Yes, you can. Every child or young person under the age of 16 has a right to education in Ireland. This right can be extended until a young person has completed 3 years of secondary education.  

However, it can be difficult to find a school place in Ireland, the supports available to help you find a school place are different depending on your immigration status.  

Support is available to help you find a school place through your local Regional Education and Language support Team (REALT) if you are of school-going age (up to 18). 

 If you are living in an international protection accommodation centre, it is likely that your centre manager has the contact details for your local team.  

Or you or your parent/legal guardian, can ring your local Education and Training Board (ETB) and ask to speak to a staff member from the REALT team.  

Alternatively, you can look up your local team by clicking here Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) – ETBI 

REALT workers will take your details and talk with all the local schools to find a suitable school place. REALT teams can also help with finding transport to school if your school is far away from your accommodation. 

You do not have to go to the school that the REALT team find for you. However, if you turn down a school place at the closest school to your accommodation, it can affect your right to free school transport.  

For more, information for Primary or Secondary school children, please visit www.schooldays.ie or www.education.ie.

Often, moving on from international protection accommodation can mean having to find a new school. Supports available for newly arrived international protection applicants are not available in this situation. But here are some tips to help you along the way. 

It is important that you apply in writing to each school that you are interested in. A school may tell you that they are full; however, you should still make an official application on the school application form. Some schools have this on their website, or sometimes you need to call the school and ask them to send it to you.  

If, after sending in your application, the school contacts you to tell you they don’t have a school place, ask for them to send the outcome in writing. 

If it is becoming hard to find a school, you can ask your local Education Welfare Officer (EWO) to help you. The Education Welfare Officer won’t get involved however, until you have 3 replies in writing from schools saying they don’t have a place. 

You can find the contact for your local Education Welfare Officers here: 

Tusla Education Support Service – TESSTusla – Child and Family Agency 

For more, information for Primary or Secondary school children, please visit www.schooldays.ie or www.education.ie.

Education in Ireland is free unless you decide to pay for a private school. However, you will still need to pay for schoolbooks, uniforms and stationery.  

Most schools also ask parents to make a voluntary contribution to help with the cost for the school. You do not have to pay the voluntary contribution. 

Yes, you can chat with a Youth Information Worker today and they will support you. 

Yes, the legal minimum age for work in Ireland is 14 but there are different rules about work depending on your age.  

If you are aged 14-15 the rules are stricter on the types of work you can do, the hours you can work in a week, and you will need permission to work from a parent or legal guardian to work.  

Young people aged 16-18 can work with less restrictions.  

You can find out more about your rights as a young worker here.

To get a job, you need to have a permission to work – called a Labour Market Access Permission – and a valid PPS number, which you will give to your employer.  

Anyone with refugee status has the right to work. If you are in the international protection system though the rules can be different. See below to find which scenario applies to you.  

Scenario 1: I applied for international protection less than 6 months ago 

You do not have the right to work in Ireland in the first 6 months after you apply for international protection. You can, however, make an application for a Labour Market Access Permission 5 months after you applied for international protection. 

Applications for Labour Market Access Permission are now made online. 

Once you receive your Labour Market Access Permission (LMAP) you can then begin to look for employment. Employers will usually look for this letter, a valid (in-date) Temporary Residence Certificate (TRC, also known as a Blue Card) and for your Personal Public Service (PPS) number. 

Scenario 2: I applied for International Protection more than 6 months ago 

If you have made an application for international protection more than 6 months ago and you have not received a negative answer to your application, then you can apply for a Labour Market Access Permission. 

If you have applied for International Protection more than 6 months ago and you have received a first negative decision on your application before you had a chance to apply for a Labour Market Access Permission then unfortunately, you do not have the right to work in Ireland, even if you are appealing that decision. 

While many people call them work permits, the correct name for your type of work permit is a Labour Market Access Permission (LMAP).   

You can apply for this permission to work after 5 months from the date on your Temporary Residence Certificate (TRC or Blue Card). However, you do not have the right to work until 6 months have passed after this date and until you have received your Labour Market Access Permission letter.  

Step 1: Register your details in the INIS online portal (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service) 

Step 2: Once you’ve registered for the INIS portal, you can make an online application for your Labour Market Access Permission. You will be required to provide your personal information, including your person ID number. Your person ID number can be found on your Temporary Residence Certificate

Required Documents:

• You will also be required to confirm that you are cooperating with the International Protection Process, including confirming that you have taken steps to establish your identity. If you have submitted identity documents to the International Protection Office, IPO, you should include a digital copy of those documents in your application.  
• If you were unable to provide identity documents to the IPO, you can submit a copy of a short note outlining the reasons why you did not submit identity documents, for example because they were not available.  

Step 3: Once submitted you can check on the status of your application by logging back in to the portal. 

Step 4: You will receive an email once your Labour Market Access Permission is granted.  

Step 5: Your Labour Market Access Permission will also be sent to you by post to make it easier for you to give to your employer once you get a job.  

Make sure your address is up to date when you apply. The letter you receive will include your name, address and photograph of you. This is for you to give to future employers. 

Sometimes there can be delays in getting a Labour Market Access Permission. And this can be very frustrating.  

However, if you do find a job in the meantime, your employer can email, LMAUApplications@justice.ie and department officials may be able to confirm to your employer that you have the right to work even if your letter hasn’t arrived yet. 

There is no need to tell any potential employer that you are an international protection applicant if you don’t wish to. If they ask you if you have permission to work, you should of course tell them that you do.   

If you get the job, your employer does need to submit form called a LMA5 form. You can access that form by clicking here.  

As a worker, it’s important to know that you do have rights and there are protections in place if you are treated badly at work. If something happens at work, or an employer treats you badly, for example discriminates you based on the knowledge that you are an international protection applicant, there are organisations that can help you. 

The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI), supports workers who might be experiencing issues at work, like not getting paid properly, working very long hours, or discrimination. They can also support workers with making a complaint about an employer, at the WRC (Workplace Relations Commission), see below. If you are under 18, you will need to be accompanied by an adult, a parent, legal guardian or someone in a supportive role. Contact a caseworker here.  

The Workplace Relations Commission has information on what you need to know as a worker. 

Applying for Work Permits  

https://www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/labour-market-access-permission/#:~:text=Wait%205%20months%20after%20you,valid%20and%20in%20date%20TRC 

Your rights as a young worker: 

• The minimum rates of pay for young workers is less than the minimum wage rate for adult workers. At the time of writing minimum wage rates for under 18’s is €9.45 per hour. Employers can pay you more than the national minimum wage if they want to, but they are not required by law to do so. 

• Everyone working in Ireland has to be paid the minimum wage, it doesn’t matter what your immigration/residency or nationality is, you must be paid the minimum wage.  

• You can read about your rights and important information on the Citizens Information* website 

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/starting-work-and-changing-job/young-people-at-work/rights-of-young-workers/ 

*Citizens Information is an incredible resource for anyone living in Ireland, no matter your immigration/residency status or nationality – the name is just a bit confusing! 

A young person who is under 18, who travelled to Ireland alone, without an adult, parent or legal guardian and who is looking for protection or refuge. Also referred to as Separated Child seeking International Protection.  

The state is responsible for meeting the needs of unaccompanied minors until they turn 18, regarding their health and well-being, accommodation, and education. Tusla is the government agency responsible for children arriving alone who are seeking protection or refuge.  

You may meet with officials at your border of entry. If you tell them you are here as a child and without a parent or guardian, they should refer you to an agency called Tusla, mentioned in the previous question.  

A social worker from Tusla will have a meeting with you to understand your situation and decide your care plan and protection needs. This meeting is called an Intake Eligibility Assessment.  

If the social worker is unsure of your age, part of this assessment will be to determine your age.  

Once they have decided that you are in need of protection and that you are under 18, they will issue a care order for you.  

A care order includes the type of care, protection and supports that a child needs.  

Tusla will decide where you will live, with whom, and you will be assigned a social worker who will make sure your health and wellbeing, accommodation, and education needs are met.

Depending on your age and level of need, there are different places where you may live. You might either be placed in a residential setting with other young people of similar age, or you might be placed with a foster family.  

If they are unsure about your age, you might be placed in a residential lodging with other young people in the same situation. See questions below about age-assessments. 

If they think you are over 18, you might be placed in a centre with adults. See questions below about age-assessments.  

If you are applying for international protection, it is important that you apply before turning 18 as this could have an impact on your right to family reunification in the future. If it is appropriate, your social worker may apply for international protection on your behalf. 

You are entitled to free legal advice and representation for your international protection application through the Legal Aid Board.  

Yes. Your social worker will find you a place in school near to where you’re living.  

It will depend on your circumstances, like if you have your papers (refugee status granted) or not by the time you’re finished school or by the time you turn 18. You can read more in our section on Education.  

You might be eligible for the Education Bursary from Tusla for young people with care experience. You can read more about it here, and talk to your social worker or aftercare worker about it, and they will help you to apply.  

If you received refugee status or subsidiary protection, you have the right to bring some family members here. If you applied for international protection before you turned 18, you can apply to bring:  

• your parents,  

• any brothers or sisters who are under 18 and unmarried.  

You cannot bring:  

• brothers and sisters who are married (even if they are under 18),  

• brothers and sisters who are over 18,  

• Any other family members  

It can take over 2 years from the date you start the application until your family arrives in Ireland.  

You have 1 year to start the application process from the date you receive your status. You can speak to your lawyer, caseworker or key worker about how to apply.  

Yes you can, you can speak to your social worker or key worker about this.  

It depends on your circumstances; there are different scenarios.  

Scenario 1: If you turn 18 in the middle of a school year and have been placed with a foster family, you might be able to stay with them until you finish your schooling. You can ask your social worker for advice on this.  

Scenario 2: If you decide to continue with your education after secondary school, you might be able to stay with your foster family. You can ask your social worker or aftercare worker about this and they will advise.  

Scenario 3: If you are not continuing with education after secondary school and you are still waiting on your international protection application to be processed, you will most likely be moved onto an adult residential setting.  

It’s important to read our section on Aftercare, before you turn 18 to prepare yourself.

This is an interview to establish your age. Tusla may do this for a number of reasons. For example, if you don’t have any documents, passport, proof of your age or identity, or they believe you are older than 18.  

The kinds of questions that will be asked will likely focus on family life, milestones in your life; for example, what year you started school, what age were you when you started secondary school, your age when particular things happened.  

It is important that your answers are clear and consistent. The interviewer will be looking to make sure the answers are the same as ones you gave before.  

You can also provide documents to evidence your age. If you have a passport or birth certificate, or photographs or copies of these documents, you should bring them with you. Other documents like school reports or certificates might also be helpful.  

If the interviewer needs more time to understand your situation, they may pause this assessment, and you will be placed in a residential setting until they can decide whether you are over or under 18.  

Yes, you can have someone there with you. There is information on the invite letter on how to do this.  

An organisation called YAP (Youth Advocates Programme) can accompany any young person who is doing an age assessment interview. You may need to request that they attend. If you would be more comfortable with someone you know, like your youth worker or another key worker, you can request this also; they can sit with you during the interview.  

They are there to make you feel more comfortable and to make sure you take breaks when you need to or to ask the interviewer to repeat a question. They cannot speak on your behalf.  

Yes, an interpreter will be arranged for you. Make sure you tell them you need someone to translate what you’re saying. You can request that the interpreter is male or female.  

If you have any problems with the interpreter, for example you cannot understand them, or you think they cannot understand you, you should tell the social worker or your support person.  

A social worker from Tusla will do the interview, it will be a different person to the first person you met during your Intake Eligibility Assessment.  

The age-assessments take place in Dublin. There are individual meeting rooms, a waiting area and snacks are provided.  

It is important to note that this interview may not take place on the same day as the first meeting, the Intake Eligibility Assessment. 

Tusla may determine in that first meeting, at the Intake Eligibility Assessment, that you are not under 18.  

You can apply to be re-assessed. Speak to your YAP support worker or the Irish Refugee Council Law Centre about this, as soon as possible.

Once you have applied to be re-assessed, you will need to wait to be called for that interview. This can take a long time, sometimes up to 9 months.

During that time, you will be placed in a centre with adults, because they think you’re over 18.  

If you are approaching your 18th birthday and waiting for a re-assessment, it’s very important contact your lawyer, caseworker, or Tusla as soon as possible. 

This can be challenging, because they have said you are an adult and you could already be in adult residential accommodation at this stage.  You may still be able to proceed with the re-assessment as this might affect your options for Aftercare. 

You can read more about Accommodation for young people in international protection here.

You will need legal representation; it is extremely important that you are represented and have legal advice and support throughout. Please contact the Irish Refugee Council Law Centre immediately for legal support on this.  

Yes, you can chat with a Youth Information Worker today and they will support you. 

You can look up your Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT), for support in your local area, helping you to build connections locally and offer advice on a wide variety of issues. Find your local LAIT worker here. 

Tusla offer drop-in service clinics around the country, and you can access these for any support or advice, and you don’t need to have an aftercare plan or worker to attend these clinics. You can find your local clinic here.  

If you’d like to attend a youth service or project, chat with a Youth Information Worker about the possibilities in your area. 

You can go to your nearest library to look up what they offer in terms of reading material, classes, events, and space to study. These are great places to study if you’re in education. 

If you need advice around education, accommodation, work, mental health and wellbeing, contact the Youth Information online chat service for support and guidance. 

It would be a good idea to familiarise yourself with how the Education system works in Ireland, and a great place to start is the Education Programme – Irish Refugee Council. They have an incredible resource on their website, which goes through all the different stages. Keep an eye out for webinars on access to third level education by signing up to their mailing list.

• Understanding the Education system
• Getting started with need to information
• Further Education and Training
• Higher Education
• Map of Ireland including colleges/universities, adult education guidance near you
• What about college fees?
• What State/Government funding is available?

• You can read our section on Employment after turning 18.
• A great start place to start is understanding about your Labour Market Access Permission – the Irish Refugee Council has a really helpful video and section on their website covering this section. Also you can learn about their Employment Programme.
• As a worker, it’s really important to know and understand your rights  – from minimum wage, break times, working hours, holiday pay, working conditions and more. There is lots of information on the Citizens Information_Employment section on their website. (Citizens Information is an incredible resource for anyone living in Ireland, no matter your immigration/residency status or nationality – the name is just a bit confusing!). 
• And remember, as a worker your basic rights in terms of pay, hours, conditions are the same protected under Irish law. If you’re being mistreated or experiencing any difficulties in the workplace, talk to a caseworker at the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, they can help you. They also have some relevant questions for you in their section on Employment.
• Information on the Irish government website about applying for your Labour Market Access Permission.

• Read our section on Accommodation Information.
• If you’re experiencing homelessness as an international protection applicant, read this section on the Irish Refugee Council website, they have an extensive section on their website, which provides a lot of information that you need to be aware or if you need help.
• If you’ve already got your papers/residency status and are looking for information about support, read this section on Social Housing Support. 
• If you’re renting, make sure you know your rights as a tenant and the responsibilities of your landlord. The Residential Tenancies Board has information on this. You can also check here if your landlord is registered – they are required by law to be registered.
• If you encounter any problems with your tenancy, you can contact Threshold for free and impartial advice. 
• Consider joining Community Action Tenants Union CATU, a grassroots organisation campaigning and advocating for better standards of living and supporting tenants with their rights.  

• It can be very confusing to understand all the different stages of the international protection process. Information is power, so you know what to expect and can plan accordingly if something happens along the way.
• The Irish Refugee Council has super helpful videos and clear step-by-step information for all you need to know about the international protection process.
• This section looks at the different types of permission you may be granted, if your application is successful.
• If you need legal support at some stage, you can read about Legal Aid for international protection applicants here.
• The Information Hub at the Irish Refugee Council has extensive information about all aspects of the international protection system and also your rights as an applicant or someone who’s been granted status or permission to remain. Explore it here.