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The Common Travel Area is an international arrangement between the UK, the Republic of Ireland and the Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man).
The Common Travel Area was first introduced as an informal agreement in 1923 – though it hasn’t been continuous and was suspended during the Second World War.
As it is now, being a citizen of the Common Travel Area nation or Crown Dependency grants you certain rights1.
- Visa-free travel within the Common Travel Area’s nations/dependencies. There’s no requirement to show a passport or photo ID when crossing a border but you may be asked to.
- Allows you to live and work without a residency or work permit.
- Will mean that the other nations and territories of the Common Travel Area will recognise your professional qualifications.
- The right to vote, and access education (at all levels), welfare, social housing and healthcare on the same basis as a resident/citizen.
- Guarantees that welfare contributions (such as national insurance payments) made in one Common Travel Area nation or territory count the same as welfare contributions in your home state.
It’s very similar to – but separate from and pre-dates – free movement within the EU. So it hasn’t been impacted by Brexit.
A Memorandum of Understanding2 was signed between the UK and Irish governments in 2019 to ensure the Common Travel Area continues.
There isn’t a formal treaty that has everything in writing other than guidance issued by national governments. None of it is legally binding, but there’s no interest in ending it3. A UK-Irish Common Travel Area forum “meets regularly” to discuss border security in private4.
However, there are separate rules for family members who are not citizens of a Common Travel Area state, while EU citizens still need to show a passport when crossing the UK-Irish border.
There are also many things that are not covered by the Common Travel Area. It’s not a customs union and trade and movement of goods and services between Great Britain and Ireland are based on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (“Brexit Deal”).
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UK Cabinet Office (22nd December 2022). “Common Travel Area guidance”.
UK Cabinet Office (8th May 2019). “Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Ireland on the CTA”.
“Joint Statement regarding Co-operation on Measures to Secure the External Common Travel Area Border” (20th December 2011), Clause 8.
UK House of Commons Research Briefing (16th August 2023). “The Common Travel Area and the Special Status of Irish Citizens in UK Law” (p14-15).
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