Ireland grants protection status to  record number of asylum seekers in 2025

In December, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said the Government was trying to reduce the number of asylum seekers coming to Ireland in order to prevent 'a breakdown in social cohesion'. Picture:  Conor McKeown

Ireland granted protection status to a record number of asylum seekers last year with 5,085 individuals receiving positive decisions to their applications — up almost 8% on 2024.

Figures from the European Commission show the increase in numbers being granted protection status here during 2025 bucked a general trend across the EU where the number of successful applicants fell overall by 18%.

The previous record number of grants of protection status in Ireland was 4,950 in 2022.

The latest figures show Ireland was ranked 9th among the 27 EU member states last year in terms of numbers granted protection status — up from 11th in 2024.

A report published by the EU’s Statistical Office, Eurostat, reveal 63.4% of all asylum seekers in Ireland were successful in their applications in 2025 compared to the EU average of 39.1%.

The most restrictive country was Cyprus where only 7.9% of applicants were granted.

Proportionately, the most successful applicants in Ireland last year were natives of Nicaragua, Myanmar, Eswatini, Sudan, and Somalia with in excess of 90% being granted asylum.

Other countries of origin with a high rate of positive decisions were Zimbabwe, Palestine, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Ghana, and Ukraine.

In contrast, only a small proportion of asylum seekers from Albania, India, Brazil, Morocco, and Egypt received a favourable decision — less than 20% in all cases.

The report also reveals Ireland had the fourth highest level of positive final decisions after cases were appealed or reviewed in 2025.

It shows that 32% of asylum seekers in Ireland successfully appealed the original refusal of their application for international protection compared to the EU average of 20.9%.

Only a majority of citizens of three countries were successful at the final decision stage — Afghanistan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.

Record number of unaccompanied minors

Last year’s figures also include a record number of 145 unaccompanied minors being granted asylum in the Republic.

The report also shows that 10 individuals granted asylum in Ireland had their international protection status withdrawn last year.

Across the 27 EU member states, Afghans, Venezuelans, Syrians, and Ukrainians were the main beneficiaries of protection status  which in 2025 combined accounted for 53% of all successful applicants.

The report also reveals that 290 vulnerable people from outside the EU were resettled in Ireland last year — all Syrians — on request of the UN High Commission for Refugees.

In December, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said the Government was trying to reduce the number of asylum seekers coming to Ireland in order to prevent “a breakdown in social cohesion”. 

However, Mr O’Callaghan declined to offer a number of asylum seekers that he believed would be sustainable.

The International Protection Bill 2026 published by the minister, which provides for faster processing of asylum claims with a more efficient decision-making system was signed into law by the President, Catherine Connolly last month after she had convened a meeting of the Council of State.

Mr O’Callaghan said the legislation would mean asylum applicants spend less time in IPAS accommodation, while also significantly reducing the cost of the asylum system for the State.

He said those whose applications are refused can also be returned to their country of origin sooner.