Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service

Immigration Service Delivery is part of the civil service of Ireland. It serves as an executive agency of the Department of Justice.

Overview

Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), previously named the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS), was established in 2005 in order to provide a ‘one stop shop’ in relation to asylum, immigration, citizenship and visas.^[1] ISD is responsible for administering the administrative functions of the Minister for Justice in relation to asylum, immigration (including visas) and citizenship matters. ISD also facilitates a whole of government approach to immigration and asylum issues which enables a more efficient service to be provided in these areas. It also works with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the issuing of work permits.

Structure

The Service is structured around a number of key areas: asylum, visa, immigration and citizenship processing, asylum and immigration policy, repatriation and reception and integration. The agency also maintains close contact with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) in relation to many aspects of its work including, deportations and illegal immigration. Members of the Garda Síochána of Detective rank, also carrying the seal of Immigration Officers operate on a full-time basis within the head office in Burgh Quay. A Garda Immigration office is also maintained at all Airports and main ports and at all Garda District Headquarters outside the Dublin Region.

Previously the responsibilities were shared between the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs, of the civil service of Ireland. It is located at 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.

The Border Management Unit (BMU) is ISD's uniformed, front-line service providing Immigration Control at Dublin Airport. It was established as part of the Department of Justice's move to civilianize aspects of immigration management. The BMU gradually took over all front-line immigration control services from GNIB at Dublin Airport and is now solely responsible for these matters, with limited GNIB resources left at the airport for criminal investigations, detention services & removals of persons from the State. It is planned that the BMU will expand to take over front-line immigration at all Ports of Entry in the State.