Ireland Tightens Immigration Rules Amid Rapid Population Growth

Ireland Tightens Immigration Rules Amid Rapid Population Growth
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Ireland announced a new set of immigration measures on Wednesday aimed at slowing what officials described as an unusually rapid rate of population growth, Reuters reported. The government said the changes are part of ongoing reforms following a sharp rise in asylum applications and overall migration flows.

Net migration has nearly doubled since 2022 compared with pre-pandemic levels, averaging about 72,000 people per year. The finance ministry has attributed the increase to strong demand for employment permits, higher numbers of family reunification applications, and the arrival of large numbers of Ukrainian refugees.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said the population grew by 1.6% last year—seven times the EU average—and that the pace required a policy response. While emphasizing the positive contributions immigrants make, he noted that the speed of growth posed challenges.

Under the new rules, non-EEA residents seeking to bring family members to Ireland must demonstrate annual earnings at least equal to the median wage of just over €44,000 and show they have suitable housing. Refugees will now be eligible to apply for citizenship after five years of residency instead of three, and those receiving certain long-term social welfare benefits will not qualify.

Additionally, around 7,500 asylum seekers who are employed and living in state accommodation will be required to contribute 10% to 40% of their weekly income toward housing costs. The government expects ongoing procedural reforms to reduce asylum processing times to three to six months by next June.