The Common Travel Area (CTA) is a travel zone that comprises Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. (The Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey are self-governing British Crown Dependencies.) The CTA’s internal borders are subject to minimal or non-existent border controls, and can normally be crossed by British and Irish Citizens with minimal identity documents.

An Irish national, or a person from the Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey moving to the UK should always be treated the same as any other UK national from a benefits perspective.