FAQ’s about Irish citizenship

  • The Irish passport is considered to be one of the strongest in the world. By having access to an Irish passport, you will be able to travel to 207 nations without a visa. In addition to this, it is the only citizenship that lets you have full residency rights in the EU and the UK. 

    In addition to this, if you hold Irish citizenship before your children are born, you can pass citizenship onto them. There is no limit to this and the Irish citizenship can be passed from generation to generation, ensuring one can honour and respect their ancestors.


  • You are perfectly entitled to hold dual citizenship as both an Irish and American citizen. Both states recognize the shared history and therefore respect the idea of dual citizenship as a recognition of one's ancestry.


  • No. Holding Irish citizenship and a passport on its own will not affect your tax obligations. The only time there will be tax obligations is if you decide to take up permanent residency in Ireland.

  • The traditional route for Irish citizenship through your spouse is to reside in Ireland for three years. As the spouse of an Irish citizen, you would have the right to reside with your spouse.

    If you are not currently looking to live in Ireland, you can ask for the Minister of Justice discretion to grant citizenship where you can show additional cultural connections to Ireland.


  • The wait times can vary. The most common type of citizenship through one's grandparents currently takes between 9-12 months. It is important that the application is submitted correctly as missing documents or errors can extend this wait time. 

    Wild Geese Immigration gives peace of mind that the application will not be longer than needed by ensuring everything is done correctly first time.


  • If you acquire citizenship, the citizenship will not automatically pass onto your children. If you acquire citizenship before your child is born however, the citizenship will then pass onto your child.

    In addition to this, expectant parents will bypass the processing delays so as to ensure that the citizenship is granted in time.


  • I have an Irish grandparent but I do not know where to find their documents? 

    The Irish government have an extensive database of birth/marriage and death certificates. This database goes as far back as 1864. In addition to this, the churches have extensive records meaning that the vast majority of documents needed to apply for your citizenship are traceable. 

    At Wild Geese Immigration, we have extensive knowledge and experience to trace these documents and obtain the physical documents needed for your application. 

FaQ’s about moving to ireland

  • The best route to proceed depends on the individual circumstances of the applicant itself. The suitable route will depend on age, family, qualifications and what the applicant is looking to do personally. 

    It is recommended that a meeting is booked so your individual situation can be applied and all options talked through.


    1. Can I move to Ireland if I have Irish ancestry? 

    Irish ancestry on its own will not permit you to live in Ireland. However, it is possible that this ancestry may allow you to apply for citizenship which therefore would allow you to reside in Ireland.

    If you cannot acquire Irish citizenship but reside in Ireland under an immigration permission, the ancestry can speed up your applications for citizenship in the future.


  • The US is generally considered to be more expensive than Ireland. The cost of living in Ireland can vary depending on where you are looking to live. Dublin is the most expensive area to live in but reports show it is still considered to be 25%-40% cheaper than New York.

    While certain commodities such as gas will be more expensive in Ireland, key affordability indicators such as rent, groceries, health insurance among other factors remain cheaper in Ireland.

  • Yes. While while many stereotypes are over hyped (shamrocks and leprechauns), the Irish are very friendly and welcoming and it is something the citizens take great pride in as a nation.

    This is particularly so when it comes to American citizens due to our history of immigrating to the US. As the Irish saying goes: “You never know who is a cousin so best be kind to everyone.”

  • The exact figure will always vary. From my experience of working with a wide array of people, $10,000 is a realistic budget to cover all expenses such as flights, moving expenses and other unexpected costs. 

    This number will be different for everyone. I have helped college students move for a fraction of the cost and I have helped one client bring their horse with them. It is possible to adapt and budget given the needs of the client.


  • Yes. Ireland and the US have common animal agreements. Traditionally pets such as cats and dogs can be brought with a pet passport and specific vacancies in place. Because of the agreements between the US and Ireland, there is no need to have your pet quartine. 

    It is worth noting that certain breeds, such as pitbulls have restrictions on them such as having to wear a muzzle in public and cannot be left off a lead.