The reality is, there are no disadvantages of having Irish citizenship! Furthermore, Ireland permits dual citizenship, which means you can acquire Irish citizenship without having to relinquish your present citizenship status. This means you can access and enjoy all the benefits that Irish citizenship brings, whilst remaining a citizen of your respective country.
The Emerald Isle
Ireland is a country steeped in history, with a rich heritage, and vibrant culture. Its citizens are known for their warmth, charm and zest for life, and its landscapes, ranging from the rugged wilds of the west coast, to the green meadows of the central regions, have attracted visitors who want to experience this special and ethereal place.
Irish citizens who reside in Ireland enjoy a high quality of life. With a strong economy, excellent infrastructure, and renowned healthcare and education, Ireland is a desirable location to live.
Having Irish citizenship by descent means you can live, work and study in Ireland, as well as participate in its democracy, by exercising the right to vote.
Irish and U.S. dual citizenship
Both Ireland and the U.S. allow dual citizenship, and therefore having Irish citizenship in no way affects your U.S. citizenship status. It simply means you are a citizen of both countries, and as such can and access and enjoy the advantages granted to both.
If you are an Irish citizen who lives in the U.S., you can access the services of Irish consulates and embassies in the state that covers jurisdiction where you reside. A consulate represents a country abroad and its functions are to promote and protect the rights of its citizens.
Irish consulates and embassies have many functions regarding its citizens and foreign citizens, which include authenticating Irish documents that are needed in the U.S., as well as providing services in respect of issuing visas and issuing and renewing passports.
There also exists a citizens register, which is a voluntary option that Irish citizens who are traveling, or live abroad, can sign up for. The Department of Foreign Affairs have your information, and can contact you, as well as give assistance in the event of any unforeseen crisis, such as civil unrest, or a family emergency.
EU Citizenship
As an EU member state, Irish citizenship also means you are a citizen of the EU, and this means you are able to enjoy the benefits and freedoms granted to all EU citizens, such as having the option to buy property in Ireland with increased tax incentives.
EU citizens can attend certain educational institutions within the EU without charge, and EU citizens are often prioritized over non-EU citizens for many professional and educational roles.
In addition to this, there are many more advantages that comes with EU citizenship, which we will now explore.
Travel as an Irish citizen
The right to free movement within the EU. EU citizens can live, work and study in any of the EU member states, without the need of a visa or special permission.
Traveling within Europe with an Irish passport gives Fast Track access through immigration lines reserved for EU nationals.
It is useful to note that Ireland is not party to the Schengen Agreement, and therefore Irish citizens must present a passport when traveling to other EU Member States.
Healthcare
Ireland has exceptional healthcare, and has been ranked 31 out of 195 countries by the Global Health Security Index. Irish citizens who reside in Ireland can utilize the public healthcare, which is free to many under through the medical card system.
Furthermore, another advantage of being an EU citizen is that you can access to medical care, if needed, when living in Europe, or traveling around the European Union.
If you are an Irish citizen, or an EU citizen living in Ireland, you can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This gives you access to healthcare in other EU or European Economic Area (EEA) states, and is either free, or at a reduced rate.
Consular and diplomatic protection
EU citizenship ensures consular protection to all its citizens. If an Irish citizen is in a country where there is no Irish consulate or embassy, and requires assistance, as an EU citizen they can go to any one of the diplomatic or consulates of any one of the 26 other EU member states, and they are obliged under EU law to grant the same protection and support as they would to one of their own citizens. This entitlement serves as a very important safeguard considering that Ireland does not have consulate and embassy representation in every country in the world.
The Irish passport and its benefits
Once you become an Irish citizen you can apply for an Irish passport.
The passportindex.org rankings for 2024 assessed the “power of a passport”, and the Irish passport came joint third in the world. The Irish passport grants visa-free travel to 121 countries. In comparison, the United States passport is ranked in 7th place, allowing visa-free travel to 123 nations. This shows the scope and strength of the Irish passport, and highlight the advantages of having one.
This segment has been written to dissuade any notions that having dual Irish citizenship is disadvantageous, and has instead highlighted the many advantages and benefits that comes with Irish citizenship. It has also highlighted the strength of the Irish passport in respect of traveling and living within the EU.
If you would like to know more about applying for Irish citizenship, or would like more information on this subject, you can contact us directly and one of our friendly advisors will be in touch to answer your queries.
