This FAQ page provides the most up to date arrangements for Ukrainian Citizens and their Family members wishing to travel to Ireland.
This page will be updated on an ongoing basis as the arrangements and developments change.
Temporary Protection in Ireland applies to the following groups of people who have had to flee Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia:
a) Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022;
b) Nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) or a stateless person who would have benefited from international protection (for example: Refugee status) or an equivalent national protection status in Ukraine and were residing there before 24 February 2022;
c) Family members of persons covered by a) and b), where their family already existed in Ukraine, prior to 24 February.
Family members include a spouse or partner, unmarried minor children of either of them, and their other close dependent family relatives who have been living with them as part of the family unit before 24 February 2022.
Temporary protection also applies to nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) and stateless people who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 with a permanent Ukrainian residence permit, who cannot safely return to their country of origin.
People who arrive in Ireland who had been legally residing in Ukraine prior to 24 February 2022 with a temporary or short-term residence permit issued by the Ukrainian authorities, will be assisted to return to their country of origin, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), if it is safe for them to do so.
No, you do not need a Visa to travel to Ireland. The waiving of visa requirementsis an emergency measure, which will apply to all Ukrainians travelling to Ireland. If you travel to Ireland without a visa during the period of invasion of the Ukraine you will initially be given a standard 90 day entry permission while appropriate support and protection measures are put in place.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has travel advice at www.dfa.ie/travel for neighbouring countries that people may be planning to travel to, or through. Please note if you are transiting through another EU country or the UK you may need a transit visa.
Non-EEA family members of Ukrainian Citizens, if they are a visa required national, will require a Visa to travel to Ireland, however an application will be accepted for consideration if submitted from one of the neighbouring countries.
No the visa waiver does not apply and you will need to apply for an entry visa as outlined in the answer to Q3 above.
No the visa waiver does not apply and you will need to apply for an entry visa as outlined in the answer to Q3 above.
All immigration services and airlines must be satisfied as to the identity of a person presenting at a border. In order to facilitate travel for Ukrainian nationals fleeing the conflict zone, a pragmatic and humane approach will be taken while maintaining appropriate immigration and security controls.
In accordance with section 4 of the Irish Immigration Act 2004, all third country nationals, including Ukrainians, who are travelling to Ireland must be in possession of a valid biometric passport.
If you are in need of accommodation when you present at the Border, convey this message to the Immigration Officer who will direct you further.
When you arrive at the Border you will present (as normal) to an Immigration Officer, who will ask you some basic questions in relation to your needs.
You should present any identification documentation available, such as your passport.
There is no requirement for Ukrainian nationals to seek international protection (also known as asylum) to receive the support and protection of the Irish State. The EU Temporary Protection Directive provides a quicker and more streamlined alternative in these circumstances.
While you can, of course, always choose to apply for international protection, you cannot benefit from temporary protection at the same time.
Temporary protection will provide you with immediate access to the labour market, along with access to social welfare income supports, accommodation and other State supports. If you choose to apply for international protection, you should be aware that you will not be able to access employment until 6 months after making your application.
As a beneficiary of temporary protection you will supported with offers of accommodation and housing and access will also be provided to Social welfare Income Supports, Employment Education Medical care and other assistance measures while you are resident in the State.
Accommodation and Housing – The State will ensure you have access to suitable accommodation, or if necessary help you to receive assistance to obtain housing. The State can provide you with accommodation on arrival , or afterwards if your circumstances change and you need it,. For information about this please see https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/d9f43-international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas.
Employment – You are entitled to seek employment or self-employment and vocational training education activities in Ireland. Please see www.gov.ie for information about employment, taxation, social insurance and employment and self-employment related supports.
Education – your children under age 18 will be supported to access public primary or post-primary education provided by the State as appropriate. Further details will be available from gov.ie.
Social Welfare Income Supports – You are entitled to receive social welfare income supports. Where you have children in your care, under the age of 18 you will also be able to make a claim for Child Benefit Payments.
Additional income supports are available To help with accommodation costs you may also be entitled to rent supplement, which is also a social welfare support Please see the Department of Social Protection website www.gov.ie/welfareandwork for further information.
Medical Care – You are also entitled to access health care services from the State, on the same basis as an Irish citizen. Please see www.hse.ie for information from the Health Service Executive (HSE) on the health care services you can access from the HSE.
People with special needs may also be able to avail of other assistance from the State. This includes people with special needs and those who are especially vulnerable like unaccompanied minors. If you need further information please see www.hse.ie.
In the case of supports for unaccompanied children under age 18 years who are seeking temporary protection, they will be referred to the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA), who can provide them with the relevant supports. See : https://www.tusla.ie/services/alternative-care/separated-children/ This service operates from 9am and 5pm and can be reached on +353 1 647 7000. The Emergency Out Of Hours National number is 0818 776 315.
On arrival in the state or shortly thereafter you will be provided with a letter from the Minister for Justice confirming that you are a beneficiary of Temporary Protection in Ireland granted under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. This is all the proof you need to be able to immediately access employment, income support, accommodation (if needed) and other State supports in Ireland.
We are currently putting in place the arrangements for the registration of the permission and information will be provided to you at the appropriate time. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure that the registration process will be as simple and stress-free as possible for you.
If you are granted temporary protection in Ireland you will also receive a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN). This is a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland. All adults and children need their own PPSN.
Temporary Protection and PPSN applications are managed at the Citywest Convention Centre where translators and staff from the Department of Justice and the Department of Social Protection are available to ensure that your PPSN is provided as quickly as possible on your arrival in Ireland.
If you are already in Ireland you should go to your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office and staff will help you to get a PPSN. Please do not apply for a PPSN online as special arrangements have been made in Intreo Centres or Branch Offices (the offices that provide social welfare services in Ireland) to process your PPSN as quickly as possible.
To get a PPSN at your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office you will need to bring the permission letter you get from the Department of Justice confirming that you have been granted Temporary Protection under the EU Directive. You will also need to bring a form of identification such as your Ukrainian National Identity Card, your Ukrainian Passport, or another form of identification.
If you arrived at Dublin Airport prior to 9 March (when permission letters first began to issue) or if you have arrived into another port of entry to the State you can get your permission letter by visiting the Citywest Convention Centre, Saggart, Co Dublin, D24 A38Y; Cork City PSC and PPSN Centre, Ground Floor, Hanover Street, Cork T12 PX62 or Limerick Intreo Centre, Dominick Street, Limerick, V94 X327.
If you have any difficulty in getting to one of these centres please contact us at [email protected] and we will do our best to make other arrangements for you.
PPS numbers are issued by the Department of Social protection and arrangement are being put in place to issue people with PPS numbers on arrival in the State or as soon as possible after their arrival.
The PPS number is required to access to the labour market and other State services which you are entitled to do as a beneficiary of the Temporary Protection Directive.
If you are already in Ireland you should go to your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office and staff will help you to
get a PPSN. Please do not apply for a PPSN online as special arrangements have been made in Intreo Centres or
Branch Offices (the offices that provide social welfare services in Ireland) to process your PPSN as quickly as
possible.
You will be able to travel without restriction within the State. However you should carry the permission letter and or the card detailed above with you at all times.
Please be aware that as the holder of temporary protection you may be entitled to avail of family reunification (in Ireland or in another Member State of the EU) if your spouse or partner, or any children under age 18 of you or your partner, have temporary protection in another EU Member State. This will be subject of co-operation between Ireland and the Member State concerned.
This may also apply where those family members are in need of protection but not yet in an EU Member State.
For further information please see www.irishimmigration.ie.
A temporary protection permission may be revoked in certain circumstances:
- The temporary protection has ended in accordance with the relevant EU Council Decision, such as where the situation in Ukraine has changed;
- On the transfer of residence of the holder of temporary protection to another Member State, or
- Where the Minister for Justice decides that the holder of temporary protection should have been excluded from temporary protection because of certain crimes or for reasons related to national security.
A person may be excluded from temporary protection by the Minister in the following circumstances:
(a) There are serious reasons for considering that the person:
i. has committed a crime against peace, a war crime or a crime against humanity, as defined in the international instruments drawn up to make provision in respect of such crimes,
or
ii. has been found been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations,
(b) There are reasonable grounds for regarding the person as a danger to the security of the State,
(c) The Minister is of the opinion that the person constitutes a danger to the community of the State because they were convicted by a final judgment of a particularly serious crime, whether in the State or elsewhere, or
(d) There are serious reasons for considering that the person has committed a serious non-political crime outside the State prior to their entry into the State.
or
(e) You have failed to provide sufficient documentation to prove residency in Ukraine on or immediately before 24 February 2022
The permission letter you will receive from the Department of Justice that you have been granted Temporary Protection under the EU Directive is all the proof you need to be immediately able to access State supports in Ireland.
The majority of those who presented for Temporary Protection have also been registered. This either happened on the day they presented to claim Temporary Protection or they returned to Citywest by appointment to complete the registration process.
Anyone who has yet to be registered and yet to receive an Irish Residency Permit (IRP Card) please contact [email protected] and one of our Team will be in touch to make the necessary arrangements for you to attend Citywest for registration. The Department is taking all necessary steps to ensure that the registration process will be as simple and stress-free as possible for you.