In advance of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, we’ve put together this list of useful updates for any Irish emigrants returning to Ireland from the UK:

Common Travel Area (CTA)

• Under the CTA Irish and British citizens can move freely between and reside in either country, as well as enjoy associated rights and entitlements including access to employment, healthcare, education, social benefits, and the right to vote in certain elections
• A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom concerning the Common Travel Area (CTA) was signed on May 8th 2019 reaffirming both Governments commitment to maintaining reciprocal rights and privileges under the CTA. We welcome this development, having previously raised our concerns about the situation for Irish emigrants in the UK
• Read these Frequently Asked Questions from the Government of Ireland on travelling, living and working within the CTA
• Take a look at this useful Q&A on the CTA by Irish in Britain with Ambassador Adrian O’Neill (28.1.20)

Rights of Irish citizens in the UK

• Clause 2 of the UK Government Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill (12.2018) states that an Irish citizen does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, unless they are subject to a deportation order or have been banned by the Home Secretary

Social Security

• Irish workers in the UK and British workers in Ireland will only pay into one social security scheme at a time, and will be able to export of certain benefits between the UK and Ireland as per this UK Government update on social security agreement with Ireland (4.2.19)

Driving

• In the event of a no-deal Brexit, people with a UK driving licence will no longer be able to drive in Ireland according to this NDLS update on UK driving licence holders (18.2.19)
• Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland information on the Green Card to drive Irish registered motor vehicles in the UK (01.2019) in the event of a no-deal Brexit
• Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport have released this statement on the Green Card (03.2019)

Health

• According to the Irish Department of Health, ‘Irish citizens and British citizens who live in, work in, or visit the other state will continue to have the right to access healthcare there. This will apply regardless of whether there is a deal or not’ (09.04.19)
• NHS update for British residents visiting Ireland (28.1.19)

Education

• After Brexit, Irish students will continue to be able to study in the UK and British students will be able to study in Ireland, according to this update from the Irish Government (27.2.19)

Qualifications

• The Government of Ireland announced that post-Brexit, there may be implications for individuals working in Ireland or another EU Member State who obtained Professional Qualifications  in the UK, or who seek to have a qualification recognised after UK withdrawal from the EU. However, if you have already had these qualifications recognised by the relevant regulator, there will be no change and you can continue to practice in Ireland or elsewhere in the EU (03.2019)

Pets

• In the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the rules regarding pet travel (cats, dogs, ferrets) will change. Make sure you read this information from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (08.2019) and  and see your vet well in advance of travelling

Irish Government’s new Bill

• In order to safeguard Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the Irish government has published the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019 (22.2.19) along with this explanatory document

We’ll be updating these links as new information arises. We do however recommend that you visit official sources of information from the British Government and the Irish Government. The website of the Citizens Information is also a useful source of Brexit related information.

For general information on returning to Ireland see here.