Record number of asylum seekers granted international protection last year
Seán McCárthaigh
Ireland granted protection status to a record number of asylum seekers last year, with 5,085 individuals receiving positive decisions to their applications – up almost 8 per cent on 2024.
New figures published by the European Commission show the increase in numbers being granted protection status in the Republic during 2025 bucked a general trend across the EU, where the number of successful applicants for asylum fell overall by 18 per cent.
The previous record number of grants of protection status in Ireland was in 2022, when 4,950 asylum applicants were successful.
The latest figures show Ireland was ranked 9th among the 27 EU member states last year in terms of numbers granted protection status – up from 11th in 2024.
A report published by the EU’s Statistical Office, Eurostat, shows that Ireland had the third-highest number of positive decisions last year, after Estonia and Hungary.
The figures reveal 63.4 per cent of all asylum seekers in Ireland were successful in their applications in 2025, compared to the EU average of 39.1 per cent.
The most restrictive country was Cyprus, where only 7.9 per cent of applicants were granted protection status.
Proportionately, the most successful applicants in Ireland last year were natives of Nicaragua, Myanmar, Eswatini, Sudan, Somalia with in excess of 90 per cent being granted asylum.
Other countries of origin with a high rate of positive decisions for applicants were Zimbabwe, Palestine, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Ghana and Ukraine.
In contrast, only a small proportion of asylum seekers from Albania, India, Brazil, Morocco and Egypt received a favourable decision – less than 1 in 5 in all cases.
The report also revealed that Ireland had the 4th highest level of positive final decisions after cases were appealed or reviewed in 2025.
It shows that 32.0 per cent of asylum seekers in Ireland successfully appealed the original refusal of their application for international protection compared to the EU average of 20.9 per cent.
Only a majority of citizens of three countries were successful at the final decision stage – Afghanistan, Somalia and Zimbabwe.
Last year’s figures also include a record number of 145 unaccompanied minors being granted asylum in the Republic.
The report also shows that 10 individuals granted asylum in Ireland had their international protection status withdrawn last year.
Across the 27 EU member states, Afghans, Venezuelans, Syrians and Ukrainians were the main beneficiaries of protection status last year which combined accounted for 53 per cent of all successful applicants.
Overall, over 1 million decisions on asylum applications were issued in 2025 with 361,325 individuals being granted protection status.
The highest number of people to receive protection status in 2025 was reported in Germany with 103,360 followed by Spain (76,210) and France (72,930). The three countries accounted for 70 per cent of all cases with positive decisions last year.
A total of 16,110 had their international protection status withdrawn or revoked when new elements or findings about their cases arose indicating there were reasons to reconsider the validity of their application.
Most of such cases occurred in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria.
The report also reveals that 290 vulnerable people from outside the EU were resettled in Ireland last year – all Syrians – on request of the UN High Commission for Refugees.
In December, the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, said the Government was trying to reduce the number of asylum seekers coming to Ireland to prevent “a breakdown in social cohesion.”
However, Mr O’Callaghan declined to offer asylum to several asylum seekers whom he believed would be sustainable.
The International Protection Bill 2026 published by the Minister, which provides for faster processing of asylum claims with a more efficient decision-making system, was signed into law by the President, Catherine Connolly, last month after she had convened a meeting of the Council of State.
Mr O’Callaghan said the legislation would mean asylum applicants spend less time in IPAS accommodation, while also significantly reducing the cost of the asylum system for the State.
He said those whose applications are refused can also be returned to their country of origin sooner.
