Hello Scouse,

Can I apply for a family form at the Irish embassy or do you need to apply at the prospective country of entry, i.e. Britain?

Your article was very informative, is there anything else I should be aware of?

I have dual citizenship of both the UK and Ireland. I have lived with my wife for some three years, being married for the last 9 month's. We have three children (9yrs, 5yrs and 2 yrs), one of which is mine. My wife has a Thai passport with my surname. My son has both a Thai and an Irish passport. He would have been automatically entitled to a British passport had he been born post July 1st 2006 as opposed to April 7th 2006.

If one gains entry to the UK via a family permit, can you then apply for naturalisation shortening the citizenship application to 2 years?

Many thanks,

Stuart

Stuart,

Your son could at any stage apply to the Home Office for registration as a British citizen, although he's otherwise free to enter the UK on his Irish passport.

Your wife and two step-children can apply to the British embassy for family permits on the basis that you are Irish. You need to demonstrate that you are Irish, that you are married, and, if applicable, that you have a job to go to. The permits are valid for six months and, once in the UK, your family can apply for residence cards which are valid for five years. At the end of the five years, they can apply for permanent residence and once they've held that for one year, seek registration/naturalisation as British citizens. If they enter on family permits and then wish to swap to "normal" settlement visas, they would have to start the whole process again. Going the family permit route means it will take longer to get permanent residence, but it will save you a small fortune in application fees.

Scouse.

Stuart,

Your son could at any stage apply to the Home Office for registration as a British citizen, although he's otherwise free to enter the UK on his Irish passport.

Your wife and two step-children can apply to the British embassy for family permits on the basis that you are Irish. You need to demonstrate that you are Irish, that you are married, and, if applicable, that you have a job to go to. The permits are valid for six months and, once in the UK, your family can apply for residence cards which are valid for five years. At the end of the five years, they can apply for permanent residence and once they've held that for one year, seek registration/naturalisation as British citizens. If they enter on family permits and then wish to swap to "normal" settlement visas, they would have to start the whole process again. Going the family permit route means it will take longer to get permanent residence, but it will save you a small fortune in application fees.

Scouse.

Many thanks!

Stuart