Irish Are Not Considered Foreign in the UK

[Grace O'Malley]

This is something that a lot of people do not understand. Even though Ireland is not a part of the UK anymore (except Northern Ireland) it is not considered a foreign country.

Part of UK legislation is the Ireland Act 1949.



https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga...-14/41/enacted

After Brexit
Irish citizens retained their entitlement to enter, live, and work in the UK after the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020.[15]

Rights and privileges
Irish citizens are exempted from obtaining a visa or entry certificate when entering the United Kingdom and do not require approval to live or work there.[16] They are not considered foreign nationals and are entitled to certain rights similar to those of Commonwealth citizens. These include exemption from registration with local police,[17] voting eligibility in UK and EU elections,[18] and the ability to enlist in the British Armed Forces.[19] They are also eligible to serve in non-reserved Civil Service posts,[20] be granted British honours, receive peerages, and sit in the House of Lords.[21] Additionally, Irish citizens may stand for election to the House of Commons[22] and local government.[23][24][25]

Irish citizens born before 1949 may make formal claims at any time to retain status as British subjects based on: Crown service in the UK, existing passports or certificates of entitlement describing holders as British subjects, or proof of other associations with the UK or any former British territory.[26] British subject status claimed in connection with Ireland additionally grants holders right of abode in the UK, eligibility to serve in reserved government positions, and the right to apply for British passports. While Irish citizens have no preferred path to citizenship, British subjects may become British citizens by registration, rather than naturalisation. However, both registration and naturalisation have the same residence requirement of five years before individuals may qualify to apply through either process.[27]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britis...lic_of_Ireland

What is the Common Travel Area?
The Common Travel Area (CTA) is an arrangement between the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland that gives a variety of rights to citizens of those countries. It includes more than the basic right to travel freely between both countries.

When the Common Travel Area arrangement began in 1922, it was not contained in any legislation. It was an understanding between Ireland and the UK based on their common history. Over time, some of the rights came to be included in different pieces of legislation in both Ireland and the UK.

While the Common Travel Area is recognised under the Treaty of Amsterdam, it is not dependant on the European Union and the continuing membership of both countries.

On 8 May 2019, the Irish and UK governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (pdf) reaffirming the Common Travel Area and identifying the rights and privileges of Irish and UK citizens within the CTA. It also reaffirmed the commitment to maintain the CTA following Brexit (pdf).

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/e...nd-and-the-uk/

[Mortimer]

I agree. I do not consider the Irish as foreign to the UK either, I mean I as foreigner and outsider.

[Tooting Carmen]

Indeed.

[Mopi]

probably because some many English/Scottish/Welsh have some Irish ancestry

[Tooting Carmen]

probably because some many English/Scottish/Welsh have some Irish ancestry

Even if they didn't, most of the time the Irish would still be hard to tell apart (until they spoke).

[gixajo]

And are the people from UK considered foreigners in Ireland?

[reboun]

Even if they didn't, most of the time the Irish would still be hard to tell apart (until they spoke).

What about as a group? I think English are look more South Scandinavian/North German like.

[Creoda]

Well, aside from the official line, 9 times out of 10 if you call the Irish/Ireland British it won't be a British person that protests, but an Irishman. British nationality has included the Irish since 1801.

My fully Irish father (born in Eire) was automatically born a British subject, although like most Irish he will grimace at being called British.

[Tooting Carmen]

What about as a group? I think English are look more South Scandinavian/North German like.

Maybe a little more, but this isn't the right thread to discuss that.

[Creoda]

Even if they didn't, most of the time the Irish would still be hard to tell apart (until they spoke).

But it's essentially the fact that the Irish (99%) speak English natively that makes them non-foreign, as opposed to continentals, not looks. In the 17th century you better believe the Irish were foreign to the English, more so than Protestant continental Germanics like the Dutch.