Dual Citizenship Ireland: Become an Irish & British Dual Citizen

What is dual citizenship?

The concept of dual citizenship means that you are a citizen of two countries at the same time. That means that you have the right to own two passports and that you can enjoy numerous benefits and privileges, such as unrestricted access to social services, in both of these countries. At the same time, if you are a dual citizen you are bound by the laws of the two states, which means you have dual obligations.

Ireland allows dual citizenship but not all countries do. As laws regarding dual citizenship and the process of applying for it are complex, you should consult with an immigration lawyer before you submit your application.

Does Ireland allow dual citizenship?

Yes, UK nationals can hold both Irish and British citizenship as both countries allow dual citizenship. If you’re entitled to Irish citizenship (for example, through birth, descent, or naturalisation) and you also hold British citizenship, you don’t need to give up one to have the other. This is a common arrangement, especially for individuals born in Northern Ireland or with family ties across the two countries.

It’s important to note that other countries do not allow dual citizenship or may have certain restrictions on dual citizenship. Because of this, it’s recommended to check with your home country’s citizenship laws to ensure that you can become an Irish citizen without having to renounce your first citizenship, or have to go through additional processes to allow this to happen.

Who can acquire Irish dual citizenship through descent?

If either of your parents were born in Ireland, you will automatically receive Irish citizenship. That applies even if you were born abroad and if your parents were not married at the time of your birth. That means that you do not have to go through the process of applying for dual citizenship in Ireland.

If neither of your parents were born in Ireland, you can claim dual citizenship in Ireland through descent from your Irish grandparents. To be eligible for it, however, one of your grandparents has to have been born in Ireland.

Only your Irish parents or grandparents can make you eligible for dual citizenship in Ireland through descent. Any other family members do not allow you to qualify. Keep in mind that either one parent or a grandparent who was born in Ireland must have had Irish citizenship at the time of your birth for you to be able to receive Irish citizenship through this route.

Who can acquire Irish dual citizenship through naturalisation?

Naturalisation in Ireland is a process allowing foreign nationals to become Irish citizens after living in Ireland for a certain qualifying period of time.

To be able to apply for Irish citizenship by naturalisation you have to have lived in Ireland for at least five years of reckonable residence prior to submitting your application.

The five years you spent in Ireland have to be during the nine years preceding your application. Moreover, right before your dual citizenship application you have to have spent one year of continuous residence in Ireland. During this one year you cannot spend more than six weeks outside of Ireland.

Additional eligibility requirements include:

• You are 18 years old or older – if you are married you can by under 18
• You are of good character, which means you have not been convicted of any serious crimes and you have not previously breached the conditions of your immigration permission in Ireland
• You intend to live in Ireland permanently
• You agree to make a formal declaration of your loyalty to Ireland during your citizenship ceremony.

Who can acquire Irish dual citizenship through marriage?

If you are married to an Irish citizen, you can become naturalised, thus becoming a dual citizen in Ireland, after living in Ireland for three years.

In addition to regular naturalisation requirements, to be eligible for Irish dual citizenship through marriage you have to:

• Have been married or have been in a civil partnership with an Irish citizen for at least three years
• Be living together in an ongoing marriage or civil partnership
• Be at least 18 years old at the time of applying for Irish dual citizenship.

Being married to an Irish citizen means you can apply for Irish dual citizenship after three years of reckonable residence instead of five. Still, the requirement of having to have spent one year of continuous residency immediately before your naturalisation application still applies.

During the application process you will have to prove that you and your partner live together by submitting documents such as a shared rental agreement or evidence of having a joint bank account.

How to apply for Irish dual citizenship?

If you are applying for Irish citizenship through naturalisation, including the marriage route, you have to complete and submit the application form online. Then you have to gather documents that prove your eligibility for Irish citizenship and send them to the relevant application office. You also have to pay the application fee of €175.

If you want to claim your Irish dual citizenship through descent, you do not have to go through the application process but you have to register your birth in the Foreign Births Register. You also have to provide a birth certificate of your parent or grandparent and evidence that they were Irish citizens at the time of your birth.

The process of applying for dual citizenship in Ireland can be complex, especially as there are many documents you have to submit to prove that you meet the eligibility requirements. To make sure that there are no mistakes in your application and that no information or evidence is missing, hire one of our immigration consultants.

What are the advantages of dual citizenship in Ireland?

If your application for Irish dual citizenship is successful, you will receive full citizenship rights in Ireland. That means that you will be able to live there indefinitely, work without having to apply for an employment permit, vote in elections, serve on a jury, and apply for an Irish passport.

In addition to that, as Ireland belongs to the EU, you will gain EU membership status. Some of the benefits that come with it include:

• The right to travel between EU member states without having to apply for a visa
• The right to move to an EU country without having to meet any residence criteria
• The right to work in any EU country without having to obtain a work permission
• The right to study in any EU country without having to get a student visa.

How can IAS help?

If you want to naturalise in Ireland and become a dual citizen, IAS can help. Our immigration consultants can assess your situation to determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements and they can help you submit your application.

As opposed to an immigration, our immigration consultants will check your supporting documents to ensure you are submitting enough evidence to prove your eligibility for Irish dual citizenship. They will also write you a Letter of Representation that can further strengthen your case.

Even if your application for dual citizenship in Ireland is rejected, our consultants can find a solution. They will tell you whether it is possible to appeal the decision or will help you apply for dual citizenship again in the future.

To find out more about how our team can help, call us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244.