New rules for a UK citizen moving to Ireland with a Non EU spouse

Written By - Philip Nathan

Under the Common Travel Agreement between the UK and Ireland, UK citizens do not need a visa or residency permit to live, work or study in Ireland.

If you are a UK citizen living in Ireland, you have many of the same rights and entitlements as an Irish citizen. UK citizens can:

• Enter Ireland without a visa
• Have unlimited Travel between the UK and Ireland
• Work from day 1 without an employment permit
• Access the public healthcare system
• Vote in general elections

Most professional qualifications are recognised by the relevant regulator if they were held before 01/01/2021.

What about Non-EEA family members?

If you are a UK citizen with Non-EEA family members then you might require a visa and work permit.

Do I need preclearance?

If you are a Non-EEA family member of a UK citizen you need to apply for preclearance. This needs to be applied for before you enter Ireland.

You can apply for preclearance online. You will need to enter the following information:

• Reason for stay
• Short stay or long stay (over 3 months)
  If you are staying long term, then you should leave the exit date as blank
• Current address
• Mobile phone number
• Details of current employment if any
• Details of where you will stay when in Ireland
• 2 * Passport photos
• A non-refundable fee of €60 (€100 for multiple entries). Some citizens may be exempt from the fees.
• You must provide evidence that you are covered by medical insurance at least 1 year from your proposed date of entry to Ireland.
• 6 months of bank statements. You may use a printed internet statement but it must be officially certified by your bank.
• Letter of application outlining why you want to move to Ireland and for how long etc…

It is recommended that you apply for preclearance at least 8 weeks before you intend to arrive in Ireland. This is a relatively detailed process and needs careful application. 

If your application has been approved, you will have 6 months to travel to Ireland.

How do I apply for residency and a work permit?

If you are a Non-EEA family member of a UK citizen you must register with immigration before the date shown by the stamp in your passport.

You will then be given permission to stay in Ireland for an initial 12 months. This can then be renewed for 2 years, then another 3 years after that. At that point, the non-EEA family member will be entitled to apply for Irish citizenship.

The non-EEA citizen will be permitted to live and work in Ireland on a Stamp 4D basis.

If you require any assistance with this, get in contact with us below.