Important

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

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Stages of your application

A clear overview of the new steps and what to expect as your application is processed.

The Asylum Procedure

How does the new asylum procedure work?

During the asylum procedure, the authorities will assess if you need international protection and, if so, which type of protection is relevant to you. In the procedure you will have the opportunity to state all the reasons why you have left your home and your country of origin. Inform the officers truthfully of all the reasons why you left your country. Once you have asked for international protection, you are considered an applicant for international protection.

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Stages of your application

Understand the different stages of the international protection process under the new 2026 legislation

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  • 1

    Registration and lodging

    Applications for international protection will be registered and lodged at the Citywest Reception Centre. Applicants will have their fingerprints taken, their photographs taken and asked to present all their identity, travel and any other relevant documents. Applicants will also be asked to provide their personal details, be asked about any of their family members that are residing in this country or another EU+ country and be asked to provide their contact details. Applicants may also have their belongings searched and may have to undergo a medical check and vulnerability assessment.

  • 2

    Admissibility examination & interview

    In some situations, there will be a pre-examination of an application. This pre-examination is called an admissibility examination and it takes up to 2 months. The authorities will first examine six questions, including whether you already received protection elsewhere, can be readmitted to a safe country, applied more than 7 days after receiving a return decision, or applied again after a rejection without new elements for consideration.

    More information about Admissibility

  • 3

    Interview

    Applicants will be invited to attend a personal interview. The interview is the opportunity for applicants to present in detail the reasons why they are asking for international protection and why they do not want to return to their home country. If applicants do not attend the personal interview without a serious and justified reason, their application will be considered withdrawn and their case will no longer be examined. If applicants refuse to respond to questions during the interview without a serious reason, their application will also be considered withdrawn.

  • 4

    Decision

    After the personal interview, the application for international protection will be assessed and a decision will be made by the International Protection Office on whether the applicant will recieve international protection or not. Applicants will be informed about the outcome of the decision in a language that they understand, unless they are being assisted by a legal representative. If the decision is negative, the reasons will be explained in the decision and they will be issued a decision to return to their country.

  • 5

    Appealing decisions

    TARA is the Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals. If an applicant does not agree with the decisions made by the International Protection Office, they can appeal it. This means the Tribunal will review the decision. You can ask for a legal adviser free of charge to help you appeal. Applicants need to present their appeal and the request to remain within a specific time period provided in the decision. Applicants will receive more detailed information about this if they receive a negative decision.

    More information about Appeals 

Timeframe

How long will the process take?
Find out what to expect

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  • Border procedure: up to 3 months

    The asylum border procedure is an accelerated asylum procedure that takes up to 3 months from the day an application is registered. In the border procedure, the first-instance, appeal and return decisions must be made within 3 months.

  • Accelerated examination procedure: no later than 3 months

    Applications in the accelerated examination procedure will receive their decisions from the International Protection Office, no longer than 3 months from the day the application is lodged.

  • Standard procedure: 6 months

    Applications in the standard procedure will receive their decision from the International Protection Office within 6 months from when the application is lodged.

Next Steps

Your responsibilities

Learn about your responsibilities during the application process.

Special Procedures & Checks

Information about border procedures, screening, inadmissibility, and accelerated processes.