Travel To Ireland - Do You Need A Passport?

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.

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:D

Bye for now

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.

campbeji wrote: »

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:D

Bye for now

Must be my Osama-bin-Laden-esque good looks.:D

We were on a day trip in the car from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire on the Stena HSS. When we drove off the HSS there's the immigration/customs booths/barriers in front of you. The Immigration Officer was standing in front of them and selectively targeting the odd car. I knew that we'd be stopped because we're oriental and were the only non-whites on the whole trip. (Note: that last statement does not infer any complaint at being stopped because of our race, as the Immigration Officer was very polite, and if I were him I would have stopped us too!):D

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