Eligibility Quiz
Application Process
Permission to remain is not a separate application—it's a discretionary decision the Minister for Justice makes automatically if your international protection application is refused. You don't fill out a distinct form or submit a separate request. Instead, the Minister reviews all the information you've already provided during your international protection process and decides whether humanitarian or personal circumstances warrant letting you stay in Ireland.
Step 1: Apply for International Protection
Your journey begins with an application for international protection. Contact the International Protection Office (IPO) to start:
- In person: 78–83 Lower Mount Street, Dublin D02 ND99 (Monday–Friday, 9:00–14:30)
- By email: [email protected]
You'll complete the International Protection Questionnaire, which includes sections where you describe your family relationships in Ireland, health conditions, personal circumstances, and any humanitarian considerations. This information becomes crucial if your application is later refused—so be thorough and honest.
Step 2: Attend Your IPO Interview
The IPO will schedule a preliminary interview and then a substantive personal interview. Bring all relevant documents and be prepared to discuss your circumstances in detail. If you have family in Ireland, health issues, or other personal reasons you should remain, mention them clearly. You can bring a legal representative or interpreter.
Step 3: Receive the IPO's Recommendation
The IPO examines your case and issues one of three recommendations:
- Refugee status should be granted
- Subsidiary protection should be granted
- Neither refugee nor subsidiary protection should be granted
If the IPO recommends refusal of both refugee and subsidiary protection, the Minister automatically considers whether to grant you permission to remain. You do not need to take any action at this stage. The Minister reviews the information you've already provided.
Current processing time: The median time from application to IPO recommendation is 14 months. If you're from a designated safe country of origin and subject to the accelerated procedure, expect approximately 4 months.
Step 4 (Optional): Appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal
If you disagree with the IPO's recommendation, you have the right to appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT):
- Address: 6–7 Hanover Street East, Dublin 2, D02 W320
- Tel: +353 1 474 8400 or 1800 201 458
- Email: [email protected]
You have 10 working days from receiving the IPO's decision to file your appeal. You can appeal even if you're hoping for permission to remain—the two processes run in parallel. If permission to remain is granted before your appeal is heard, you can withdraw your appeal.
Current processing time: The median time for an IPAT decision is approximately 13 months.
Step 5: Minister's Permission-to-Remain Decision
The Minister may grant you permission to remain at any point:
- After the IPO's examination (first-instance stage)
- After your IPAT appeal is decided
- Even before your IPAT appeal is heard
You'll receive a letter from the Minister stating that permission to remain has been granted under Section 49 of the International Protection Act 2015. The letter will specify how long your permission lasts and any conditions attached.
Important: There is no right of appeal if permission to remain is refused. Your only option is to seek judicial review on the grounds that the decision-making process was flawed—a complex and uncertain legal process.
Step 6: Register with Your Local Immigration Office
Once you receive the Minister's letter granting permission to remain, you must register with your local immigration registration office within 90 days.
First-time registrations are handled at Burgh Quay in Dublin for all counties as of 13 January 2025.
Bring:
- Biometric page of your current valid passport
- The Minister's letter granting permission to remain
- Proof of your address in Ireland
You'll receive a Stamp 4 permission and an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, which prove your legal status.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| International Protection Application | €0 |
| Registration (if granted permission to remain) | €0 |
| Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card | €0 |
| Total | €0 |
There are no government fees for applying for or being granted permission to remain under Section 49 of the International Protection Act 2015.
This estimate does not include legal representation (optional but recommended; costs vary by solicitor), travel to interviews, or document preparation. Free legal aid may be available—contact the Irish Refugee Council or your local legal aid office for information.
Processing Time
Permission to remain decisions are made as part of the broader international protection process. There is no separate timeline for the permission-to-remain decision itself.
First-Instance Decision (IPO Recommendation)
Median: 14 months from the day you apply for international protection to the day you receive the IPO's recommendation.
Accelerated procedure (typically for applicants from designated safe countries of origin): approximately 4 months.
Appeal to IPAT (If You Choose to Appeal)
Median: 13 months from filing your appeal to receiving the IPAT's decision.
Permission-to-Remain Decision
The Minister's decision on permission to remain is issued as part of the international protection process. You may receive it:
- At the first-instance stage (after the IPO's examination)
- After your IPAT appeal is decided
- Before your IPAT appeal is heard
There is no separate processing timeline.
Document Validity
Your permission to remain is granted for a specified period stated in the Minister's decision letter. You must renew it before expiration; renewal procedures are outlined in your decision letter.
Future Changes (International Protection Bill 2026)
The International Protection Bill 2026, expected to take effect by 12 June 2026, will significantly accelerate the overall process:
- First-instance decisions: within 3 months
- Appeals: within a further 3 months
- Total: 6 months end-to-end
A pilot programme in July 2025 demonstrated that cases could be processed end-to-end in less than 60 days on average. However, these timelines apply to the overall international protection process; specific permission-to-remain processing times under the new framework have not yet been finalized.