Call for Applications: Afghan Admission Programme

Deadline: 24-Feb-22

UNHCR Ireland has announced 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.

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.

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.

Eligibility Criteria

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 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.

For more information, visit UNHCR Ireland.

For more information, visit https://help.unhcr.org/ireland/afghan-admission-programme-information/