British Passport Eligibility

pakb1ue

I've been wondering if I'm eligible for a British Passport and was hoping someone could help me out.

I was born in the UK (Northern Ireland) to Irish parents after 1983. I am currently a holder of an Irish passport.

I see from the Good Friday Agreement that anyone born in Northern Ireland is eligible to a British Passport.
http://www.dualcitizenship.com/countries/northern-ireland.html

My father was born in the Republic of Ireland before 1949 and is a holder of an Irish passport.

I have lived in Northern Ireland for almost 3 years but neither of my parents have.

Am I eligible to get a British Passport?

coylemj

Was your father living in NI at the time you were born? As you were born after Jan 1st, 1983, the test appears to be that either he was a British citizen (which I assume to mean that he held a UK passport at the time which you say he did not) or he was 'legally settled' which means he was living in the UK and had the right to live there permanently (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) which clearly he would have had as an Irish citizen living anywhere in GB or NI.

There is an online test where you can answer questions to test your eligibility, the issue described above cuts in on question 3 ......

https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizen

pakb1ue

coylemj wrote: »

Was your father living in NI at the time you were born?

Parents were living in ROI at the time I was born.

coylemj wrote: »

https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizen

The test said I'm not eligible for a British Passport.

I was born in Northern Ireland. Am I British?
If you were born before 1 January 1983, the answer is yes (unless your father was an Irish diplomat).
If you were born on or after 1 January 1983, the position is more complex. You will be automatically British if one of your parents was a British citizen (but not a British subject) at the time of your birth. This applies whether they had a British passport or not.
If neither parent was a British citizen, you will still be British automatically if either of your parents was ‘settled’ in the UK. This is defined as being ordinarily resident and having permission to stay indefinitely in the UK. Irish citizens are given this permission automatically, so the only issue would be whether your parents were living in Northern Ireland at the time you were born. If that was the case, then you are British automatically, if not (eg they were on holidays) then you will not be British from birth.
If your parents later went to live in the UK, you could apply to register as a British citizen up to your 18th birthday.

http://www.reform.org/site/2003/09/28/british-nationality-passports/

So from reading the above does that meant I'm not able to get a British Passport?

coylemj

pakb1ue wrote: »

....
The test said I'm not eligible for a British Passport.

So from reading the above does that meant I'm not able to get a British Passport?

Didn't you just provide the answer to your own question?

pakb1ue

Just wanted to update this in case anyone is looking into the same thing.

I can get a British Passport but I have to register as a British citizen first which I would do if the current cost wasn't £1,121.

https://www.gov.uk/register-british-citizen/overview

ginomc

what if you were irish and your mother was british ?

Marcusm

pakb1ue wrote: »

Parents were living in ROI at the time I was born.


The test said I'm not eligible for a British Passport.



So from reading the above does that meant I'm not able to get a British Passport?

Was your father present in the UK at the moment of your birth? If yes, then I think you are likely to be a British citizen as your father was present in the UK and not subject to immigration control (the definition of "settled" in the 1971 act) at the time of your birth. The UK Immigration Forum is more likely than this one to be of definitive be assistance.

Chorus_suck

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