Freedom to Live and Work Across the EU

A Powerful Privilege:
If you become an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration, you also become a citizen of the European Union. This can give you the legal right to live, work, study, or retire in any of the EU’s 27 member states without needing a visa. Longer stays may involve straightforward local registration steps, and practical requirements can vary by country and by personal circumstances. Eligible family members may be able to accompany or join you under EU rules, depending on the relationship and the host country’s procedures.

What This Can Mean For You:
1. You can keep the door open to living, working, or studying in another EU country in the future.
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2. You may be able to retire in another EU country, depending on local rules and your personal circumstances.
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3. You may be able to build a long-term life in another EU country over time, subject to local registration and eligibility rules.
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4. You can spend longer periods in the European Union without the same short-stay limits that apply to most American visitors.

United Kingdom Options:
A special benefit of Irish citizenship is the ability to live and work in the United Kingdom without a visa under the Common Travel Area, a privilege that is not generally available to other EU citizens since Brexit took full effect in 2021. As an Irish citizen, you can generally live, work, study, and travel throughout the United Kingdom without needing a visa, subject to applicable rules and eligibility requirements.