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Select committee: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Citizenship and Passport Processes in Northern Ireland

Closed Opened 18 Dec 2020 Closed 3 Feb 2022

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement gives the people of Northern Ireland the right to identify themselves as British, Irish or both, and the right to hold both British and Irish citizenship. This inquiry examines specific issues that have arisen related to citizenship and passport processes in Northern Ireland. Read the inquiry launch and terms of reference

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 18 December 2020.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently First Report - Citizenship and passport processes relating to Northern Ireland on 7 July 2021.

The government's response

Published 3 February 2022. The deadline was 7 September 2021.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government largely maintains its existing positions on naturalisation fees, the Life in the UK test, renunciation and resumption, while stating it is "firmly committed" to the birthright provisions and will continue to work with the Irish Government.

  • On naturalisation, the Government "notes" the Committee's views on fees for Irish citizens but has "no plans to review the fee for citizenship applications". It also considers the Life in the UK test "an important part" of naturalisation.
  • On the ceremony, exemptions are limited to special circumstances. The Government "will assess" the ongoing use of virtual ceremonies as the pandemic need reduces.
  • On renunciation, the Government agrees with the aspiration of a simple process, "although tempered by" the need for a recognisable legal process. It says the approach to resumption "does not need to change", and it "cannot rule out future increases" to the renunciation fee.
  • The Government "will continue to work closely with the Irish Government" on matters including identity and citizenship. It is also "considering what more can be done" to make processes clearer, and will consider the report in that context.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

All reports

Evidence

  • 3 oral evidence sessionsLatest 12 May 2021
  • 5 witnesses
All evidence

Recent activity

Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions

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Date Session and witnesses Source
12 May 2021
Oral evidence session
Kevin Foster MP · Home Office, Kristian Armstrong · Home Office, Robin Walker MP · Northern Ireland Office 		View ↗
14 Apr 2021
Oral evidence session
The Lord Hay of Ballyore 		View ↗
10 Mar 2021
Oral evidence session
Ẻilis Haughey · Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission 		View ↗

Who gave evidence

5 witnesses

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WitnessOrganisationSessions
Kevin Foster MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Home Office 1
Kristian Armstrong · Head of Passport and Nationality Unit Home Office 1
Robin Walker MP Northern Ireland Office 1
The Lord Hay of Ballyore Not recorded 1
Ẻilis Haughey · Head of Service to Dedicated Mechanism Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission 1

Correspondence

1 letter

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PublishedDirectionLetter
12 May 2021 Not recorded Correspondence from The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, relating to the Committee's inquiry into Citizenship and Passport Processes in Northern Ireland, 26 April 2021