Some of the information in circulation regarding the entitlements and obligations of people applying for asylum in Ireland is inaccurate and can give a false impression of the support system which is in place here for those entering the asylum process. This section of the website is intended to give a brief outline of some of the key issues which you should be aware of before travelling to Ireland to apply for asylum. For a more comprehensive overview of the asylum process in Ireland please click on the following LINK.

• When you apply for asylum in Ireland your application must be accompanied by any original travel documents in your possession and, if appropriate, those of your children aged under eighteen years, and you must furnish originals of all identity documents, birth and marriage certificates in your possession relating to you and/or your minor children.
• You must be truthful at all times in the information you provide in connection with your application and you must co-operate fully with the investigation of your application.
• Your photograph and fingerprints will be taken when you lodge your application.
• When your application for a declaration as a refugee has been lodged, you will be given accommodation in a reception centre in Dublin, the capital city, for an initial period of ten to fourteen days.
• You will then be relocated under the 'Dispersal Scheme' to an accommodation centre outside of Dublin. There are currently fifty eight such accommodation centres throughout Ireland and you will not be given any choice with regard to the location of the centre to which you are dispersed. You may have to share your bedroom with other asylum seekers.
• You will be expected to remain in the accommodation centre to which you are dispersed until your application has been fully processed, including any appeal period if applicable. You may only move from this accommodation with the permission of the Reception and Integration Agency and only in circumstances where the Agency is in a position to offer you alternative accommodation.
• Your accommodation will be full board, i.e. bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• As your accommodation will be full board, the only income you will receive from the State shall be a personal allowance of €19.10 per week and, if you have children and they are accompanying you, €9.60 per week for each child.
• Rent supplements are no longer payable to asylum seekers. Therefore, under no circumstances will you be granted any State supports to acquire rented accommodation. You must remain within the 'Direct Provision' scheme until you are granted refugee status, leave to remain or, if your application for refugee status is unsuccessful, until you are deported.
• If you are an asylum seeker from Bulgaria, Romania or Nigeria you will be required to report at specified intervals to an immigration officer or person or persons authorised by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, or a member of the Garda Síochána (Irish Police).
• You must not leave or attempt to leave the State without the consent of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform while your application is under consideration.   
• You will not be allowed to seek or enter employment while your application for refugee status is being processed.
• You will not be allowed to carry on any business, trade or profession while your application is being processed.
• You will not be entitled to third level education or to vocational training while your application is being processed.
• If, prior to applying for refugee status in Ireland, you had lodged or had an application for asylum examined in another Dublin II Regulation/Dublin Convention State or where another State has issued you with a visa or work permit, or where you illegally crossed the frontier of another Regulation State, Ireland may request that State to either take back your application for declaration as a refugee or to take charge of your application and you may then be transferred back to that State.
• If, following the processing of your application for refugee status, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform decides not to give you a declaration as a refugee, he may make a deportation order against you and you shall be deported from the State.

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