Information for Ukrainian refugees in Ireland
EU protection until 4 March 2028; Irish documents valid until 4 March 2027, renewal rules not yet announced
Important to know
Since 5 Aug 2026 new protection requires proof of legal exit from Ukraine (exit stamp or e.g. a Reserve+ document on military obligations); refused if you had it in another EU country. TPTS (Stamp 4, 2 years, renewable, counts toward citizenship): apply by 30 Mar 2027 if by 30 Sep 2026 you had 1+ year of protection and 6 months' work at €29,432+/year and are not in state-supported or ARP-hosted housing. gov.ie: Ukraine updates
Useful links
Official information
- Temporary protection (Irish Immigration)irishimmigration.ie (opens in a new tab)
- Ukraine updates (gov.ie)gov.ie (opens in a new tab)
Housing
- State-contracted accommodation (gov.ie)gov.ie (opens in a new tab)
- Accommodation Recognition Payment (gov.ie)gov.ie (opens in a new tab)
International hosting platforms (Host4Ukraine)
Ukrainian communities
- Ukrainian Action in Irelandukrainianaction.ie (opens in a new tab)
- Association of Ukrainians in Ireland (AURI)ukrainians.ie (opens in a new tab)
- Map of Ukrainian NGOs in Irelandmap.ukrainianaction.ie (opens in a new tab)
Telegram channels
- Ukrainian Action in Ireland (Telegram)t.me (opens in a new tab)
- Ukrainians in Ireland (Telegram group)t.me (opens in a new tab)
More links
Status and documents
- How long protection lasts
- Temporary protection is valid until 4 March 2027 (expired certificates remain valid as proof; renew the IRP card as usual). The EU has extended protection to 4 March 2028; Irish renewal instructions are still pending.
- Documents
- Ukrainian passport or ID card (or other proof of identity and of residence in Ukraine before 24 Feb 2022). Since 5 Aug 2026 new applicants must prove they left Ukraine legally (exit stamp; otherwise e.g. a Reserve+ document on military obligations).
- Where and how to apply
- On arrival at passport control (Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration). PPS number at Citywest (for Dublin Airport arrivals) or an Intreo office. The new TPTS permission: ISD online portal.
- Processing time
- Temporary protection is requested at passport control on arrival and confirmed by a permission letter; the PPS number letter comes shortly after. TPTS processing time is not published (—).
- When protection ends
- Ends with the EU protection (now 4 March 2028) or when you take another permission (e.g. TPTS Stamp 4 replaces it). Exclusion for serious crimes or security risk. Not possible together with an asylum application.
Travel, pets and language
- How to get there
- No flights (airspace closed): go overland to Poland or another neighbour, then fly to Dublin, Cork or Shannon; or drive via the EU and take a ferry from France. Men aged 23–60 generally cannot leave Ukraine.
- Pets
- Microchip, rabies vaccine, blood test (30+ days after) and 3-month wait, EU health certificate, tapeworm treatment for dogs 1–5 days before arrival; notify 24 h ahead; approved ports only. Else quarantine at owner's cost.
- Languages
- English. Free English courses are offered by local Education and Training Boards (ETBs).
Work, healthcare and education
- Right to work
- Yes, immediately with the temporary protection letter; employment and self-employment allowed, no permit needed. Job help via Intreo and jobsireland.ie.
- Jobs in demand
- Highly skilled shortage roles (Critical Skills Occupations List): medicine, ICT, sciences, finance and business.
- Healthcare
- Yes: same public health services as residents. Apply for a medical card on arrival (free GP visits, cheaper medicines); children 16+ apply separately.
- Kindergarten
- Yes: free ECCE preschool, 15 h/week (3 h/day, 38 weeks/year), from age 2 years 8 months until school. The National Childcare Scheme subsidises other childcare from 6 months.
- School
- Yes, free public primary and secondary schools. Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) help find a place; there is a school transport scheme for Ukrainian families.
Benefits
- Housing support
- The state is ending contracted housing for Ukrainians by March 2027; new arrivals can get max 30 days in a Designated Accommodation Centre. Hosts get ARP €400/month per property (until 31 Mar 2027). Renters can claim Rent Supplement.
- One-time payment
- None (no special one-off payment for Ukrainians).
- Monthly allowance for adults
- In state accommodation: €38.80/week (income-tested). Otherwise standard welfare as for Irish citizens, e.g. Jobseeker's Allowance up to €254/week (€264 from Jan 2027), means-tested.
- Monthly allowance for children
- Child Benefit €140/month per child. With a means-tested payment, Child Support +€58/week (under 12) or €78 (12+); €64/€84 from Jan 2027. In state accommodation: €29.80/week per child.
Cost of living
- Average rent
- approx. 1-bedroom flat: Dublin €2,042/month; Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford cities €1,724; elsewhere ≈€1,115–1,340 (Daft.ie, Q2 2026).
- Groceries per person per month
- approx. €260–300/month per person (minimum healthy food basket ≈ €60/week for a single adult, 2024).
- Kindergarten fees
- Full-time (40–49 h/week): max €280/week in state-funded services from Sept 2026; after the universal NCS subsidy parents pay max €183.70/week (≈€800/month); income-based subsidies lower it.
- Private school fees
- Public schools are free; fee-paying secondary schools approx. €4,000–14,000/year for day pupils.
- Health insurance cost
- approx. €1,902/year (≈€160/month): average adult private health insurance premium (March 2026). Not required: public care and the medical card cover protection holders.
All information is for reference only. Rules and benefits change often, so some of it may be out of date. Always check with official sources before making a decision.
If you spot an inaccuracy, please write to us at howtohelpuacom@gmail.com.