Minister to endeavour to decide Gaza student visa appeals by 18 November

9 November 2026

Today in the High Court, counsel for the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration said the Minister will endeavour to decide the outstanding visa appeals of students in Gaza by 18 November 2026. This applies where the student confirms that their place at an Irish university is still available.

The Minister gave the commitment before Ms Justice Phelan, who is hearing more than 40 judicial review challenges. They were brought by Palestinian students in Gaza who were refused long-stay study visas this year, despite holding confirmed places and scholarships at Irish universities. Phoenix Law acts for the majority of these students.

The Court called this “very welcome progress”. The cases come back before the Court on 19 November.

Why the date matters

Students in Gaza can only leave on a scheduled evacuation, organised by a third State with the Israeli authorities. The next evacuation is expected on 23 November 2026. A decision after that date may mean a student misses the evacuation, and with it their place for this academic year.

Many of these students lodged their appeals in August. The Department’s own published processing times show visa appeals waiting more than a year to be decided. Phoenix Law first wrote to the Minister on 14 August seeking an urgent review of the refusals. It has since pointed to clear errors across many of the decisions, of the kind the High Court identified in Abudalu v Minister for Justice, where the refusal was quashed.

Questions still open

A decision on an appeal is not the same as a visa grant. Even where a visa is granted, students still need to be cleared to leave Gaza. We have asked the State whether the students’ names have been sent to the Israeli authorities for security pre-clearance. As of today we have had no answer.

Sinéad Marmion, Solicitor, Phoenix Law, said:

“This is welcome progress, but these students have been waiting since August. With the next evacuation on 23 November, a decision is best made meaningful if it comes in time for them to leave.”

Alannah Faulkner, Solicitor, Phoenix Law, said:

“Every one of these students has a university place and a scholarship waiting for them in Ireland. We hope that the students in Gaza can count upon the Minister to make a decision by the 18 November.”

We will keep working to make sure every student who still has a place can take it up this year.

Our Sinéad Marmion, Alannah Faulkner and Harry Robinson act.