IRISH CITIZENSHIP BENEFITS
TOP 10 BENEFITS OF IRISH CITIZENSHIP
Are you curious about the benefits of Irish citizenship in the US and Ireland? We have you covered. Below, we detail the top 10 benefits of Irish citizenship.
Though there are some costs in terms of money and time, Irish citizenship is well worth it. If you plan on spending time in Ireland or any country in the European Union, you’ll be very happy that you went through the process of becoming an Irish citizen. And it’s a privilege that, once you get it, you have it for the rest of your life, and you pass it on to your descendants as well.
Some situations make it easier — including by descent to Ireland and marriage — but if you have spent the equivalent of five years in the country within the last nine years, you can apply.
So, what exactly are the primary Irish citizenship benefits and holding an Ireland passport? We’ve listed the top 10 Irish citizenship benefits below.
What are the benefits of Irish citizenship?
1. Travel Benefits
Thanks to the European Union, having Irish citizenship can unlock many doors for travel, work, and residence — especially if you are currently a citizen of a non-EU country, like the US.
Irish dual citizenship gives you the right to travel, work, and reside in every one of the EU’s 27 member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden.
If you want to live a life with Europe wide open to you, getting Irish dual citizenship is a great way to go. You will no longer need a visa to pass into EU member countries. Want to spend a few years in Italy? Looking to start working for a Swedish company? Need to have a quick getaway in the French countryside? Irish citizenship makes all of that easy and uncomplicated.
What’s even better is that citizens of EU countries are typically prioritized for professional and educational opportunities here. That gives you a leg up when taking on a new career or going to school.
2. Professional & Employment Benefits
That brings us to our next significant benefit of dual citizenship in Ireland: you’ll be highly sought after for many employment opportunities.
That’s because many international companies with operations in multiple countries value dual citizens. These team members have a much greater range of places they can easily travel to and earn money in, eliminating the headache of work and travel visas. With dual citizenship in the US and Ireland, you effectively open up the doors to work across the EU as well.
If you own your own business or would like to start one, dual citizenship again makes things easier. You can enjoy the stability and opportunities of a unified European currency and a simplified system for trading across EU borders.
Non-EU citizens also face restrictions on buying European securities — like unit trusts, real estate, Eurobonds, and investment funds. Your dual citizenship makes these restrictions disappear.
3. Educational Benefits
Higher education plays a pivotal role in many people’s lives. In the US, tuition fees are astronomical, and their increase continues to outpace the rest of the economy. For many students, this means massive student loans that await them after graduation.
But in the EU, the approach to higher education is much different.
In Ireland, you can find high-level, English-speaking universities for a very low cost. Thanks to our affordable education, dual citizens can afford their studies without racking up onerous debt.
Irish dual citizenship also opens the door for EU tuition rates in all member countries, broadening your horizons.
4. Hereditary Benefits
Once you become a dual Irish citizen, you’ll be able to transfer these privileges to your children and all future generations at birth.
That makes it effortless to keep these fantastic benefits in the family. Many people consider this the most significant part of citizenship, as it can set up their children and grandchildren for a lifetime of success — especially considering the affordable education, access to healthcare, and professional opportunities.
5. Protection Benefits
Many travelers love the added safety and security of having diplomatic assistance available when traveling abroad. Dual citizenship, of course, allows you to seek help from more than one embassy should you need it.
While Ireland does not have diplomatic representation in every country on the planet, your EU passport gives you access to embassy services for any EU member state. That added level of support helps you feel secure when traveling far from home.
As a citizen of Ireland, you’ll be protected under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) when traveling within the EU. You will be further protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, while your data privacy is safeguarded by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Also, US citizens have limited access to many parts of the world. Your dual citizenship can help open up these doorways.
6. Healthcare Benefits
The US has the highest per-capita health spending in the developed world. That makes medical care extremely expensive, even for those with health insurance.
But dual citizenship in Ireland grants you access to healthcare in our country and across the EU. Ireland boasts one of the world’s best healthcare systems, with the World Index of Healthcare Innovation placing us in the Elite rank. Despite being a global leader, it’s highly affordable.
7. Property Purchasing Benefits
If you are looking to buy property in Ireland or anywhere else in the EU, dual citizenship is key. Citizens of EU member states enjoy a wide range of benefits.
Possible benefits dual citizens can qualify for include:
- partial funding for some home purchases
- reimbursement for eco-friendly home improvements
- tax breaks for home ownership
These programs help property buyers make their dreams come true.
Meanwhile, other EU countries have their own incentives to encourage EU citizens to buy property there.
8. Voting Benefits
Irish citizens, including those with dual citizenship in the US, are entitled to vote in all local elections, general elections, constitutional referenda, and presidential elections.
If you are called to pursue public service, you can even be elected to government positions in Ireland and the EU.
9. Automatic Irish Citizenship To Children Under 18 Years of Age & Future Generations
We’ve covered how all of your future descendants will automatically receive Irish citizenship, locking in the benefits on this list for your family. But any children you currently have under the age of 18 can also be granted these benefits.
You don’t need to fill out any additional applications. All you need to do is register their birth with the Irish government. Then, they start accessing the wide range of benefits that all Irish and EU citizens do.
10. Reconnect With Your Irish Heritage
The history of Ireland includes countless stories of families leaving their homeland for a better life across the ocean. War, famine, and other events made this the right choice at the time. But no matter the distance or the years spent in another country — many with Irish heritage still yearn for the place they still consider home.
Are you looking to reconnect with the traditions, culture, and language of your ancestors? Irish dual citizenship is a powerful way to do this. It allows you the freedom to live in Ireland and set down roots. The link you establish with the land will be preserved for your children and grandchildren, maintaining this critical connection to the past and future.
Are you interested in applying for Irish dual citizenship, but you aren’t sure where to start? We can help. Contact our IDC Team at (213) 658-6833 or visit our contact page. Let’s discuss your case and figure out the best way for you to gain the amazing benefits of Irish dual citizenship.
This page was last updated with the help of Marco Permunian
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