I know there are a few old threads on this topic, but don’ t think any of them addressed thes specific questions, so here goes.
Since visiting Ireland I have always thought that I may want to one day retire there or move there to work. I know that it has become pretty tough to move to Ireland due to tightening immigration restrictions. The easiest way to get there, of course, is to become a citizen, but this is not easy to do. One of the only ways for an American to become a citizen without already living there for many years is if you have a grandparent who was born in Ireland, which I don’t. Here is where it gets interesting though, all of my great-grandparents on my Dad’s side of the family were born in Ireland, meaning my Dad has 4 grandparents who were born in Ireland. I’ve never mentioned my plans to my Dad, but the other day when we were talking he mentioned that he was in the process of applying for Irish citizenship. Since in the near future, I will have a father who is an Irish citizen, does that provide me any basis for obtaining citizenship?
If that is a no-go, my girlfriend’s grandfather was born in Ireland. We’ve been together a long time and are only waiting until I’m done with law school to get married. When we do, if she applies for citizenship, could I also obtain it as the spouse of a citizen? I know that in most countries this used to be an easy path to citizenship, but from what I understand, this is no longer the slam dunk that it once was.
If neither of these options worked, I know that another way to get into Ireland is to have a skill that is in demand. Law is a pretty skilled profession, but it is nation specific for the most part. Is there any demand or need for US trained lawyers in Ireland? Would being able to practice there be as simple as passing Ireland’s version of the bar?
Any insight that anyone might provide is greatly appreciated.
Whoa, tough question. I’ve no idea about working in Law in Ireland. But I do know something about living there. My Uncle and Aunt moved to Ireland in 1990, they had purchased property on Ackle (sp?) Island, and moved in full time… They had sheep and were basically managing their farm. I’ll give them a call and ask how they obtained citizenship, but I seem to remember because they were land owners, they expidited their naturalization…I’ll find out exactly, but I know land ownership had something to do with it.
It’s sad. We have it drilled into us that we live in the greatest country on earth, and many of us are willing to take up that chorus, but if it’s so great why do so many of us (including me) wish we could live elsewhere?
I like it here, its not that I want to move away forever. I just might want to live a different place for a while. Also, while I like the area of the country that I live in, over-development is going a long way to destroy the traditional character of New England. Ireland appeals to me in the sense that there is more continuity with their traditional lifestlye. Although from what I hear about Irealand’s booming economy this has begun to change.
I live in Southern Connecticut - I have traveled long and hard to find the right place for myself and family. But in the end, New England is in my blood, and I wouldn’t give up the salty ocean or rolling hills with beautiful rock walls for much…I’ve lived out west and I loved it, but I still felt the need to be back here. Probably for good…we may eventually be a little more permanent in VT or ME, but for now we are doing well.
I qualify for Irish citizenship three times over (ancestry, residency, marriage). I went as far as getting all the rules sent to me but never ended up applying. And I just threw all the forms out in a ‘life laundry’ session three weeks ago, dammit, so I can’t help you with this question.
However, if you call the Irish Embassy or Consulate nearest you, you can get the standard forms which will have the rules in them.
Southeastern CT (which is where I assume you live because Fairfield Co. sucks unless you are a millionaire) is still great in alot of places. My girlfriend almost took a teaching job in Old Lyme, its a great town. Unfortunately I don’t know how long the region can keep its charm. The casinos are starting to exert a ton of development pressure.
I agree with you that New England is in my blood. I’ve been a ton of other places but the history, culture, and landscape here are awsome. I wish the traditional landscape of small cities, villages, and farms wasn’t disappearing to sprawl so quickly. I grew up in what was a rural section of Cheshire, but is now totally developed. Sometimes I think about heading up to NH or VT to get away from all the overdevelopment but I don’t know if I can deal with even MORE winter than we already have. Southern RI is an option but it is facing alot of similar pressures to southeastern CT.
Well, I got my Irish citizenship the same way that your dad did – on the strength of having grandparents who were born in Ireland. When I was researching the subject (~1996), I learned that if one of your parents is an Irish citizen, you automatically qualify for citizenship. HOWEVER, I am not sure whether this holds true when your parent acquires citizenship through a grandparent, instead of being born to an Irish citizen. As I recall, the local Irish consulate welcomed questions, and quickly sent an information kit describing all the methods of acquiring citizenship. That’d be your best bet. (In fact, I imagine your father must have the kit. Maybe you could feign casual interest, and ask to see it?)
I don’t think the standard of a great nation is zero emigration. I’d bet North Korea has the lowest emigration rate in the world. Burma has to be way up there too. Great places those. Perhaps surprisingly, Ireland is still one of the largest suppliers of illegal immigrants to the US, though waaay behind Mexico.
I qualify for Irish citizenship due to ancestry, but I’ve never thought of employing it. Not that I have anything against the place I just like where I am.
I like (for the most part) the way Ireland is moving today. The days of the Church’s unchecked authority are gone forever it would seem.
I’ll have to talk to him about it, he probably has quite a bit of information. In fact, he said one of the reasons he was getting his citizenship was for my brother and me. The problem is, like alot of people of Irish descent, once I get him talking about a topic, its hard to get him to stop.
I too wonder if the son/daughter of someone who acquires citizenship through a grandparent thing would work. If it does, I think about half of the Northeastern U.S. could probably acquire Irish citizenship!
If Ireland’s immigration laws are anything like the UK’s (and I believe they are very similar) then it is not the case. The UK specifies that citizenship by descent only extends one generation beyond the last natural born citizen who needs to have retained his citizenship until the descendant’s birth. So, for example my dad emigrated from Scotland when he was ~12, but waited until I was 12 to become a US citizen. When I get around to it, I’ll get my UK passport and stake a claim on my UK citizenship, but any kids I have can’t do the same unless I move there (and future wife gives birth there – not terribly likely).
I suppose if MQR’s father gets citizenship and moves to Ireland it would help his case, just not guarantee anything.
MQR, are any of your grandparents immigrants from elsewhere in the EU. I think for some EU countries having a grandparent is a guaranteed citizenship, and once you have your EU Passport you can live anywere in the EU, such as Ireland.
There was a referendum on citizenship rules in Ireland a couple of years ago. The information website at the time of the referendum is still available online, and gives a lot of background info on citizen entitlement:
In particular, you might find trhe following information useful:
“Citizenship by Descent
Citizenship by descent means that you are a citizen because you inherit the right from a parent.
If, at the time of your birth, one of your parents is a citizen of Ireland, then you are also entitled to citizenship. So, if you were born outside Ireland, you may be a citizen if:
· one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth
· one of your grandparents was an Irish citizen and you register in the Foreign Births Register at the Department of Foreign Affairs or at an Irish Embassy or Consular office abroad.
· one of your great grandparents was an Irish citizen and your parent (who was entitled as a grandchild) had registered for Irish citizenship before you were born. If your parent had registered before 31 December 1986, then you may become an Irish citizen even if you were born before the registration.”
I wonder if the last item covers your situation, especially as it mentions great-grandparents?
Unfortunately not as he just registered fairly recently. It seems like item citizenship through my father is probably out for me. I guess I will have to look inot one of the other potential avenues.
Another question I have is I believe the whole citizen by grandparent thing that Galwegian just mentioned is for those who were specifically citizens of the Republic of Ireland following its independence from the UK. When my greatgrandfather left in the 1890’s he was technically a citizen of the UK.
The Aran Islands would give it a run for it’s money, on both counts, I reckon.
MichaelQReilly, I’m not an expert, but I would have said your father’s citizenship is enough to get you citizenship.
This is from the Irish Embassy in Washington web site :-
Key quote :-
“Anyone born outside Ireland, whose father or mother is an Irish citizen not born in Ireland, can become an Irish citizen by having his or her birth entered in the Irish Register of Foreign Births at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin or at the nearest Irish diplomatic or consular mission.”
That would seem to cover your situation, once your father gets citizenship ?
And doesn’t contradict the other web site, which says :-
“· one of your grandparents was an Irish citizen and you register in the Foreign Births Register at the Department of Foreign Affairs or at an Irish Embassy or Consular office abroad.”
The embassy web site is quite good at explaining what you need to do. Of course I may have completely misread everything, it’s still early here.
