Ireland’s new Immigration Law Changes 2025: What Non-EU Nationals Need to Know
Full Transfer of Responsibility for Registration
New immigration laws as of January 9th, 2025, the responsibility for Irish immigration residence permission registration has been transferred to the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of the Department of Justice. This follows the earlier transfer of nationwide renewals to the ISD online portal in October 2024, centralising these processes within Immigration service delivery and moving them online. If you are a national of a country outside the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland, you are required to Register your immigration permission permit. This must be done if you come to Ireland to work, study, live or join family for more than 90 days.
A Step by Step Guide to the immigRATION Online Portal:
A new, online, immigration self-service portal, known as the Digital Contact Centre (DCC), was launched in October 2024, which came into effect in 2025 for the immigration service under the Department of Justice. The portal marks a significant modernisation of the way Immigration services are delivered in Ireland, particularly for those renewing their residence permissions and for certain student visa applicants. For a step to step guide on using the portal visit the Digital Contact Centre.
The portal also plays a key role for English Language Students seeking the Stamp 2 Bridging Permission. These students, who have completed their second or third English language course on or after July 1st, can now apply for the bridging permission exclusively through the ISD’s portal. Importantly, those applying via this method will be exempt from application fees, with refunds processed upon application. To qualify for the Stamp 2 Bridging Permission through the new system, students must meet standard renewal criteria and provide documented proof of enrolment and full payment for a Higher Education Programme that is listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).
New Visa Requirements
Effective 10 March 2025, nationals of Eswatini, Lesotho, and Nauru will be required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland, including for transit purposes. Likewise, beginning 12 May 2025, nationals of Trinidad and Tobago will also need a visa to enter or transit through Ireland. These updates represent a notable shift in Ireland’s visa policy, expanding entry requirements to include countries that were previously visa-exempt.
Temporary Protection Renewals Underway for Ukrainian Nationals in Ireland
As of March 21st, 2025, Ireland’s Ukraine Response Team has begun processing a high volume of Online Temporary Protection Renewal (OTPR) applications submitted by Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. This milestone marks a significant phase in the continued administration of support for Ukrainian nationals displaced by the war, reflecting Ireland’s ongoing commitment to humanitarian protection.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are primarily Ukrainian citizens who were granted permission to live, work, and access services in Ireland following their displacement. Unlike standard asylum seekers, they benefit from a simplified process under temporary protection, which is now being extended through the OTPR system.
This renewal process also carries implications for employers of these individuals. As renewals are being processed in large numbers, some applicants may experience brief delays in receiving updated immigration documentation. Employers are advised to remain aware of these developments and ensure flexibility and compliance with employment laws while supporting staff undergoing the renewal process.
These efforts represent an important continuation of Ireland’s emergency response to the Ukrainian crisis and aim to ensure that those affected can maintain stability and security as they rebuild their lives.
Oral Appeal Hearings to Become More Limited Under Proposed International Protection Bill
Under the proposed International Protection Bill 2025, the Irish government plans to severely restrict oral appeal hearings in asylum cases, marking a significant shift in how international protection applications are processed. The bill, which Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan is set to bring before Cabinet, aims to streamline the asylum process by accelerating decisions for applicants from designated safe countries of origin, those who have already received protection elsewhere in Europe, and countries with declining asylum numbers. As part of the reforms, a new second-instance appeals body will be established to handle appeals under the new legislation, operating separately from the current International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT).
Oral hearings within this new system will be “extremely limited,” according to government sources, with the goal of improving efficiency and reducing delays. The change is part of broader efforts to align Ireland’s asylum system with the EU Migration Pact and is being introduced amid a 42% drop in asylum applications in early 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Critics may view the removal of oral hearings as a reduction in procedural fairness, but the government argues it is necessary to eliminate duplication and reduce processing times
Key Laws and Policies Governing Non-EU Immigration in Ireland
Ireland’s immigration framework for non-EU nationals is built on several foundational laws and targeted policies designed to manage entry, residence, citizenship, asylum, education, and economic migration. The core legislative acts include the Immigration Acts of 1999, 2003, and 2004, which establish the primary rules for the admission, residence, and enforcement of immigration controls for non-EEA nationals. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 governs the acquisition of citizenship through birth, descent, or naturalisation. For asylum seekers, the International Protection Act 2015 outlines the procedures and rights associated with international protection applications.
Complementing this legislative framework are policies aimed at addressing specific groups within the non-EEA immigrant population. The Policy Guidelines on Non-EEA Family Reunification set out the criteria and processes for family members seeking to join relatives legally residing in Ireland. The Third Level Graduate Programme Immigration Rules provide pathways for non-EEA students graduating from Irish institutions to remain in the country for work or further study.
Ireland’s commitment to international education is supported through additional policies such as the Policy Statement on International Education and specific provisions for Short Term Language Students. Guidance documents like the New Immigration Regime for Full-time Non-EEA Students Booklet (2010) and the Guidelines for Degree Programme Students clarify registration and visa renewal requirements for student immigrants.
