Dublin: Migration to Ireland fell sharply last year, with overall inflows down 16% in the period up to April 2025, according to the European Migration Network (EMN) annual review. The decline is primarily attributed to a significant drop in arrivals from Ukraine.
While Ukrainian numbers decreased, international protection applications surged by 40% in 2024. A total of 111,480 Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) were issued during the year, including 9,558 specifically linked to protection applicants.
The Department of Justice reported a 40% reduction in international protection applications so far this year. Of the EU’s 997,350 asylum applications in 2024, Ireland accounted for 1.86%, up from 1.17% in 2023. The EMN analysis draws on data from government departments, the Central Statistics Office and Eurostat.
The highest number of applicants came from Nigeria, Jordan and Pakistan, with Jordan topping the list and Algeria recording the lowest numbers.
The International Protection Office (IPO) issued 13,108 decisions in 2024—an increase of 56% from the previous year—while average processing times stood at 16 months. Approximately 70% of applications were refused, though appeals and reviews fell to 35%. Albanians accounted for the highest share of refusals.
A total of 6,895 third-country nationals were refused entry last year, marking a 7% decline from 2023 and a 25% drop compared with 2022. Refusals for Albanian nationals more than doubled from 435 to 1,010. Meanwhile, refusals for South African nationals fell by half.
Voluntary returns increased dramatically, rising 345% in a year. In 2024, 935 people chose to return voluntarily—more than in any year in the past decade. The report also notes that around 6,000 asylum seekers from previous years were still awaiting accommodation.
On the legal immigration front, Ireland saw a 27% rise in employment permits in 2024, driving growth in regulated migration. The health and social work sector accounted for 32% of all permits, followed by information and communication at 17%. Significant increases were also recorded in agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Residence permit data shows that among non-EEA nationals receiving first permits last year, 48% were for education, 24% for employment, 5% for family reasons and 5% for international protection, with the remaining issued for other purposes.
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