Page 3 | to ask if Irish vs U.K. passport makes a difference?

OneOfTheseNights · 2026-05-30T02:51:58+00:00

Hi, some friends have emigrated from a non European country to Ireland. They moved there with two young dc, and are wondering whether to try to get their dc Irish passports. I know next to nothing of how they go about this, and I’m sure they are more than capable. i just wondered, if they are applying for passports for their dc, would they benefit more from an Irish passport, or if possible, would it be better to apply for a U.K. passport ? 🙏🏻

Toddlerteaplease · 30/05/2026 13:22

My friend has both. He uses his Irish one if he’s travelling in a group, or with other people who have EU passports. If not he uses his UK one.

bridgetreilly · 30/05/2026 13:11

Well, they sound like entitled idiots if they think they can waltz into another country and start applying for passports from there or an entirely different county nearby.

BarbBarbbarb · 30/05/2026 13:01

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 30/05/2026 12:14

You have to have lived and worked in Ireland for 5 years before you can claim citizenship and a passport. From the info that OP gave, her friends have just arrived so no, they can’t just choose to have a passport of UK or Ireland.

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They can if they stay. Immigrated OP said, not baiting, not temp, immigrated.

3luckystars · 30/05/2026 12:51

queenmeadhbh · 30/05/2026 12:26

irish passport keeps you out of trouble and a British passport gets you out of trouble 😛
but seriously speaking I think the Irish passport is more useful as it’s EU.

like others though I don’t see how they are eligible for a UK passport?

Or any passport !

Wouldn’t they just keep their own?

Thisthreadhasbeendeleted · 30/05/2026 12:41

I'm Irish. I work with a woman who moved here (NI) from eastern Europe when she was 3. Her home country is now part of the EU so she doesn't need an Irish passport from that perspective, but she wasn't born here so she's not entitled to one, but her little sister was and is.
Point being, will your friends be entitled to either?

Maddy70 · 30/05/2026 12:35

An Irish passport is an eu passport and has all the benefits that entails

queenmeadhbh · 30/05/2026 12:26

irish passport keeps you out of trouble and a British passport gets you out of trouble 😛
but seriously speaking I think the Irish passport is more useful as it’s EU.

like others though I don’t see how they are eligible for a UK passport?

3luckystars · 30/05/2026 12:21

Would they be able to get either?

I doubt it’s as simple and picking one form, and applying.

SlightlyAjar · 30/05/2026 12:15

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 30/05/2026 12:02

Not enough info OP. But from the info you’ve provided, it’s probably a ‘no’ to either. No one can just move to a country and claim citizenship and a passport because they fancy it!

They can, if they meet the criteria. And, though it doesn’t sound as if it’s relevant to the people the OP is talking about, anyone from the UK can move to Ireland without a visa or travel permit (and vice versa) because of the Common Travel Area, apply for jobs on the same basis as Irish people, ditto healthcare, and vote in local, general and European elections.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 30/05/2026 12:14

BarbBarbbarb · 30/05/2026 12:08

er, yes you can actually! If you legally go to Ireland - eg you’re working as a doctor or in a profession - and you meet the residency requirements then you CAN become a citizen. And get a passport. The expectation is that you’ve made a life there, your contribute, and you’re planning to stay after you get the citizenship.
Most countries have their own version of this. DD best friend - moved here from Eastern Europe as a young child. Both parents from that country, lived here 10 years, has just become a U.K. citizen.

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You have to have lived and worked in Ireland for 5 years before you can claim citizenship and a passport. From the info that OP gave, her friends have just arrived so no, they can’t just choose to have a passport of UK or Ireland.

Fast800goingforit · 30/05/2026 12:12

The obvious benefit to having an Irish passport is the benefits of EU membership: freedom of movement and access to the common market.

Clavinova · 30/05/2026 12:10

Halo20 · 30/05/2026 12:01

Irish is the better one to have especially after brexit.

I have both UK and Irish as was born in Northern Ireland but now mainly travel on my British as dh and dd have British ones but if I was travelling solo I would use my Irish.

Perhaps the family in the op would prefer to holiday in Dubai rather than the EU, although I can see the Irish/US pre-clearance would be helpful

BarbBarbbarb · 30/05/2026 12:08

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 30/05/2026 12:02

Not enough info OP. But from the info you’ve provided, it’s probably a ‘no’ to either. No one can just move to a country and claim citizenship and a passport because they fancy it!

er, yes you can actually! If you legally go to Ireland - eg you’re working as a doctor or in a profession - and you meet the residency requirements then you CAN become a citizen. And get a passport. The expectation is that you’ve made a life there, your contribute, and you’re planning to stay after you get the citizenship.
Most countries have their own version of this. DD best friend - moved here from Eastern Europe as a young child. Both parents from that country, lived here 10 years, has just become a U.K. citizen.

RedTagAlan · 30/05/2026 12:04

Clavinova · 30/05/2026 11:47

It's not a non-European country though as per the op.

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Ahh right. I see what you mean.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 30/05/2026 12:02

Not enough info OP. But from the info you’ve provided, it’s probably a ‘no’ to either. No one can just move to a country and claim citizenship and a passport because they fancy it!

Halo20 · 30/05/2026 12:01

Irish is the better one to have especially after brexit.

I have both UK and Irish as was born in Northern Ireland but now mainly travel on my British as dh and dd have British ones but if I was travelling solo I would use my Irish.

Clavinova · 30/05/2026 12:00

SlightlyAjar · 30/05/2026 11:57

You’re not taking my point.

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Yes, I am - most British travellers are not kidnapped but they often require other consular/embassy assistance - therefore having twice as many embassies across the globe is clearly going to be a benefit.

BarbBarbbarb · 30/05/2026 12:00

SlightlyAjar · 30/05/2026 11:57

You’re not taking my point.

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If I was untroubled abroad I’d 100% be showing my Irish passport over the U.K. one!
Don’t underestimate the destain many countries and people have for the British…

SlightlyAjar · 30/05/2026 11:57

Clavinova · 30/05/2026 11:37

The UK has twice as many embassies across the globe for non-terrorist related travel problems.

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You’re not taking my point.

Clavinova · 30/05/2026 11:53

BarbBarbbarb · 30/05/2026 11:46

If the children are going to stay in Ireland or U.K. long term an Irish passport gives them the freedom to travel, work and study in EU countries… not something easily done anymore for young people with U.K. passports only.

If the children grow up in Ireland they are more likely to follow their friends to Australia, Canada and the US (and the UK) than anywhere in the EU.

BarbBarbbarb · 30/05/2026 11:48

US friends immigrated to Ireland when their kids were toddlers, family are now citizens and the kids are as Irish as they come - they went though resident rules and are now dual Irish/USA citizens

Clavinova · 30/05/2026 11:47

RedTagAlan · 30/05/2026 11:40

The UK is a non EU country. They might have moved to Ireland from the UK.

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It's not a non-European country though as per the op.

BarbBarbbarb · 30/05/2026 11:46

If the children are going to stay in Ireland or U.K. long term an Irish passport gives them the freedom to travel, work and study in EU countries… not something easily done anymore for young people with U.K. passports only.

Greenknightsuccess · 30/05/2026 11:43

MrsMabelThorpe · 30/05/2026 08:30

If your daughters get Irish passports (ie become Irish citizens!) before they have children, aren't those children then entitled as they have an Irish parent?

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Yes. Both my children have become Irish citizens (haven’t sorted out passports yet) based on their paternal grandmother being Irish.
Any children my children have in the future will be able to claim Irish citizenship and this continues for perpetuity.

RedTagAlan · 30/05/2026 11:40

Nevermind31 · 30/05/2026 11:22

If they are immigrating from a non European country to Ireland…. Why would they be able to apply for a UK passport???? Where does the UK come into it?

The UK is a non EU country. They might have moved to Ireland from the UK.