Uk Citizens Rush To Secure Irish Passports: A New Post-brexit Trend

Published on September 11, 2025

Since nan UK’s departure from nan European Union, a record surge successful Irish passport applications has been seen, pinch much than 20,000 applications lodged each period since January 2023. This rising inclination indicates that nan UK is connected way to group a caller annual record for Irish passport requests. Data from nan Department of Foreign Affairs reveals that astir 82,000 applications person already been submitted from nan UK this year, successful summation to 87,500 from Northern Ireland. This mixed full has already surpassed pre-Brexit figures, much than doubling nan emblematic yearly request for Irish passports.

For UK citizens, nan surge is driven by a assortment of factors, peculiarly Brexit-related travel and residency restrictions, arsenic good arsenic nan increasing desire to guarantee future entree to EU benefits, specified arsenic freedom of movement for family members and children.

Why nan Surge?

A important facet down nan surge is nan desire of UK citizens to unafraid EU citizenship done their Irish ancestry. Many individuals are seeking a backdoor route to EU membership, particularly parents who wish to guarantee that their children will person entree to live, work, and study successful nan EU successful nan early without facing nan restrictions imposed connected UK nationals aft Brexit.

The Irish passport has agelong been regarded arsenic 1 of nan most powerful successful nan world, consistently ranking among nan apical countries successful nan Henley Passport Index. With visa-free entree to 192 countries, nan Irish passport provides dual nationality, which is highly sought aft by those looking for greater world mobility. This has contributed to an summation successful applications, pinch galore turning to nan Foreign Births Register to beryllium their Irish ancestry.

Growing Trend and Economic Factors

While Brexit remains nan cardinal cause, different factors are besides astatine play. Economic pressures successful nan UK, specified arsenic precocious surviving costs and changing spot regulations, are motivating group to research replacement citizenship options. For example, Spain precocious introduced a 100% ace tax connected non-EU spot buyers and ended its golden visa programme, which had antecedently attracted able non-EU investors. Similarly, Ireland has made moves to pull high-net-worth individuals, which whitethorn further summation liking successful Irish passports.

Furthermore, arsenic a consequence of these economical shifts, galore individuals from nan UK are viewing Irish nationality not conscionable arsenic a recreation aliases manner advantage, but arsenic a valuable plus for early generations. The expertise to walk Irish citizenship down nan line, peculiarly to children, is simply a awesome driving unit down nan surge.

The Role of nan Foreign Births Register

Many of nan Irish passport applications person travel done nan Foreign Births Register, wherever individuals tin beryllium descent from Irish parents aliases grandparents. This process allows group pinch Irish practice to summation Irish citizenship, moreover if they were calved extracurricular of Ireland.

According to charismatic data, nan Foreign Births Register saw a 15% rise successful applications successful 2022, pinch much than 23,000 applications processed—the highest level since digital records began successful 2013. It is estimated that astir six cardinal people successful nan UK person astatine slightest 1 Irish grandparent, making this way a peculiarly viable action for galore seeking to regain aliases get Irish nationality.

The Impact of Brexit connected British Citizens

Brexit has created uncertainty regarding recreation and residency rights wrong nan EU for UK citizens. Prior to Brexit, UK nationals enjoyed nan state of activity that allowed them to recreation and settee anyplace successful nan EU. However, pinch nan UK’s exit from nan EU, this state was revoked, prompting galore to activity alternative solutions to guarantee they tin proceed accessing EU benefits.

By securing an Irish passport, UK citizens are not only gaining nan expertise to live, work, and study successful EU countries, but they are besides circumventing restrictions connected things for illustration healthcare, pensions, and acquisition that now use to UK citizens post-Brexit.

A Look astatine nan Numbers

• 82,000 applications person been lodged from nan UK this twelvemonth alone, alongside 87,500 from Northern Ireland.
• The surge successful applications is much than double nan pre-Brexit yearly volume, pinch request now consistently exceeding 20,000 per month.
• The Foreign Births Register saw a 15% rise successful applications, pinch complete 23,000 processed successful 2022 alone.
• An estimated six million group successful nan UK person an Irish grandparent, making them eligible for an Irish passport.

Key Economic Impacts

The emergence successful passport applications from UK citizens is having a important effect connected some businesses and nan tourism sector. As much group get Irish passports, cross-border travel betwixt nan UK and Ireland is expected to go much fluid, boosting tourism and waste and acquisition betwixt nan 2 nations.

Moreover, nan broader EU market benefits from this accrued connectivity, pinch much UK nationals capable to entree jobs, healthcare, and acquisition opportunities wrong nan EU. This is simply a cardinal use not only for individuals seeking much state but besides for nan broader EU economy.

For those moving successful business and finance, an Irish passport besides opens up entree to nan EU’s azygous market, providing greater opportunities for individuals and companies seeking to run crossed nan European Union.

What Does This Mean for Tourists?

For tourists, securing an Irish passport tin beryllium an important measurement toward making recreation easier and much accessible. Irish passport holders bask visa-free access to astir 200 countries worldwide, making it a valuable plus for world travel. Additionally, those pinch Irish ancestry tin return advantage of this by securing their Irish citizenship now earlier their children are born, ensuring early generations person greater mobility and less recreation restrictions.

Steps to Apply for an Irish Passport

1. Confirm Eligibility: Check if you suffice for an Irish passport done ancestry via nan Foreign Births Register.
2. Submit Application: Gather your archiving and use for citizenship done nan Department of Foreign Affairs aliases section consulates.
3. Process: Wait for your exertion to beryllium processed, which whitethorn return respective months, peculiarly during high-demand periods.
4. Complete Documentation: Make judge each commencement certificates, impervious of Irish descent, and different documents are successful order.

Looking Ahead

The inclination of Irish passport applications from UK citizens is expected to proceed arsenic Brexit-related concerns persist and arsenic individuals activity to unafraid EU benefits for themselves and early generations. The increasing request for Irish nationality highlights nan enduring entreaty of dual citizenship, particularly successful uncertain times.