Irish citizenship - former British colony

[GarryMonty]

Hi all,

I'm a south african currently in the uk on ancestral visa, here in hope I could if I can get Irish citizenship but highly doubt it.

Here we go...

Great great grandfather born in limerick Ireland (dob 1865),
great grandmother born in South Africa (dob 1902),
South Africa was a former British colony at this time, does Ireland recognize these births equal to being born on Irish soil?

Tia

[DanaMarie]

Unfortunately not.

Unless at least one parent or an Irish-born grandparent was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, you cannot claim Irish citizenship on the basis of extended previous ancestry (that is, ancestors other than your parents or grandparents).

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/m ... scent.html

[littlerr]

“South Africa was a former British colony at this time, does Ireland recognize these births equal to being born on Irish soil?”
Try asking this in Ireland and see how Irish people would react

(Hint: it won’t be nice.)

[GarryMonty]

lol no thanks, yeah I gather their is alot of animisoity between the two nations.

Would it make a difference if my great grandmother was born in the time he was at war in south africa?

if I'm out of luck, my employer has a branch in Ireland. I would love to go work after I get British citizenship first.

Anyway thanks for the replies

[DanaMarie]

Just a smidge!

No difference whatsoever. So just to be clear, the last relative you have who was an Irish citizen was your great great grandfather? Sounds like your best bet is to have your Irish subsidiary sponsor your work visa and then go for naturalization after recknonable residence. Or go the UK citizenship route if you can do that more easily than the work visa.

[GarryMonty]

Hi yeah great great grandfather.

Would I need to be on the occupational shortlist to acquire a work visa? or if my employer has a branch there is a transfer acceptable by the Irish government? yeah I will get uk citizenship in the next 6yrs, only been in the uk 1yr.

Many thanks

[DanaMarie]

Ireland does have an intra-company transfer visa which is exempt from the critical skills list but I don't know anything specific about that visa category so it might be worth searching the forum for it or starting a new topic. If it's no secret you'd like to live in Ireland it might be worth a quick chat to your global mobility person in either legal or HR if you meet the requirements listed here.
https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workp ... nt-Permit/