Ireland Adds Pakistan to Accelerated Asylum Decision List
Dublin – Pakistan has been officially added to Ireland’s list of countries eligible for expedited processing of international protection applications, Minister Jim O’Callaghan announced this week. The decision comes in response to a growing number of asylum seekers from Pakistan, which now ranks as the second-highest source of such applications in the country.
Approximately 3,000 Pakistani nationals arrive in Ireland each year seeking asylum. The inclusion of Pakistan in the fast-track system reflects a broader effort by the Irish government to streamline its international protection process.
The accelerated decision-making process, introduced in November 2022, aims to reduce the time taken to process asylum applications. The current target is four months, with the Department of Justice indicating plans to shorten this timeframe even further in the near future.
Minister O’Callaghan confirmed that the expedited system now covers applicants from 15 countries, including: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Egypt, Georgia, India, Kosovo, Malawi, Morocco, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and South Africa. It also applies to countries with a high volume of applicants, such as Nigeria and now Pakistan.
The minister noted a worrying trend involving asylum seekers from India, around 100 of whom are currently stranded in Ireland after falling victim to employment scams. Many arrived under false pretenses, having been misled by fraudulent recruiters.
Minister O’Callaghan emphasised that the government’s approach is designed to adapt to evolving migration trends while ensuring that protection is granted to those with genuine needs.
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