The Integration Centre has developed expertise information provision, advice referral and advocacy services in the areas of Protection and Integration over the years.
The following sections describe the application process, and rights and responsibilities attached to the different types of status that can be applied for in Ireland.
If you would like to discuss any of these or you need more information please do not hesitate to visit our clinics, or contact us via our telephone, email or website call back service. For more information on these click here.
Status Definitions
Asylum Seeker - a person who has left their country of origin, has applied for recognition as a refugee in another country, and is awaiting a decision on their application.
Refugee - a person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country…"
Family Reunification - is a recognized reason for immigration in many countries. The presence of one or more family members in a certain country, therefore, enables the rest of the family to immigrate to that country as well.
Subsidiary Protection - is granted to persons who do not fulfil the conditions for the granting of the refugee status but are outside their country of origin or habitual residence and unable or unwilling to return there owing to serious and indiscriminate threats to life, physical integrity or freedom.
Leave to Remain - A person who has been refused a declaration as a refugee and who is not eligible for subsidiary protection, may be granted leave to remain in the State. A person may also withdraw from the asylum process and seek leave to remain in the State. Leave to remain is granted at the discretion of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, usually on humanitarian grounds.
Residence - You are a resident in Ireland if you have been granted permission to live here because you are either: the parent of an Irish Born Child (Before 2005), the Spouse of an Irish national, the spouse of an EU national working in Ireland, the dependent of someone who is resident in Ireland.
Citizenship - There are four different categories under which citizenship can be applied for. They are naturalisation, citizenship based on marriage to an Irish citizen, citizenship by descent, and citizenship by birth in Ireland.
Migrant Workers - All migrant workers are entitled to the same labour rights and protections as other workers in Ireland. Irish employment legislation applies to all workers, irrespective of their nationality.