Security, identity checks, fingerprinting: How do the new EU migration rules work?
Eva Osborne
The International Protection Act 2026 has come into effect as of June 12th, with the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) now fully implemented.
But what does this mean? And how does it work?
Upon arrival in the State, international protection applicants will now be required to go through screening, which will involve initial security and identity checks and the taking of biometric data for registration on the Eurodac system.
During the screening process, applicants will undergo further security, identity, health, and vulnerability checks.
Passport control officers will take a photo of their face and/or scan fingerprints.
Applicants will also be provided with information about the international protection process, their rights and responsibilities, and be supported with legal counselling.
The Department of Justice said this screening process will determine the procedure under which the applicant’s international protection application will be examined.
International protection applicants will have their asylum claim examined through clearly defined mandatory timelines. These are two months under the inadmissibility procedure, three months under the asylum border procedure, three months under the accelerated procedure, and six months under the ordinary procedure.
The border procedure has the shortest duration with a first instance decision, a return decision, and an appeal of both of those decisions within 12 weeks.
People seeking international protection will present at the Citywest Reception Centre, formerly called the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre, to make their application.
People in the asylum border procedure will be accommodated at Citywest Reception Centre until they receive a decision on their application.
The border procedure will be for applicants that are from a country where the proportion of decisions granting international protection is 20 per cent or lower.
It can also be used for applicants who are known to have misled authorities or to have destroyed or disposed of an identity or travel document, the Department of Justice said.
'Rules-based immigration system'
Welcoming the commencement of the International Protection Act 2026 on Friday, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan said he has been "very clear" since taking office that Ireland must have a "rules-based immigration system".
"Today, the commencement of the International Protection Act 2026 marks an important milestone in ensuring the integrity and efficiency of the asylum process, and further building public confidence in the system.
“This historic reform recognises that migration is a challenge not just at a national level but at a European level.
"Agreeing migration and asylum policy at an EU level means coordinated actions including sharing of information, reducing the number of people applying for protection in numerous EU countries and reviving the return of applicants to the first country they applied in."
