Can dual UK-Irish citizens spend six months in France and six months in the UK?
Be aware of tax residency and healthcare rights
Dual UK-EU nationals with ties in two countries often try to split their time between them
Peter Etchells / Shutterstock
Reader Question: I am a British citizen and also an Irish citizen. I hold passports for both countries. I also have a property in France as well as the UK. I would like to spend 6 months residing in both countries equally. Can I do this?
Irish passport holders still have EU rights, which provide additional benefits for staying in France.
EU citizens who want to spend more than three months in France are not required to register (as they are in some other EU countries) or obtain a visa to stay for more than 90 days. This includes Irish nationals.
However, depending on your circumstances, such as if you are retired, you may be required to provide proof you can support yourself.
You can check what additional information you may need to provide depending on your status on the Service Public website here (available in French and English).
Be aware of tax residency and healthcare rights
In your situation as a dual-national, you are in theory allowed to stay for six months in France and six months in the UK per year without restrictions.
If you have property in France, such as a second home, and a home in the UK, you may want to keep your ‘main’ residency in the UK for taxation purposes, in which case it might be best to spend slightly more than six months there to make sure it remains this way.
If you spend more than six months of the year in France, you could end up making this your main residency, complicating your tax situation.
Read more: How long can I stay in UK without becoming resident for tax purposes?
You should also keep your healthcare tied to a single country, which would be the UK if your main home is there.
You should not sign up to the French healthcare system through the Caisse primaire d'assurance maladie, as you are not a French resident.
A British GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) will cover you for medical emergencies in France, but you should keep your GP and usual appointments in the UK.
You will also be unable to collect French benefits, as most require you to be resident for at least nine months per year to be eligible.
