The Home Office has announced that a new citizenship route for Irish nationals will open on July 22, 2025, when the British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024 takes effect.
Irish citizens living in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man will be able to apply for British citizenship under this new route. Applicants will be subject to a more streamlined application process and will not be required to demonstrate knowledge of English language or sit the Life in the UK test.
The registration fee will be 50% cheaper than for other nationalities, at GBP 723 for adults and GBP 607 for children. Children looked after by the local authority will be processed free of charge, as will those who can credibly demonstrate they can’t afford the application fee.
Under the Act, an Irish citizen will be able to register as a British citizen where:
- they can show they have been living in the UK for the previous five years;
- during the five years, they must have not been absent for a total of more than 450 days;
- during the final year, they must have not been absent for more than 90 days;
- during the five years, they must have not been in breach of the immigration laws;
- they are of good character.
Under nationality birth rights in the Good Friday Agreement, people born in Northern Ireland to a British citizen, Irish citizen or a settled person have the right to hold British and Irish nationality.
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