British nationality law and the Republic of Ireland

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British citizenship and
nationality law
Introduction
Nationality classes
See also
Law relating to former territories
Relevant legislation

Irish citizens in the United Kingdom enjoy a special status when residing there, due to the close proximity of the island of Great Britain and the island of Ireland and the historical ties between the two islands. Irish citizens from the Republic of Ireland are considered to have automatic and permanent permission to live in the United Kingdom and are eligible to vote, stand for public office, and serve in non-reserved government positions.

Background

See also: History of Ireland and History of Ireland (1801–1923)

Since the

Southern Ireland (which included County Donegal in Ulster) became the Irish Free State in December 1922, while Northern Ireland continues to remain part of the United Kingdom
.

Post-independence nationality arrangements

See also: Anglo-Irish Treaty

Under the terms of the

Foreign Office routinely refused consular protection to Irish citizens during this time unless they possessed other passports describing them as British subjects.[4][5]

After the declaration of the Republic

See also:
Republic of Ireland Act 1948, British Nationality Act 1948, and Ireland Act 1949

Dispute over whether Irish citizens were British subjects continued until most of

republic in 1948. Since April 1949, Irish citizens who were born and raised in the Republic of Ireland have no longer been automatically considered as British subjects (unlike Irish citizens born and raised in Northern Ireland). Individuals born before April 1949 in what is now the Republic of Ireland may make formal claims to retain British subject status, though this nationality cannot be transferred by descent.[6] The United Kingdom recognised the Republic of Ireland's departure from the Commonwealth of Nations and the end of its Dominion status with the Ireland Act 1949. Irish citizens born and raised in the Republic of Ireland continue to enjoy favoured status in the United Kingdom similar to Commonwealth citizens and are not considered aliens
.

The Ireland Act also re-established British citizenship for Irish citizens who were domiciled outside of the Republic when the British Nationality Act 1948 came into effect. Because that Act contained provisions that dealt with "a person who was a British subject and citizen of Éire on 31 December 1948", the conditions laid out in British law determining who became Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKCs) were dependent on who were Irish citizens under the Irish nationality law. When the Irish Free State was established on 6 December 1922, it consisted of the whole of Ireland. Northern Ireland opted out of the Free State on the next day. However, all individuals domiciled on the entire island on 6 December are considered Irish citizens. Consequently, when the BNA 1948 became effective, Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland automatically lost British citizenship, although this was not intended by the Parliament of the United Kingdom.[7] The Ireland Act restored British citizenship to any individual domiciled in Northern Ireland on 6 December 1949 who otherwise would have had the status if not for Irish law.

The Ireland Act additionally conferred CUKC status on Irish-born persons who did not receive Irish citizenship at any point prior to 18 April 1949.[8] Individuals who left Ireland before 1922, and who were not resident in 1935, were possibly eligible for registration as Irish citizens while also being able to claim British citizenship.[9] A claim to British citizenship may be established by: birth to the first generation emigrant, consular registration of later generation births by married British citizen fathers within one year of birth prior to 1983,[10][11] registration of birth to unwed British citizen fathers,[12] or registration of birth to mothers who were considered British citizens between 1949 and 1983.[10][11] In some cases, British citizenship may be available to these descendants in the Irish diaspora even when Irish citizenship registration is not, as in instances of failure of past generations to timely register in a local Irish consulate's Foreign Births Register before the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1986 and before births of later generations.[9]

Prior to 1983, anyone born in the United Kingdom other than children of diplomats were automatically British citizens at birth. After the British Nationality Act 1981 took effect, children are only citizens at birth if at least one parent is also a British citizen or considered "settled" in the UK.[13] Irish citizens from the Republic of Ireland resident in the United Kingdom are automatically considered "settled", and any children born to them in the United Kingdom continue to be British citizens at birth.[14]

After Brexit

Irish citizens from the Republic of Ireland retained their entitlement to enter, live, and work in the United Kingdom after the end of the

Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020.[15] Brexit did not affect the rights and status in the United Kingdom of Irish citizens who were born and raised in Northern Ireland
, as these people were automatically also British citizens from birth, as Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom.

Rights and privileges

Irish citizens from the

British honours, receive peerages, and sit in the House of Lords.[20] Additionally, Irish citizens from the Republic of Ireland may stand for election to the House of Commons[21] and local government.[22][23][24]

Irish citizens from the Republic of Ireland born before 1949 may make formal claims at any time to retain status as British subjects based on:

right of abode in the UK, eligibility to serve in reserved government positions, and the right to apply for British passports. While Irish citizens from the Republic of Ireland have no preferred path to citizenship, British subjects may become British citizens by registration, rather than naturalisation. However, both registration and naturalisation have the same residence requirement of five years before individuals may qualify to apply through either process.[26]

References

  1. ^ "Extract from a memorandum on nationality and citizenship prepared by the Department of Justice at the request of the Department of External Affairs for the Conference on the Operation of Dominion Legislation". Department of Justice and Equality. October 1929. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  2. JSTOR 1089976
    .
  3. ^ Meehan, Elizabeth. "BORDERS AND EMPLOYMENT: OPPORTUNITIES AND BARRIERS" (PDF). Institute of Governance, Queen's University Belfast. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  4. ^ Ó Caoindealbháin, Brian (2006). "Citizenship and borders: Irish nationality law and Northern Ireland" (PDF). IBIS Working Paper. 68. Institute for British-Irish Studies, UCD: 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  5. JSTOR 20030296. Archived
    from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  6. ISBN 9781136242892
    .
  7. Secretary of State for Home Affairs
    )
  8. JSTOR 3016841
    .
  9. ^
    S2CID 159806730
    .
  10. ^ a b Khan, Asad (23 February 2018). "Case Comment: The Advocate General for Scotland v Romein (Scotland) [2018] UKSC 6, Part One". UK Supreme Court Blog. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  11. ^ a b The Advocate General for Scotland (Appellant) v Romein (Respondent) (Scotland) [2018] UKSC 6, [2018] A.C. 585 (8 February 2018), Supreme Court (UK)
  12. ^ "Nationality: Registration as a British Citizen" (PDF). Immigration Law Practitioners Association. 14 August 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  13. ^ "British citizenship: automatic acquisition" (PDF). 3.0. Home Office. 22 July 2019. pp. 6–8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Passport policy – Immigration and Right of Abode" (PDF). Government of the United Kingdom. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  15. ^ Section 2, Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020
  16. ^ "Check if you need a UK visa". gov.uk. Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  17. ^ Representation of the People Act 1983.
  18. ^ "Nationality". British Army. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  19. ^ "Civil Service Nationality Rules" (PDF). Cabinet Office. November 2007. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  20. ^ British Nationality Act 1981.
  21. ^ "How can I stand in an election?". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  22. ^ "Guidance for candidates and agents: Part 1 of 6 – Can you stand for election?" (PDF). Local elections in England and Wales. Electoral Commission. January 2019. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  23. ^ "Guidance for candidates and agents: Part 1 of 6 – Can you stand for election?" (PDF). Local council elections in Scotland. Electoral Commission. April 2017. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  24. ^ "Guide for Candidates and Agents: Local Council Elections". Electoral Commission for Northern Ireland. 2019. p. 10. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  25. ^ "British subjects" (PDF). 1.0. Home Office. 14 July 2017. pp. 4–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Guide B(OTA): Registration as a British citizen" (PDF). Home Office. March 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.

Sources

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