Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has published the International Protection Bill 2026, branding it the “most far-reaching overhaul” of Ireland’s asylum system in decades. The draft law imposes a three-month limit for first-instance decisions and a further three months for appeals, slashing today’s median 16-month wait.(visahq.com)
The Bill aligns Irish procedures with the EU Migration & Asylum Pact and creates a new Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals (TARA). A Chief Inspector will oversee border procedures, and manifestly unfounded claims may be processed at ports of entry within 12 weeks.
![International Protection Bill 2026 Promises Six-Month Decisions on Asylum Claims]()
To help employers, legal advisers and applicants keep pace with such sweeping changes, VisaHQ provides an all-in-one digital platform for securing Irish travel documents and stay permissions. Its dedicated Ireland page (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers real-time policy updates, application reviews and courier support, ensuring compliance is maintained as the International Protection Bill reshapes entry and residence rules.
For employers, faster decisions could move thousands of applicants into the labour market sooner, alleviating shortages in hospitality, healthcare and agrifood. However, a proposed three-year eligibility period for family reunification and a financial self-sufficiency test may complicate workforce planning for refugees already employed.
Global mobility teams should update onboarding checklists, review right-to-work documentation timelines and prepare for stricter evidence requirements at entry points once the Bill is enacted—targeted for June 2026.
The Bill aligns Irish procedures with the EU Migration & Asylum Pact and creates a new Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals (TARA). A Chief Inspector will oversee border procedures, and manifestly unfounded claims may be processed at ports of entry within 12 weeks.
To help employers, legal advisers and applicants keep pace with such sweeping changes, VisaHQ provides an all-in-one digital platform for securing Irish travel documents and stay permissions. Its dedicated Ireland page (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers real-time policy updates, application reviews and courier support, ensuring compliance is maintained as the International Protection Bill reshapes entry and residence rules.
For employers, faster decisions could move thousands of applicants into the labour market sooner, alleviating shortages in hospitality, healthcare and agrifood. However, a proposed three-year eligibility period for family reunification and a financial self-sufficiency test may complicate workforce planning for refugees already employed.
Global mobility teams should update onboarding checklists, review right-to-work documentation timelines and prepare for stricter evidence requirements at entry points once the Bill is enacted—targeted for June 2026.
