Irish citizens in the United Kingdom enjoy a special status when residing there, due to close proximity of the UK and Ireland and historical ties between the two countries. They are considered to have automatic and permanent permission to live in the UK and are eligible to vote, stand for public office, and serve in non-reserved government positions. Background Since the Norman invasion of Ireland in the late 12th century, England has been politically and militarily involved on the island. English control was largely restricted to the area around Dublin known as The Pale until 1603, when the entire island was assimilated into the Kingdom of Ireland at the completion of the Tudor conquest. After passage of the Acts of Union 1800, Ireland was merged with the Kingdom of Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Resistance to the Union and desire for local self-governance led to the Irish War of Independence. Following the war, the island of Ireland was partitioned into two parts. Southern Ireland became the Irish Free State in 1922, while Northern Ireland continues to remain part of the United Kingdom. Post-independence nationality arrangements Under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, the Irish Free State remained part of the British Empire as a self-governing Dominion and the King continued to be the Irish head of state. Accordingly, Irish citizens remained British subjects under the prevailing theory of British nationality law that all subjects within the Empire, including Dominions, held a common imperial status. Holding citizenship within the Dominions had no effect on possession of the wider British nationality. Because the Irish government disputed that its citizens were British subjects and did not describe them as such on Irish passports, the Foreign Office routinely refused consular protection to Irish citizens during this time unless they possessed other passports describing them as British subjects. After declaration of republic Dispute over whether Irish citizens were British subjects continued until Ireland formally declared itself a republic in 1948. Since 1949, Irish citizens have no longer been automatically considered as British subjects. Individuals born before 1949 may make formal claims to retain British subject status, though this nationality cannot be transferred by descent. The United Kingdom recognised Ireland's departure from the Commonwealth of Nations and the end of its Dominion status with the Ireland Act 1949. Irish citizens continue to enjoy favoured status in the United Kingdom