26 Feb 2015

A question about : Travel To Ireland

My partner's passport has expired and we need to fly from London to Dublin next week. I'm told you can travel with a photo ID like a driving licence, instead of a passport, but I need to double check. Anybody know for sure about this?

Best answers:

  • We went on a day trip from Holyhead to Dublin as we were staying in Snowdonia. My missus and I were born in the UK and our driving licences shows our place of birth as in the UK. My mums driving licence shows her place of birth as Hong Kong and the Immigration Officer said that technically he could refuse her entry unless she had her British Passport on her too, as she may not be a British Subject. But he was pleasant about it and allowed us to proceed once he checked we had a return ferry ticket.
  • I'm not sure if it depends on the airline you are flying with. We are going with Ryanair and they accept a valid photo driving licence (including provisional) as valid id
  • No you do not need a passport. You do not need any form of ID to go to Ireland, either North or South from England. You do however need ID to get onto a plane whether it is flying to Ireland or Scotland or even within England or anywhere else in the world, some nonsense about stopping terrorists.
    I have travel this route quite a few times and also taken the ferry on the various routes, never had any problems with immigration or anything, on the ferry I just drive off the ferry, out the gate and away. I have no idea how vikingaero got caught up with immigration at Dublin, maybe it was part of a sting operation
    Bye for now
  • opps, I should have said that the website for the airline will have a page on the sort of ID's that are acceptable. Most Govenment backed photo ID's will do the trick.
    Jim
  • Your entry to Eire will be easier if you have some form of identification. Most airlines will insist that you have either a passport or driving licence showing your photograph before you board. Despite the rather flippant remarks made by an earlier poster, there is a real threat of terrorism in the western world and it is therefore not unreasonable to expect that entrants to a country will be suitably screened.
    Visa, Passport and Embassies
    UK citizens do not require a passport or visa to enter Ireland, but most carriers by air or sea now require some form of identification with photograph (usually either a passport or driving licence with photo). Visitors are advised to check what form of ID is required with the individual airline, ferry company, tour operator or travel agent before travelling.
    Non UK nationals must have a valid passport or national identity card as appropriate.
    Citizens living within the EU and most other Western countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa do not require visas.
    All other countries should contact their local Irish Embassy/Consulate prior to travelling to the Republic of Ireland, and visitors to Northern Ireland should contact their local British Embassy/High Commission or Consular Office.
  • However usually if you're flying you will need a passport - otherwise a driving license is fine.
  • i flew to and from dublin with ryanair using my driving licence (had my passport tho as a back up) and never had a problem
  • Hi,
    We are looking at a possible trip to Eire for holiday by ferry.
    We all have photo id, apart from my 2 yr old daughter -will this be a problem on entry ?
    No time to get a passport for her at this late stage.
    Would appreciate any advice please,
    thanks
  • It will not be a problem on entry.
    If it is a problem (very unlikely) it will be boarding the ferry.
    Ask the ferry company what their policy is. Certainly most airlines don't require an ID from a child accompanying an adult
  • Hi there, my partner also needs to travel to Ireland and his passport has run out so I have just rang BMI to ask them as that is who he is flying with and they say that any government ID will do i.e drivers licence or bus pass etc. Also I travelled about 9 months ago to Ireland with Aer Lingus with only a train pass (with photo obviously) .
    I hope this has helped you.
    Lois
  • If you fly into Dublin airport you will go through immigration but if you show both proof that you're British/Irish and proof that you've just arrived from the UK (i.e your boarding pass) you will be allowed through with no problems. If you're not British or Irish you will need a full passport. If you're flying with Ryanair and checking in online you must have a passport; if you check in at the airport a driving licence is ok.
  • Ryanair does not accept expired passports. It will accept driving licences with photos, but only until 30 September.
    For British and Irish citizens who are travelling on flights to/from the United Kingdom, to/from the Republic of Ireland (Common Travel Area), a valid driving licence with photo is acceptable photo ID. Passengers who are citizens of other countries travelling on these routes must present a valid passport (with visa if applicable) or a National Identity Card issued either by the government of a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland.FROM THE 1ST OCTOBER 2009 ONWARDS DRIVING LICENCES WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTABLE PHOTO-ID ON RYANAIR FLIGHTS.
    Can't help thinking that O'Leary has missed a trick here. Perhaps he should accept driving licences, but only on payment of an additional fee!
  • My OH has just renewed his passport, last week, and it only took 5 days, maybe worth a go. I think that you an go to the passport office and if you are straightforward and just want to renew you can do it in a day. He did pay extra. about Ј7, for the post office to check it first and well worth it as it is easy to get it wrong ie your signature touching the lines, must use black ink etc they are very fussy