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<p>Article 1 (vi) of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement sets out the birthright of
all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish
or British as they may so choose, and confirms their right to hold both British and
Irish citizenship. In line with this commitment, the people of Northern Ireland are
legally able to hold British or Irish citizenship, or both.</p><p>The reciprocal Common
Travel Area arrangements between the UK and Ireland ensure the people of Northern
Ireland are not required to choose and assert an identity, or to align their citizenship
with their choice of identity, in order to access public services and other entitlements
in the UK.</p><p>As set out in the New Decade, New Approach document published in
January 2020, the Home Office intends to change the UK’s Immigration Rules so family
members of the people of Northern Ireland can apply for immigration status on broadly
the same terms as family members of Irish citizens and will open this route as soon
as delivery allows. We aim to do this before the end of the year.</p><p>The Rules
change will enable the people of Northern Ireland to bring their family members to
the UK on broadly the same basis as family members of Irish citizens who have entry
and residence rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement.</p><p>Where family members
of Irish citizens are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement (for example, because
the Irish citizen moved to the UK after the end of the transition period) they will,
as now, be able to apply for immigration status under the UK’s family Immigration
Rules. Family members of the people of Northern Ireland in an analogous position will
also be subject to those Rules.</p>
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