riv

I see a lot of reference to people easing their situation in EU countries by virtue of 'getting an Irish passport' ( via parentage or grandparentage from the Isle ).

But I am guessing that 'getting an Irish passport ' is actually a way of referring to 'Obtaining Irish citizenship' ? Or does the Irish Government hand out passports to persons who are not Irish citizens ?

Assuming that to obtain the passport one has to apply for citizenship..............does obtention of same not impose any obligations, financial or bureaucratic ? EG filling in a tax return, even if no income arises in Ireland ? Or whatever ?

Joppa

'Getting an Irish passport' usually means by those who are entitled to it but haven't bothered to get one in the past, such as those born in Northern Ireland and who have been using British passport up to now. The phrase can also mean making a claim for Irish citizenship, such as inserting their name on the Irish foreign birth register (a procedure that can take a few years because of the backlog and Irish state suspending accepting new applications during Covid). Getting a passport can be the ultimate aim of being naturalised as Irish citizen, meaning you first have to qualify for citizenship by living in the Island of Ireland for 5 years, or 3 years if married to or in civil partnership with Irish citizen. To be naturalised, which is at the absolute discretion of the Irish State (i.e. not a right you can claim), you must intend to live in Ireland as citizen and you must be of good character (e.g. no criminal convictions, including certain motoring offences, no cases pending, no certain civil cases - Irish Police will draw up a report about you). A new requirement from last November is you have to send in your tax clearance certificate, stating your Irish tax affairs are in order. To show your intention to live in Ireland, you must declare when you intend temporarily to live abroad, that you intend to keep your Irish nationality and register with a consulate abroad. If you don't and you stay away for 7 years or more, your citizenship can be rescinded.

Leper

. . . or simply if you wish to stay in Spain beyond the 90 days limit in any one year and if you have a parent or grandparent born in any part of Ireland (Republic or Northern) then it would make sense to apply for an Irish Passport. You don't even have to set foot in the country.

Just as an indication of the amount of people claiming Irish passports three years ago it took up to five days for us Irish to renew our passports; now it takes six months.

If you saw RoI being beaten by Serbia this week you'll see that we need you as much as you need us. If your sons or grandchildren are good footballers get an Irish passport asap.Wink

riv

'' then it would make sense to apply for an Irish Passport. You don't even have to set foot in the country.''

Again.............you use the phrase ' apply for an Irish passport ' - but does that not require first applying for Irish citizenship (on the basis of having a grandparent born in Ireland ) ?

Joppa

You can only apply for Irish passport if you are already an Irish citizen. Some are automatically Irish from birth, such as born in the Island of Ireland or if one of your parents is Irish. Some can claim Irish citizenship through foreign birth register, but you have to apply for it and can take a long time. Finally, you can apply for naturalisation as Irish citizen if you meet certain conditions, such as resident in Ireland for a certain period. This is entirely at the discretion of the Irish State.

Leper

Don't throw obstacles in your way. Go for it! You can still support the Red Rose or the Three Lions although we'd like if you gave us the odd shout too!

Lou71

It is definitely worth obtaining an Irish passport if you can. You are not liable for taxes in Ireland unless you are resident there.

Do you have any Irish ancestry? By that I mean either an Irish born parent or grandparent? If you have an Irish born parent, you can simply apply for an Irish passport immediately and you can do it online. If you have an Irish born grandparent, you will have to gain entry to the Irish Foreign Births Registry (FBR) and there is a very long wait at the moment due to lockdown and it's looking like an 18 month wait at the moment.

The other alternative is to relocate to Ireland and then apply for citizenship after 5 years unless you are married/have a civil partnership with an Irish national in which case it is 3 years.

riv

But if you obtain Irish citizenship - are you not required to fill in tax forms every year , maybe to declare residence outside the country ? Or have other forms to fill in etc ?

agree_to_disagree

I think we are confumbling things up here...

One thing is holding a passport. However being a tax resident is an unrelated issue.

They are not mutually exclusive but in our scenario one can happen without the other.

Clear?

scot47

Citizenship implies a degree of loyalty to the State.

Palmerston

riv,

If you're entitled to an Irish passport through your Irish parents or grandparents, you don't apply for, or "obtain", Irish citizenship - you're already an Irish citizen.

Whether or not you apply for that passport, you're still an Irish citizen. The passport merely confirms your Irish status to the Spanish authorities, reducing the hoops you have to jump through compared to merely holding your UK passport. Nothing more.

Assuming you can get an Irish passport by going down that route, as a non-resident Irish citizen who has no financial link to Ireland, there's no tax declaration to be made to the Irish tax authorities. See para 2.4 below

https://www2.deloitte.com/content/da...road-guide.pdf

Lou71

No problem with that for me, I'm extremely proud and happy to have an Irish passport!

scot47

Lou71
Unfortunately some of those living in "The North" do not see things that way !

bobd22

One has to wonder how many of the people that have taken up the option of an Irish passport simply do so to get around Brexit issues, rather than some deep affiliation to Irish Ancestry? I would guess as has been mentioned some from Northern Ireland would not consider doing this obviously some would. Let's face it even though there is now thankfully the peace accord between North and South issues are still there and depending on one's own personal view on the Island of Ireland will dictate one's "loyalty". It is an option that was open to me as I am a direct descendant of a Northern Irish mother, however the WA agreement and a bit of planning was an easier route than obtaining an Irish passport. Good luck to those that take this route but I understand why some may choose not to.

Notdunroamin

Even with an Irish passport legally you're still bound by the 90/180 day rule.