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Please be advised that the Consulate General of Ireland, Edinburgh website has moved and this page is no longer being updated. The Consulate website is now available at Ireland.ie/edinburgh.

Common Travel Area and what it means for the Irish in Britain

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, Irish citizens in Britain may wonder what Brexit means for their day-to-day lives. Due to the Common Travel Area, many aspects of life will remain the same for Irish citizens living in Britain but some changes are inevitable. Under the Common Travel Area (CTA), Irish and British citizens can move freely and reside in either jurisdiction and enjoy associated rights and entitlements including access to employment, healthcare, education, social benefits, and the right to vote in certain elections. The Common Travel Area pre-dates Irish and UK membership of the EU and is not dependent on it.

Join the Embassy of Ireland, London together with Consulates General Edinburgh, Manchester, and Cardiff, and partners Irish in Britain and Causeway: Ireland Scotland Business Exchange for an information session for Irish citizens living in Britain.

We will be joined by Minister of State for Overseas Development and Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, who will introduce the presentation on the Common Travel Area and the rights & entitlements of Irish citizens living in Britain. The presentation will address some of the most FAQs, including information on EHIC cards and driving licenses, and there will be an opportunity to ask the Embassy any queries you may have. This event will also be of interest to those who have become familiar with the rights of EU citizens in Britain, post-Brexit, and who will want to understand how the rights of Irish citizens differ due to the Common Travel Area. Attendees will also have the opportunities to hear from two key Irish community and business organisations - Irish in Britain and Causeway: Ireland Scotland Business Exchange.

Visit our dedicated webpage on the Common Travel Area to find out more detail about your CTA entitlements. For more detailed Brexit information and answers to other questions, visit our Brexit FAQ

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