British Citizenship as an Irish National: When an Immigration Lawyer Can Help
Obtaining British citizenship as an Irish citizen has never been easier. The past few decades have made it straightforward for eligible British and Irish citizens to live, work, and study across the border.
An estimated 160,000 UK-born residents in England and Wales now hold dual passports, indicating growing interest in dual citizenship. If you’re embarking on the path to obtaining British citizenship, here’s how an immigration lawyer can simplify the process.
Latest updates to Irish/British citizenship
The main updates to Irish/British citizenship stem from the British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024. If you’ve lived in the UK continuously for the past five years, you can obtain citizenship without needing to meet all the usual requirements that apply to other nationalities who must apply by a process called naturalisation.
Instead, Irish nationals can apply to become British citizens by registration. The requirements are:
- They have lived in the UK for the past 5 years
- They have not been absent for 450 days over that five years, nor 90 days in the prior 12 months
- They were not in the UK in breach of immigration laws at any time in that five - year period
- They are of good character
Unlike people applying for naturalisation, there is no requirement to take the Life in the UK test, nor to meet an English language requirement.
The fees to apply are £853 for adults and £607 for children.
Seek Support for British Citizenship as an Irish National
British citizenship as an Irish national is now easier
You might be wondering why you would want to obtain British citizenship, because the Common Travel Area (CTA) Agreement already allows you to live and work in the UK. Whilst Irish citizens already enjoy extensive rights in the UK, British citizenship can provide additional certainty, particularly as it removes any reliance on future immigration or nationality policy changes.
The process has also largely been simplified for Irish citizens. It can be a fairly straightforward process, provided a person has completed the relevant qualifying residence period and meets the good character requirement.
However, that doesn’t mean going it alone is right for every Irish person in every circumstance. There are circumstances in which legal support is essential to avoid unnecessary delays or even refusal.
Why have these citizenship changes been introduced?
The introduction of this new route reflects the unique and longstanding relationship between the UK and Ireland, including the special status enjoyed by Irish citizens under the CTA and the principles recognised by the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
These changes have introduced a simplified registration process for Irish citizens who have made their home in the UK. It acknowledges the close ties between the two countries and removes a number of requirements that previously applied to Irish citizens seeking British citizenship.
When you need an immigration lawyer to get British citizenship as an Irish national
Specialist legal support can be invaluable in situations that are not always straightforward. While Irish citizens benefit from rights under the CTA that are not available to most other nationalities, this does not automatically mean that they will find it easier to satisfy the requirements for British citizenship.
Where an applicant's absences from the UK exceeds the permitted thresholds, there may be exceptions which depend on the individual's circumstances. Applicants must also satisfy the good character requirements, which many assume only relates to serious criminal convictions. However, the Home Office may also take into account matters such as financial difficulties, bankruptcy, unpaid taxes, minor criminal offences, or previous immigration issues when assessing an application.
Our experienced immigration lawyers at Latitude Law can provide advice and assistance throughout the application process, particularly where there may be such complexities.
Getting refused is frustrating enough, but resubmitting an application is stressful and expensive. Not to mention how time-consuming it can be with an already backlogged UK immigration system. With our help, we can reduce the chances of this happening through bespoke strategies that ensure optimal application readiness.
Additionally, if the Home Office makes a mistake and you need to request a review, our team guides you seamlessly through the process. If you’d like to learn more, get in touch with us now.
Gain British Citizenship with Latitude Law
