British by descent - options for moving to UK

[mortimer33]

Hello,
I’m British by descent (through my father, born pre 83). I’m an Irish citizen but planning to move to the UK next year to live and find a job. Do I need to apply for a British passport/visa in order to live and work in UK?

Thanks!

[secret.simon]

Irish citizens do not need a visa to travel to or work in the UK and are treated as "settled" on arrival in the UK. Settled Status confers almost all the benefits of British citizenship within the UK. And as an Irish citizen you also have the right to vote in all elections in the UK.

So, you can move to the UK on your Irish passport and apply for your British passport after your arrival.

Be aware that as a British citizen by descent, any children born to you abroad (including in Ireland) will not be British citizens by birth automatically.

Any children born to you in the UK will be British citizens otherwise than by descent from birth.

[mortimer33]

Thanks for your detailed response.

Just one other question. Is there anything to prevent me from applying for the passport before I travel to the UK? My understanding is that since I qualify for citizenship by descent (UKF) I don’t need to apply for citizenship and just need to apply for a passport?

[secret.simon]

Was your father married to your mother at the time of your birth?

If yes, yes, you can apply for a British passport from overseas now, with your birth certificate, your parents' marriage certificate and your father's UK birth certificate.

If no, and assuming that you were born before 2007, you need to apply on Form UKF as you are not yet a British citizen (citizenship was only passed on to legitimate children of British fathers before that date). Once your application to become a British citizen is approved, you will attend a citizenship ceremony (most likely at a British diplomatic outpost close to you) and then issued with a registration certificate. You can apply for a British passport with that certificate.

[mortimer33]

Great news, yes, they were married at the time of birth. Thanks again.