Are there any countries that have an easier process for getting permanent residency (PR) in UK/Ireland?
Under the Common Travel Area, Irish citizens can live and work in the UK without any visa, and British citizens get the same rights in Ireland, bypassing standard PR processes. For all other nationalities, there is no shortcut, and you must qualify through skilled worker visas before applying for residency.
You should know that the easiest residency relationship in this region exists specifically between the UK and Ireland themselves, through a historic agreement rather than any third country shortcut. If you are asking about other nationalities getting into the UK or Ireland, the process is the same standard route for almost everyone.
Residency Pathways Compared
| Pathway | Who It Applies To | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Common Travel Area | Irish citizens moving to the UK, or British citizens moving to Ireland | Unrestricted right to live and work, no visa or PR process needed |
| Standard skilled routes | US, Canada, Australia, EU nationals, and most other countries | Must use skilled worker visas, global talent paths, or family reunification, then wait about 5 years for Indefinite Leave to Remain or Irish long term residency |
| UK or Irish citizens moving abroad | British or Irish passport holders | Structured paths in Spain and Portugal after 5 years of legal residency; strong points scoring in Canada or Australia's skilled migration systems |
If You Are a UK or Irish Citizen Moving Elsewhere
Spain and Portugal offer clear routes to permanent residency after 5 years through visas such as Spain's Non Lucrative Visa or Portugal's D7, while Commonwealth countries like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand no longer grant automatic PR but do reward UK and Irish applicants with strong points under their skilled migration systems.
My Advice
Clarify whether you are trying to move into the UK or Ireland from another country, or move a UK or Irish passport elsewhere, since the Common Travel Area only benefits movement directly between those two countries and does not extend to any third nationality.
Planning to settle in Ireland after your master's?
PR pathways, timelines and which countries make it easier. Honest guidance.
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