work permit, or if you passed through another EU country before applying for international protection in Ireland (e.g. you entered Ireland on a flight from Poland or Hungary).
However, it is possible that Ireland would not ask another another country (e.g. Poland or Hungary) to take responsibility. A lawyer or caseworker can also request this on your behalf. Article 17 of the Dublin Regulation states that each Member State may decide to examine an application for international protection lodged even if such examination is not its responsibility under the criteria laid down in this Regulation.
My family cannot leave Ukraine, what should I do?
The Ukrainian government have stated that men aged 18-60 cannot leave Ukraine. We recommend you check Ukrainian news sources for more information on this.
Ukranian embassy in Dublin:
Embassy of Ukraine to Ireland.
16, Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland D04 NY31
Phones +353 1 668 5189.
E-mail emb_ie@mfa.gov.ua
I have housing or accommodation to offer, how do I make this available to Ukranians?
We are asking all those with offers of accommodation to please use the Irish Red Cross portal to register this.
