Holding an Irish passport can open a world of benefits – and you don't need to scrap your British passport to claim one.
If you can provide evidence of your claim to Irish citizenship, you will be able to hold both passports. Following Brexit, applications skyrocketed for Irish passports with more than 1 million delivered In 2022 alone.
Not only are you still considered an EU citizen but trivial matters such as non-EU queues in airports can be bypassed quicker. If you have an Irish passport under your belt your children can also benefit.
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Below is everything you need to know if you plan on applying for an Irish passport this year.
What do I need to be eligible for an Irish passport?
You can get Irish citizenship by birth or descent or through naturalisation. If you are an Irish citizen's spouse or civil partner, you can apply for citizenship through naturalisation if you meet certain conditions, according to the Immigration Advice Service.
You may also be eligible to apply for Irish citizenship if you are of Irish descent or have Irish associations or have been resident abroad in the Irish public service or have been declared to be a refugee or stateless as defined by law.
As part of the application process, you should be ready to provide evidence of the following:
- Valid passport or travel document
- Digital passport photograph
- Full birth certificate
- Proof of identity and address
- Proof of at least one parent’s or grandparent’s Irish citizenship (where relevant)
What does an Irish passport entitle me to when it comes to travelling?
As of 2021, Irish passport holders could travel either visa-free or by obtaining a visa on arrival to 186 countries or territories.
The Irish passport is ranked higher in terms of access than the US and UK passports, meaning that it is a highly sought-after travel document.
Your Irish passport also entitles you to certain diplomatic support services from Irish embassies if you get into difficulty abroad.
Another unique advantage of the Irish passport is the UK and Ireland’s Common Travel Area agreement, which allows visa-free access to live, work, and study between the two countries.
Where can I travel with an Irish passport?
All EU citizens have the right to enter and live in another EU member state for up to three months. You just need a valid passport or national identity card. EU member states cannot set additional conditions concerning the minimum validity or duration of the identity card or passport. This means that your passport doesn't have to be valid for, say, six months before you are allowed to enter another EU state.
Irish citizens travelling to destinations outside the EU are subject to the specific passport controls and requirements of those countries. You may need a visa to travel to your destination, and/or a transit visa if you have to transfer flights. Your passport may also need to be valid for a certain period. These arrangements vary from one country to another, so contact the embassy of the relevant country before you travel for the most up-to-date information on these requirements.
A full list of visa-free countries for Irish passport holders is here.
Can I hold British and Irish passports simultaneously?
If you are an eligible British citizen, you may be permitted to hold both a British and Irish passport. If you can provide evidence of your claim to Irish citizenship, you will be able to hold both passports.
The advantages of holding dual British and Irish passports are significant, according to Total Law. Holding both passports gives you the right to live, work, or study in both countries, travel abroad to up to 187 countries and territories, and be entitled to essential diplomatic services from Irish, UK and EU embassies.
Other advantages include:
- Travelling freely throughout the 28 EU/EAA member states to live, work, and study
- If you live in the UK with an Irish passport, you will not be subject to the 90/180-day rule
- If you have children, they will be granted your nationality even if they were born overseas
- You and your children can access EU education programmes
- You can vote in Irish, UK and European elections
- You can be elected to government in the Republic of Ireland, the UK and the EU
You can apply for an Irish passport here.
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