(Northern) Irish Naturalisation - UK Indefinite Leave to Remain

[RandomUser678]

As with all things Northern Irish, I wasn't sure whether to post this in the UK or the Ireland forum so apologies if this should be moved, but I thought the experience of NI would be better captured here.

I am currently living in Northern Ireland based on a UK Spousal visa - I have lived here since 2020 and as of February 2025 I will be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (my current visa expires in June 2025).

I am also awaiting a decision on my Irish Naturalisation based on marriage to an Irish citizen while residing in Northern Ireland, which can be applied for after 3 years living on the Island of Ireland. Last week I received a letter of approval, meaning that I *should* be invited to the ceremony in the near future, completing this process.

My question: As a naturalised Irish citizen, is there any reason I should continue my UK ILR application and progress my UK citizenship?

There's a significant cost to doing so, and with the Common Travel Area, I see no necessity for it.
Presumably I could simply inform the Home Office that I'm now an Irish citizen and that would be the end of it?

Curious to hear the experiences of others.
Thank you.

[AHC01]

The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act has a section called "Revocation of certificates of naturalisation" and it clearly states that getting another citizenship after the Irish one is grounds for getting your Irish citizenship revoked.

----
Revocation of certificates of naturalisation
19.—(1) The Minister may revoke a certificate of naturalisation if he is satisfied—
(e) that the person to whom it is granted has by any voluntary act, other than marriage or entry into a civil partnership, acquired another citizenship.
----

No idea wether or not they actually enforce that part of the law, and probably they don't, but it is a possibility as it is explicitly stated in the Act.

I'm curious of what we have to do with our UK visas after we get Irish citizenship. I assume we have to report a change of circumstances to UKVI?

[RandomUser678]

Thank you, I hadn't come across that stipulation before.
My UK citizenship would be on the basis of marriage, though - so possibly acceptable.

For what it's worth, I am not interested whatsoever in collecting citizenships and fully intent to reside in NI in perpetuity, I am simply trying to ensure that under no circumstances down the line will my family be broken up.

I will certainly look into this further...

[alterhase58]

By virtue of being an Irish citizen you will have legal residency under the CTA, so no ILR required. You can still apply for BC but no requirement for ILR.

[littlerr]

Irish citizens are considered to acquire ILR automatically from the date they start their residence in the UK, therefore no ILR application is necessary.

[RandomUser678]

Thank you for your replies - skipping ILR and still obtaining UK Citizenship wasn't something I'd considered possible, but I'm quite excited by the prospect.

Apparently a bill introduced by the DUP and passed into law earlier this year simplifies the process.
British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Act 2024: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3558

With cross-party support, the bill was amended in the House of Commons so that the new registration route would be available to Irish citizens regardless of when or where they were born, and the residency requirements would be based on how long they had lived in the UK, not just Northern Ireland. They would not have to pass a ‘Life in the UK’ test or prove their language skills. The government has yet to confirm what the fee would be for applications under the new route. Gavin Robinson has called for there to be no charge over and above the cost of applying for a British passport.

https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/rese ... 2024-0026/

However, it is not clear whether one must have been an Irish Citizen for 5-years prior to Registering. I feel it depends on how one interprets this passage:

The current route for Irish and other non-British citizens to apply for British citizenship based on residence is through naturalisation, based on a period of 5 years’ residence in the UK (or 3 years if they are the spouse, or civil partner, of a British citizen). The person must have been in the UK for the requisite period with limited absences; be free from immigration time restrictions; meet the knowledge of language and life in the UK requirements; intend to make the UK their future home; and be of good character.

Does this mean for 5/3 years they must not have been encumbered by immigration time restrictions - or their current status may not be encumbered by time restrictions.

Either way this is positive, because I will have no problem waiting 3 years while residing in NI as an Irish Citizen.

I am very appreciative of the Irish State for respecting and simplifying the process of family unification when it comes to citizenship, as opposed to the UK's hostile environment.

[meself2]

My UK citizenship would be on the basis of marriage, though - so possibly acceptable.

Yes but no - you have voluntarily applied to get UK citizenship. Marriage alone doesn't grant you the citizenship.

(e) that the person to whom it is granted has by any voluntary act, other than marriage or entry into a civil partnership, acquired another citizenship.

I'd be rather cautious about it.