Michael M. Says:
As a proud owner of a newly granted 2nd passport (U.S. and Ireland), I was wondering what it entitles me to? Can I vote, get full healthcare, and own property in Ireland or other parts of the European Union? Are there specific benefits for seniors?
IL Chief Global Diversification Expert Ted Baumann Says:
Hi Michael,
Congratulations on becoming an Irish citizen. As such, you are also a citizen of the European Union. There is no additional step on your part that’s required to take advantage of that. As long as you carry an Irish passport, you have all the rights and obligations of any EU citizen from any of the 27 member states.
Those rights include unlimited travel, settlement, and work in any EU state. You can go anywhere within the EU, rent or buy a home, start a business, get a job, whatever you like.
When you travel throughout the EU, you do so as an EU citizen. You are not technically a citizen of other EU countries in the same way that you are a citizen of Ireland. But EU law guarantees that you won’t be discriminated against when you’re in another member state. So basically, you get treated the same as any other citizen of that state.
Medical care and other social services are a little different. EU law guarantees that you have access to Emergency and chronic medical care in any member state. But some medical treatments—primarily elective or otherwise optional treatment—must be obtained in the country of your citizenship, i.e., Ireland.
Regarding voting, you’re eligible to vote in Irish elections if you reside in Ireland. If you settle in another EU state, you may be eligible to vote in some local elections, such as municipal council elections. But generally, your voting rights are limited to your country of citizenship.
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