Asylum seekers and work

Yes, you can work if you:

• Applied for asylum (also known as international protection) in Ireland, and
• Have been waiting 6 months for a decision on your application for asylum

You must apply for permission to work. This is also called applying for Labour Market Access (LMA).

You cannot start work until you get a letter from Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) with your permission to work.

It can take several months to get your permission letter so apply early – see ‘How to apply for permission to work’ below.

If you get permission to work, you can find a job or be self-employed. You can also do training.

Your permission to work is for one year. You can renew your permission to work if you are still waiting for a decision on your application for asylum.

Department of Justice has detailed information about applying for Labour Market Permission.

If you get a first instance decision on your application for asylum within 6 months, then you are not allowed to apply for Labour Market Access (LMA).

A first instance decision is when the International Protection Office (IPO) sends its recommendation on your application for asylum to you and to the Ministerial Decisions Unit of the Department of Justice.

You must apply online for permission to work (also called Labour Market Access).

It is free to apply.

You can apply if you are:

• Co-operating with the international protection process and
• Have been waiting at least 5 months for a decision on your asylum application. That is 5 months from the “Application Received” date shown in the centre of your Temporary Residence Card (TRC) or blue card. This gives the immigration office time to process your application to work.

What do I need to apply online? 

To apply online, you will need:

• A copy of your TRC (also called a blue card) – it must not have expired.
• A copy of the identity documents you gave to the IPO in your asylum application, or an explanation of how you tried to get identity documents
• Your current address registered with the International Protection Office (IPO).

Your permission to work will be sent to the address you registered with the IPO. If you move it is important that you give the IPO your new address.

There is a helpful step by step guide to applying online (pdf).

When will I get my permission?

After you apply, it can take up to 4 months to get your permission to work.

If your application is successful, Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) will send you a permission letter by post.

The letter will give the date your permission to work starts and when it ends.

Working in Ireland

You can get information and support to help you look for a job.

When you get a job, your employer must complete a LMA5 declaration form (pdf) and email it to LMAUApplications@justice.ie.  Your employer can find more information about what they need to do when employing asylum seekers.

Being self-employed

The permission letter from ISD will give you the date that you can start to work.

If you are self-employed, you must complete a LMA5 declaration form (pdf) and email it to LMAUApplications@justice.ie. 

You should renew your permission to work 2 months before it expires. To renew your permission online, you must:

• Be cooperating with the International Protection Office (IPO)
• Have a TRC (blue card) – it must not have expired
• Have your current address registered with the IPO
• Make sure that your employer has sent in a LMA5 form. If you are self-employed you must send this in yourself. OR write and sign a note that you have not worked and submit it with your renewal.

You get permission to work for one year. You can renew your permission to work if you are still waiting on a first instance decision on your application for asylum – see above.

Your permission to work will stop when you:

• Get a final decision on your application for asylum. When a final decision is made, you will get a letter issued by the Ministerial Decisions Unit. A final decision letter will state that your labour market access permission is no longer valid, or
• Withdraw your international protection application. Correspondence from the International Protection Office will confirm that your application is withdrawn and that your Labour Market Access Permission is no longer valid.

For questions about your application or renewal email Lmauqueries@justice.ie.