What We Do
WHAT WE DO
The International Protection Agency (IPA) is the Maltese governmental asylum determining authority. The main responsibility of the Agency is to receive, process and determine applications for international protection that are lodged in Malta. The goal of the Agency is to provide a fair, efficient determination process, whilst guaranteeing the best quality possible regarding the analysis of applications.
The International Protection Agency processes applications in accordance with the obligations assumed by Malta under the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as well as its obligations under the Qualification Directive (European Directive 2011/95/EU), the Asylum Procedures Directive (European Directive 2013/32/EU) and the Dublin Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 604/2013). These legislative instruments form part of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) which sets out common standards for EU Member States and aims to ensure that asylum seekers are treated equally in the European Union, wherever they apply.
In Maltese law, the International Protection Act (Chapter 420 of the Laws of Malta) and its Subsidiary Legislation 420.07 on Procedural Standards for Granting and Withdrawing International Protection Regulations regulate the work of the International Protection Agency.
What is international protection?
International protection is granted to third country nationals who cannot return to their country of origin, or to stateless persons who cannot return to their country of former habitual residence, because of a well-founded fear of persecution tied to specific circumstances, or because of a real risk of suffering serious harm.
There are two types of international protection granted in Malta: refugee status and subsidiary protection. The IPA also grants a national form of protection, temporary humanitarian protection, which emanates from the International Protection Act. Please see here for more information on the different forms of protection given by the International Protection Agency.
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