Irish citizens do not need a visa to enter, visit, work, and live in UK. According to the Common Travel Area (CTA) agreement signed by UK and Ireland, citizens of both countries can freely travel, without any restrictions in this matter. Below you can find information about Irish immigration to UK, mentioning that you can benefit from complete support offered by our London immigration lawyers for all legal matters, if you want to move to UK from Ireland.
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Short details about CTA
The Common Travel Area or CTA as it is known is an important agreement signed by UK and the Crown Dependencies with Ireland. The arrangement mentions that both British and Irish citizens can freely move within these countries and work, study, and live without any visas or other restrictions. Accessing health services and social welfare benefits is one of the main advantages stipulated in detail by the CTA. It is important to note that UK and Ireland signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2019 to strengthen the existing CTA and highlight the rights and privileges of each citizen, whether British or Irish. Here are other provisions of the CTA:
- There is no permission imposed to enter UK as an Irish citizen.
- Any form of employment and residence permit is permitted to citizens who want to immigrate to UK from Ireland.
- If an Irish citizen holds an international travel ban or a deportation order, the British authorities will make a series of verifications before granting permission to enter UK.
- In the case of non-British or non-Irish family members, they will have to apply for a family visa to enter UK.
The CTA agreement is recognized at an international level and it is important to both countries. If you are interested in Irish immigration to England, please get in touch with one of our immigration lawyers in UK who can tell you more about the CTA arrangement. You can get in touch with us no matter where you are from but want to move to UK.
Can I work in UK as an Irish citizen?
Yes, as mentioned above, there is no interdiction in terms of work or job offers in UK for Irish citizens. Therefore, there is no need for a work permit as non-EU and EU citizens require. Irish citizens’ professional qualifications are recognized in the UK, so it is quite simple to work in this country. Plus, Irish citizens are subject to the same duties in matters of social security scheme and taxes, in order to benefit from the same rights, according to the CTA. If you would like to know more about Irish immigration to UK, do not hesitate to discuss further details with one of our London immigration lawyers. We are at your disposal to help you properly immigrate from Ireland to UK and offer complete information about Irish immigration to England.
If you are planning to relocate to UK, you can rely on us. You can be questioned about your reasons for traveling to the UK and your return plans if your stay is shorter than six months. Alternatively, you could be required to provide evidence of your eligibility if you are seeking residence or a longer-term visa. Such proof might include a documented job or academic placement offer, as well as documentation of your legal presence in the UK for a predetermined amount of time. Learn more from our immigration lawyers if you are planning to immigrate to UK.
Conditions for Irish frontier workers
Frontier workers have the same thing as cross-border workers. Such workers can have residency in Ireland and work in UK, for example. According to the Common Travel Area agreement, Irish citizens are not obliged to apply for a UK border work permit. Irish border workers have many privileges and benefits due to the agreement signed by the UK and Ireland. On the other hand, applying for a UK border permit is mandatory for citizens from the EEA and Switzerland. You can discuss further details with one of our immigration lawyers in UK if you are a cross-border worker.
Considerations about social security between Ireland and UK
Ireland and the UK remain with the same provisions regarding social security. These include child benefits, pensions, and other social contributions. Please discuss with one of our specialists about this topic and more if you want to immigrate to UK from Ireland.
Can I use my Irish driving license in the UK?
Citizens with a driving license issued in Ireland looking to relocate to the UK should check the formalities for such a document. For instance, those living in Ireland must exchange their licence for an Irish one, therefore, specific rules might apply.
Non-Irish citizens and immigration status in the UK
Citizens from EU countries should check the immigration rules and formalities for entering the UK. Those who already live in UK should apply for the EU Settlement Scheme to protect their immigration status. The same status applies to persons married to an Irish or British citizen, or with family members in the UK, where sponsorship is an important part of the application.
On the other hand, long-term residents in Ireland who do not qualify for the moment for Irish citizenship and want to immigrate to UK might be affected by the so-called “reckonable residence”. In other words, this means that such citizens might not be eligible for Irish citizenship. Things might get complex, which is why we suggest you talk to our immigration lawyers in UK for further information and legal advice.
What are the rights of Irish citizens in UK?
According to the EU Withdrawal Act 2020, referring to the Immigration and Social Security in UK Irish citizens who want to move to UK can enjoy many rights and benefits in this country. Here are some of them to give you a clear idea if you want to immigrate to UK from Ireland:
- You have the right to work and study in the UK.
- Also, as an Irish citizen, you can start a business in UK.
- There are no restrictions regarding the social benefits that you must have.
- The health services provided by the NHS (National Health System) in UK are free.
- You can travel without restrictions between Ireland and UK.
- You can also access social housing support programs if you are in a complicated social situation.
- The Indefinite Leave to Remain status is the same as the “settled” status and is offered to Irish citizens living in UK.
Retiring to UK from Ireland
Irish citizens who want to relocate to UK by retirement will have to announce to the authorities their intention. This is an important step for social security reasons which is available in one country only. Furthermore, Irish nationals can claim the State Pension in UK if they paid sufficient National Insurance contributions, in order to qualify. The retirement process comes with relocation to UK, a matter where legal assistance and guidance can be offered by our immigration lawyers in London.
How to relocate the company from Ireland to UK
The company relocation is a straightforward process that can be completely handled by one of our specialists. First of all, company owners will have to de-register the firm in Ireland, in order to legally incorporate it in UK. A specific declaration stating the relocation intention is necessary for this process. Nevertheless, if you believe you are ready to bring your business from Ireland to UK, you can rely on the complete legal support offered by our London immigration lawyers. We work in complete professionalism, transparency, and proficiency to achieve the best possible results for our clients. We can discuss more about how to immigrate to UK from Ireland. Also, we present to you a few facts and figures about the immigration and population of UK:
- According to worldometers.info, the website that monitors all the countries, nearly 68 million citizens are living in UK.
- UK represents almost 0.9% of the total population of the world.
- London hosts the largest number of immigrations, representing nearly 35% of the total.
- 14.5% of the total population in UK is represented by Polish citizens.
Choose the services offered by our immigration lawyers in UK
The procedures and formalities related to immigration to UK from Ireland can be explained in detail by one of our specialists. You can rely on our support if you are interested in relocating to the UK and want legal support in the matter of documents. Our attorneys deals with immigration cases daily and they have the necessary experience to guide you in this endeavor. You can contact us by phone or online and even ask for a free case evaluation to know more about what interests you.
Interested in Irish immigration to UK? Feel free to give us a call and ask for complete legal advice. If you want to move to UK from Ireland, our lawyers are at your disposal. Furthermore, if you need further legal services in any matter, you can get in touch with our lawyers. If you need help with UK citizenship application, you should know that there are some instances in which you are not required to apply for citizenship. You already have the right to live and work in the UK if you have settled or pre-settled status. This status is awarded under the EU Settlement Scheme.
