Important

The information on this page only applies to International Protection Applications made before 12 June 2026.

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Permission to Remain

If you are not entitled to refugee status or subsidiary protection, the Minister may give you permission to remain in Ireland for another reason.

What is permission to remain

Permission to remain can allow some applicants to stay in Ireland when international protection is not granted.

If you are not granted refugee status or subsidiary protection, the Minister may decide to give you permission to remain in Ireland for another reason.
 This decision is made as part of the international protection process for applications made before 12 June 2026.

Street view representing applicants seeking permission to remain in Ireland
Person reading documents about permission to remain after an international protection assessment
When it is considered

Permission to remain is considered after the assessment of an international protection application.

Permission to remain will be considered:

  • When a 1st instance recommendation on your application for Refugee Status or Subsidiary Protection has been made and the International Protection Officer has completed their assessment
  • When you have continued to cooperate with the International Protection process
  • When you have made submissions relevant to seeking permission to remain in the State
Your decision

You will receive a written decision explaining the outcome of your application.

The decision is issued in writing and explains the outcome of your application.

If the decision is negative, further information will be included with the letter.

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Review and Next Steps

A decision not to grant Permission to Remain can be reviewed after an unsuccessful appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal.

This is not an automatic process. You have 5 working days to submit an application for a Review of Permission to Remain. Late applications will not be accepted.

To apply for a review of your original Permission to Remain decision, you must complete this form and send submissions relevant to permission to remain in the State to [email protected]

If you do not seek a review of your original permission to remain decision, you will receive a report stating that the findings of your original permission to remain decision have not changed and the original decision made on your Permission to Remain will be final.

If you apply for a review of permission to remain, you will receive a full re-consideration of your case for permission to remain, including all and any submissions you have provided since your original permission to remain decision, under Section 49 of the International Protection Act 2015.   When a decision is made on your application for review of permission to remain;  

  • The decision cannot be appealed
  • A return or deportation decision may be issued
  • You will be informed, in writing, of your next steps
Voluntary return

Applicants may choose to return voluntarily at any time during the process.

At any stage of the international protection procedure, you may decide to return voluntarily to your country of origin or another country where you have permission to stay.

Choosing voluntary return will stop the international protection procedure. Support and counselling may be available.

More about Voluntary Returns →

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Shared accommodation room in an IPAS accommodation centre
Getting help

You can seek independent advice if you need help understanding your decision.

Decisions are issued in writing and may be complex.
 If you need support understanding your decision or your options, you may seek independent or legal advice through appropriate services.

Next Steps

Stages of your application

Guidance and support during your application process.

EU Dublin Regulation

Information on Dublin cases, transfers, and what it means if another country may be responsible.