Most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the Irish State.
The government has given approval to publish the International Protection Bill 2026, legislation that will lead to the “most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the State” in line with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.
The Bill will put in place a new EU framework to manage migration and asylum for the long-term and will ensure Ireland’s policy aligns with other EU countries.
The overall objective of the Bill is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure that is consistent with how asylum laws operate across the EU.
The Bill introduces faster processing of asylum claims with a much more efficient decision-making system. Faster processing will mean that applicants spend less time in IPAS accommodation, and it will significantly reduce the cost of the asylum system to the State. Faster decision-making will also mean that successful applicants will be granted international protection sooner, and those whose applications are refused can be returned to their country of origin sooner.
The International Protection Bill 2026 will replace the International Protection Act 2015.
In July 2025, the Department launched the first phase of pilot pact implementation programme. The first phase aimed to test the ability to process cases end-to-end within the time frame of the future Border Procedure. This requires a first and second-instance decision, with a return order where appropriate, delivered within 12 weeks, and a return effected within a further 12 weeks. During this first phase, the implementation team also mirrored some elements of the screening process as well as parts of the future border procedure that are permitted under current legislation.
Phase one was conducted from July 1st to October 7th 2025 and included applicants from three designated safe countries of origin, Georgia, India and Brazil.
During the initial three months, pilot applicants were successfully processed within the 12 week timeline permitted for first and second instance decisions under the Border Procedure. On average, cases took less than 60 days from application to final decision being issued.
This represents a significant shift from the current median processing times in the IPO and IPAT, and therefore a significant reduction in costs for accommodation and other supports.
On October 8th 2025 the second phase of the transition pilot was launched with the addition of the remaining 12 designated safe countries of origin. Early this year future phases of the pilot will be implemented, in advance of the Pact coming into effect in June 2026.
The government and the Attorney General are developing provisions for inclusion in the Bill to give effect to the proposals, approved by Government on November 26th 2025, that adults who are beneficiaries of international protection will not be entitled to seek family reunification for a period of three years following their grant of international protection.
They must also demonstrate that they are financially self-sufficient. This will be assessed by reference to appropriate income thresholds to be prescribed by the Minister. They will also have to show financial self-sufficiency and not be in receipt of certain social welfare payments or owe money relating to International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) payments.
The Government proposes to bring forward amendments at Committee Stage to address Material Reception Conditions, Restrictions of Movement, Detention, Special Reception Needs and Labour Market Access, as required by the EU Reception Conditions Directive.
Other matters to be dealt with by amendments to the Bill during the legislative process include legal counselling, legal advice and legal aid, and matters relating to data sharing.
The Bill will now be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas and follow the standard parliamentary process over the coming months with a view to enactment in the Spring session, so that it can become operational as required by EU law by June 12th 2026.
The pre-legislative scrutiny report on the General Scheme, including 92 recommendations, was published on December 1st. Some recommendations have been given effect in the published Bill, and others will be considered as the Bill proceeds through the legislative process.
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