Partner overstayed would like uk passport in future

I am currently living with my partner who had originally overstayed his visa then left to go back to NZ and got back in again on an irish visa. we went to turkey on this visa and had no problems at immigration. He has been living and working here (and paying tax) for a year and a half since returning. He overstayed his original visa by about 2 years. We want to go and live in New Zealand for a while and plan to get married and have children. We are, however, aware that we will have to admit everything on application of a visa. We do not plan to come back to the UK for at least 3 years but it would be nice to know that if we want to we can. Would he stand a chance of getting a UK passport even though 3 years previously he overstayed? He is a carpenter and a joiner which I think may be on the shortage list. If he could get a passport that would be ideal but I am thinking they would not look favourably on him as he overstayed…

Hello there,

I am not very clear.

Do you mean that your husband overstayed in the UK and he entered with Irish visa - does this mean he entered from Ireland?

So is it from Ireland he got to UK? Didn't the UK immigrations check at the airport when he is entering the UK?

Victim, you are assuming that the journey from Ireland to the UK was by flying. However it could have been from the basically open land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Once inside Northern Ireland no need to show documents to immigration on UK internal flights, or if travelling by sea to Scotland.

If that was the method of entering the UK then I don't think "overstaying" is the right expression to use .... "illegal immigrant" would be better.