Afghan Admission Programme Information
What is the Afghan Admission Programme ?
The Afghan Admission Programme enables current or former Afghan nationals living legally in Ireland to apply for a residency permission in Ireland for up to four close family members who are currently living in Afghanistan or who have fled to territories bordering Afghanistan since 1 August 2021. It is additional and complementary to existing rights and entitlements to family reunification under Irish law.
Up to 500 persons deemed most at risk will be given the opportunity to join close family members in Ireland under the programme, as announced by the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD and the Minister of State James Browne TD in this press release. The Programme is open for applications from 16 December 2021 to 24 February 2022.
UNHCR Ireland has welcomed the Afghan Admission Programme as a commitment by the government of Ireland to facilitate safe and legal entry of Afghans to Ireland, helping to mitigate the need for refugees to resort to perilous, irregular journeys.
Who is eligible to make a proposal?
Proposers must be :
- Originally from Afghanistan
- Legally resident in Ireland on or before 1 September 2021
- Holding an immigration permission with a minimum remaining duration of 12 months and/or that is renewable at the time of application
- or a Naturalised Irish Citizen (originally from Afghanistan).
Proposers must have sufficient financial resources to support all of their successful beneficiaries from the date of their arrival in Ireland until they are able to support themselves, including by providing them with accommodation. They also have responsibility for making travel arrangements and covering the related costs for all beneficiaries for their journeys to Ireland.
What family members are eligible under the Afghan Admission Programme?
Proposers may nominate up to four family members to be considered for approval to join them in Ireland. Eligible categories of beneficiaries under the Afghan Admission Programme are:
- The Proposer’s Spouse/de facto Spouse/Civil partner as recognised under Irish law (where not eligible for reunification under the terms of the International Protection Act 2015);
- The Proposer’s Adult Child (who must be unmarried and without dependents)
- The Proposer’s Minor Child (where the Minor Child is not eligible for reunification with a sponsor under the terms of the International Protection Act 2015. The Minor Child must be unmarried and without dependants);
- A Related Minor Child without parents and for whom the Proposer has parental responsibility (the related Minor Child must be unmarried and without dependants, e.g. Sibling, Orphaned Niece/Nephew/Grandchild);
- The Proposer’s Parent (where not eligible for reunification with a sponsor under the terms of the International Protection Act 2015)
- The Proposer’s Grandparent
- A Vulnerable Adult Close Family Member (who does not have a spouse/partner or other close relative to support them).
In the current open call for proposals to the Minister, each proposed beneficiary must :
- be a national of Afghanistan
and
- be currently residing in Afghanistan
- or have fled to one of the following neighbouring countries since 1 August 2021: Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
What criteria will be prioritized when assessing applications?
Priority will be given to those deemed most vulnerable to risk.
The decision will be based on :
- the nature of the risk ;
- the vulnerability of each close family member to the risk;
- whether the risk to this family member has increased since the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Afghanistan.
The assessment will have regard to the vulnerability to risk of each close family member, in particular:
- older people
- children
- single female parents
- single women and girls
- people with disabilities
- people whose previous employment exposes them to greater risk (e.g. UN and EU employees, people who worked for civil society organisations).
When applying under the Afghan Admission Programme, the Proposer is required to :
- List, on the application form, their four nominated family members in order of priority in terms of their vulnerability and risk to their freedom and safety.
- Provide information as to the risk to the safety and freedom of each nominated family member.
In the decision-making process, the Minister will have regard to :
- the priority indicated by the Proposer
- the information regarding the risk to the safety and freedom of each nominated family member provided by the Proposer
- the evidence provided by the Proposer
- other relevant information.
What type of permission will my family members receive if they come to Ireland under the Afghan Admission Programme?
- Successful beneficiaries under the Afghan Admission Programme will be granted an initial immigration permission for a two-year period.
- At the end of the two-year period,it will be open to the beneficiaries to seek a renewal of the permission or another permission as appropriate. This will be subject to the beneficiaries having complied with the conditions of their original permission.
Beneficiaries will be entitled to:
- work without a permit;
- operate a business;
- access State provided primary and secondary education for children;
- access emergency treatment in the public health system.
For more information on beneficiaries’ rights and entitlements under the programme, please check the guidance document provided by the Department of Justice.
How do I make a proposal?
The Programme is open for applications from 16 December 2021 to 24 February 2022 at 5:00PM.
- The application form and required documents must be submitted by email at the following email address : [email protected]
- If you are unable to send your application by email, you can send it by Registered Post, so it can be tracked on www.anpost.ie :
AAP Applications
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2
D02 XK70
- The Department of Justice advises applicants not to submit any application in advance of the FAQ issuing (latest 30/12/2021). It has been advised that the time between 16 December 2021 and the end of year should be used to gather the various proofs, in particular proofs establishing identity and availability of accommodation.
Where can I find further information?
- Please visit the Afghan Admission Programme Page on the Department of Justice Immigration website, where you can also find the application form and a guidance document. It is advised to carefully study this document in advance of submitting an application.
- The guidance document explains that Proposers are requested to provide an e-Vetting form. You can find more information about the e-vetting process here.
- More information will be available on the Immigration website in the FAQ starting from 30 December 2021.