Irishness
People born in Northern Ireland, like me, are in a unique position. I am automatically a British Citizen because I was born in the United Kingdom to British parents, and an Irish Citizen as I was born on the island of Ireland. This is different from most other dual nationality situations where a person has parents of different nationalities, and is based almost entirely on my birth location. The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement reinforced this position.
I’ve held a British passport since I was a teenager, but I’ve only had an Irish passport for a couple of years. This may be rare, but not unheard of, for a person brought up in a Unionist community.
Jacqueline is also entitled, as a spouse of an Irish Citizen, to apply for Irish Citizenship by Post-Nuptual Declaration. We went to the Irish Consulate in Edinburgh today to hand in Jacqueline’s application. This application was relatively straightforward, except for the requirement to include a significant amount of documentary evidence of co-habitation, for each month of the last 12 months!
As the post-nuptual declaration is being phased out with a final deadline for application of 22 November 2005, we expect the application process to take 6-9 months. I will post again whenever Jacqueline becomes Irish!
If I ever went anywher, I would get one.
John, I can’t get to the London embassy for a couple of weeks. Do you think that’ll give me time still? How long are the forms which need filling in?
Ah, can you get the forms through the post or do you have to get those from the embassy too?
I called the Irish Embassy in London who passed me on to the Consulate in Edinburgh. I’m sure the Embassy would send you the forms.
The form is not so much of a problem, it’s mainly tick-boxes. You will have to provide 3 forms of ID (e.g. medical card, employer ID, driving licence) plus passports for both Irish and non-Irish spouse. You also need to provide proofs of co-habitation (bills, mortgage etc). And the form has to be signed by a Notary Public (handily our next-door neighbour is one of those).
Also potentially an issue if the Irish spouse does not have an Irish passport.
The Embassy/Consulate are really helpful. Give them a call and talk through it with them. There should still be time before the 22 Nov deadline.
The Embassy will send you the forms. They are not available online.
What’s a notary public?
See this definition.
And how do I find my friendly local Notary Public?!
Try your local lawyer?
[...] Jacqueline got a letter from the Irish Consulate in Edinburgh today stating that her application to be an Irish citizen by post-nuptual declaration has been approved. She now needs to send €127.62 so that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform can issue her certificate of citizenship. [...]