Ireland to cut ARP payment to €400 and launch new scheme for Ukrainians
Ireland
In short. From October 2026 Ireland cuts the ARP host payment from €600 to €400 a month and opens a new Temporary Protection Transition Scheme for around 42,000 ARP recipients and other Ukrainians under temporary protection.
- The ARP host payment drops from €600 to €400 a month from October 2026, affecting around 42,000 current recipients.
- From 3 March 2026, new ARP applications are no longer accepted for properties registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) since 4 March 2022.
- The new Temporary Protection Transition Scheme offers a renewable Stamp 4 permission for those who have lived in Ireland a year, worked 6 months with a salary of at least €29,432, and are not in state or ARP-supported housing.
- Most of the roughly 16,000 Ukrainians in state-contracted commercial accommodation will need to find other housing by March 2027; around 5,000 vulnerable people may be allowed to stay.
- A voluntary return payment of up to €10,000 per family has been discussed but is not yet an approved or active programme.
What has changed
Ireland's government has approved a package of changes for Ukrainians staying in the country under temporary protection. The main changes affect the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) for hosts and the launch of a new scheme for a longer-term legal status.
| Item | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| ARP rate (payment to hosts) | €600/month | €400/month — from October 2026 |
| New ARP applications for properties registered with the RTB | Accepted | No longer accepted from 3 March 2026 (if the property was registered with the Residential Tenancies Board at any point since 4 March 2022) |
| ARP scheme duration | No fixed end date | Runs until 31 March 2027 |
| State-contracted commercial accommodation for Ukrainians (hotels etc.) | Provided to about 16,000 people | Phased withdrawal from August 2026, completed by March 2027; around 5,000 vulnerable people may be allowed to stay |
| Status after the EU Temporary Protection Directive ends (4 March 2027) | Temporary protection only | Option to apply for the Temporary Protection Transition Scheme (Stamp 4 permission); applications expected to open around September 2026 |
The changes were approved by the Irish Cabinet on 26 May 2026. According to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, the goal is an orderly wind-down of temporary supports before the EU Temporary Protection Directive expires, while giving people who want to stay in Ireland a clear route to legal status.
Who is affected
The ARP cut affects around 42,000 current recipients — Irish residents and others who host Ukrainians with temporary protection, usually for free or a token rent. From October 2026 the payment will be €400 a month instead of €600 (because payments are made in arrears, the first payment at the new rate will actually be paid in October).
The RTB registration restriction applies to new applications only: if a property has ever been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board as a rental since 4 March 2022, a new ARP application for it will no longer be accepted. This also means tenants hosting Ukrainians in their own rented accommodation can no longer submit new applications.
The reduction in state-contracted commercial accommodation (hotels and similar facilities) will affect a large share of the roughly 16,000 Ukrainians currently living there. The government plans to treat about 5,000 of them as vulnerable and let them remain; the rest will need to find their own accommodation by March 2027.
The new Temporary Protection Transition Scheme is for Ukrainians who have lived in Ireland for at least a year under temporary protection and want to remain after the EU directive ends. To apply, a person must have been employed or self-employed for at least 6 months with an annual salary of at least €29,432, must not live in state-provided accommodation, and must not live in accommodation for which the host receives ARP. The permission is Stamp 4, issued in renewable two-year blocks; time on this permission counts toward the five-year residence requirement for naturalisation. It covers the whole family unit that has been resident in Ireland under temporary protection.
What to do now
- If you receive ARP: check that your payment will automatically drop to €400 in October 2026 and adjust your household budget in advance.
- If you plan to apply for ARP for the first time: check with the Residential Tenancies Board whether the property has ever been registered as a rental since 4 March 2022 — this affects eligibility.
- If you live in state-contracted commercial accommodation: contact your case manager or the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to find out whether you fall into the group allowed to stay, and what housing alternatives exist before March 2027.
- If you are considering staying in Ireland long-term: check whether you meet the Temporary Protection Transition Scheme criteria (employment length, income, housing type) and watch gov.ie for the official opening of applications.
- Do not rely on rumours about a payment of up to €10,000 for voluntary return — as of mid-2026 this is only a proposal under discussion, not an active programme.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the timing of the ARP rate cut: it takes effect from October 2026, not immediately after the May announcement.
- Assuming the RTB registration restriction affects existing payments — it only applies to new applications.
- Thinking the Temporary Protection Transition Scheme automatically extends temporary protection — it is a separate permission (Stamp 4) with its own income, employment and housing requirements.
- Treating the proposed €10,000 return payment as an already approved and available programme — it is currently only a proposal under discussion, contingent on EU-level decisions.
Rules change often — before you act, always check the current requirements on the official government source linked above.
Official sources
Questions
- When exactly does the ARP payment drop?
- From October 2026 the ARP rate will be €400 a month instead of €600. Because the payment is made in arrears, the first payment at the new rate will actually be paid out in October 2026.
- Can I still apply for ARP for the first time?
- Yes, but from 3 March 2026 new applications are not accepted for properties that have ever been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) as a rental since 4 March 2022, and rented properties are also excluded from new applications.
- What is the Temporary Protection Transition Scheme and who can apply?
- It's a new Stamp 4 residence permission approved by Cabinet on 26 May 2026 for Ukrainians who have lived in Ireland at least a year under temporary protection, worked or been self-employed for 6 months earning at least €29,432 a year, and are not living in state-provided or ARP-supported accommodation. Applications are expected to open around September 2026.
- Is the €10,000 voluntary return payment available now?
- No. As of mid-2026 the Irish government has not approved an active voluntary return programme. A one-off payment of up to €10,000 per family was proposed by a minister in April 2026, but it remains under discussion and depends on further decisions, including at EU level.