The European Migration Network’s annual review, released yesterday, paints a nuanced picture of Ireland’s inbound flows. Total immigration fell by 16 % in the 12 months to April 2025—largely because arrivals from Ukraine slowed as EU temporary-protection holders stabilised or moved on. Nevertheless, first-time applications for international protection jumped 40 % in 2024, driven mainly by nationals of Nigeria, Jordan and Pakistan.
By contrast, preliminary Department of Justice figures for 2025 point to a sharp reversal: protection applications are down 40 % year-on-year, suggesting that recent border-screening measures and quicker processing times are already having an effect. Ireland accounted for 1.86 % of the EU’s nearly one million asylum claims in 2024—up from 1.17 % the year before—raising questions about whether the State is becoming a more attractive destination relative to its size.
For employers, the data imply a tighter labour-supply pipeline in certain sectors that had benefited from Ukrainian work-permit exemptions, while the higher asylum-case workload could prolong work-permission timelines for applicants still in the system. Under current rules, protection applicants can access the labour market after six months if their case is undecided, meaning delays can indirectly augment the available workforce.
![EMN report shows 16 % drop in overall immigration but spike in asylum claims to Ireland]()
Amid these shifting migration dynamics, VisaHQ offers practical assistance to both employers and prospective migrants. Through its Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/), the service provides step-by-step visa guidance, document checking and application submission, helping users navigate evolving work-permit rules and minimise processing delays.
Policy advisers expect the figures to influence forthcoming debates on minimum salary thresholds and regional dispersal requirements. Companies planning large-scale recruitment from third-countries should keep an eye on potential quota re-balancing in critical-skills lists.
The EMN will publish a supplemental dataset in March breaking down inflows by occupation, which could further inform talent-acquisition strategies.
By contrast, preliminary Department of Justice figures for 2025 point to a sharp reversal: protection applications are down 40 % year-on-year, suggesting that recent border-screening measures and quicker processing times are already having an effect. Ireland accounted for 1.86 % of the EU’s nearly one million asylum claims in 2024—up from 1.17 % the year before—raising questions about whether the State is becoming a more attractive destination relative to its size.
For employers, the data imply a tighter labour-supply pipeline in certain sectors that had benefited from Ukrainian work-permit exemptions, while the higher asylum-case workload could prolong work-permission timelines for applicants still in the system. Under current rules, protection applicants can access the labour market after six months if their case is undecided, meaning delays can indirectly augment the available workforce.
Amid these shifting migration dynamics, VisaHQ offers practical assistance to both employers and prospective migrants. Through its Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/), the service provides step-by-step visa guidance, document checking and application submission, helping users navigate evolving work-permit rules and minimise processing delays.
Policy advisers expect the figures to influence forthcoming debates on minimum salary thresholds and regional dispersal requirements. Companies planning large-scale recruitment from third-countries should keep an eye on potential quota re-balancing in critical-skills lists.
The EMN will publish a supplemental dataset in March breaking down inflows by occupation, which could further inform talent-acquisition strategies.
