06/01/2014

166,000 New Visa Applications Received In 2013

Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD, today published the annual review of immigration related activity in Ireland for 2013. Providing details of key immigration figures, Minister Shatter also reported on progress in 2013 in delivering his programme of reform in the immigration area and indicated some of his priorities for 2014.

This included:

• 166,000 new applications received in 2013. These include visas, residence, citizenship and protection applications.

• 97,000 new or renewed registrations of permission to remain in the State in 2013 (in respect of immigrants intending to stay longer than 90 days in the country).

• 95,000 visa applications; cumulative increase of 14% since 2011. Visa approval rate is 91%. Top 3 nationalities applying for visas were India 16%, Russia 15%, and China 11%.

• Over 30,000 applications for citizenship decided, and 18 citizenship ceremonies held during 2013.

• 12% of population (544,000 persons) is non-Irish per most recent CSO figures. The majority of these come from EU countries.

Minister Shatter said: "On my appointment as Minister I made it my priority to take steps to harness the previously untapped potential of the immigration system to aid economic activity as part of our national recovery.

"As these figures demonstrate the initiatives and reforms being pursued are working. Inward investment and enterprise in Ireland is being encouraged. Visa applications to visit Ireland for tourism and business reasons are now higher than they have ever been in the history of the State and many thousands more are visiting Ireland under the terms of the Irish Visa Waiver Programme."

(CD)

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