ID requirement for republic ireland

1jim

Hi
We are going on holiday to republic of ireland this year,
I have a Passport so thats me sorted
Wife has photo driving licence so shes ok (im led to believe) her passport has expired by the way
Now heres the question, I have 2 small children, one will be 18months and the other 3and a half, neither have passports yet (and would like to put this off unless absolutly necessary because of the cost....and getting them to sit for a photo without smiling :rolleyes: ) anyway..... what form of id would be suitable for entry to rep.ireland? the only form they really have is the birth certificates, would that be ok?
will be travelling by ferry if that makes a difference
thanks
Jim

Voyager2002

Ask your ferry operator.

Assuming that you are all UK citizens and that your children were born in the UK they should not need any documents.

mich_city

The only time I was ever asked to show my ID when travelling on the ferries was during the 1st foot and mouth outbreak.. was asked at Liverpool (Seacat)

Have never had to show ID travelling from Holyhead (Irish Ferries or Stena)

info from Irish Ferries site..

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ireland/Britain Routes

Irish Ferries recommend all passengers bring a passport with them. Irish and British citizens do not strictly require a passport to travel between the two countries - some form of identification is however required. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo ID, Bank Cards or bills for house utilities addressed to you are all acceptable and useful means of identification. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Please note that all other nationalities require passports. Non-EU nationals should check with the British or Irish embassy before travelling as they may also need a visa. Passengers who turn up at our ports without valid documentation may not be allowed to enter either Ireland or Britain. [/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Identification is required at check-in to collect tickets and any of the following will suffice.

• [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Passport[/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Driving Licence[/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bank cards[/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo ID[/FONT]

[/FONT]

BernadetteN

It's £46 for a 5 year child's passport - that's £9.20 for each year of validity. It may seem like a large amount of money but putting it in perspective against the cost of a holiday, the cost of running a household, the cost of ordinary transport, the cost of children's activites, really £9.20 per year is not too much and is less than one week's child benefit.

Don't be put off by the hassle of having photos taken, just find a photo shop to take them for you which shouldn't cost more than £4 for 4 photos. That gives you 2 to use for the passport application and another 2 spare which are useful for ID passes in holiday parks or for school enrolments.

We have 4 kids and 2 adults in our family so the cost of passports over a 10 year period is £512 or £51.20 per year. This is such a small cost in relation to the rest of our bills. We'd never be without passports for the kids as it is their ONLY piece of acceptable photo ID generally accepted when travelling or even just when applying for bank accounts for example.


PS Ireland, the UK and Crown Dependencies (the islands) make up the Common Travel area where travel is without permanent document checks. However, checks are common and the only way to prove categorically your freedom as an Irish or British Citizen to this freedom is in fact to carry your passport! So a passport is not necessary but desirable, otherwise a UK or Irish driving licence with UK, otherwise a birth certificate. However, a driving licence and birth certificate does NOT prove nationality.

Voyager2002

BernadetteN wrote: »

It's £46 for a 5 year child's passport - that's £9.20 for each year of validity. It may seem like a large amount of money but putting it in perspective against the cost of a holiday, the cost of running a household, the cost of ordinary transport, the cost of children's activites, really £9.20 per year is not too much and is less than one week's child benefit.

Don't be put off by the hassle of having photos taken, just find a photo shop to take them for you which shouldn't cost more than £4 for 4 photos. That gives you 2 to use for the passport application and another 2 spare which are useful for ID passes in holiday parks or for school enrolments.

We have 4 kids and 2 adults in our family so the cost of passports over a 10 year period is £512 or £51.20 per year. This is such a small cost in relation to the rest of our bills. We'd never be without passports for the kids as it is their ONLY piece of acceptable photo ID generally accepted when travelling or even just when applying for bank accounts for example.


PS Ireland, the UK and Crown Dependencies (the islands) make up the Common Travel area where travel is without permanent document checks. However, checks are common and the only way to prove categorically your freedom as an Irish or British Citizen to this freedom is in fact to carry your passport! So a passport is not necessary but desirable, otherwise a UK or Irish driving licence with UK, otherwise a birth certificate. However, a driving licence and birth certificate does NOT prove nationality.

Surely if the parents produce passport and driving license that would satisfy any document checks they might encounter.

Whether or not passports represent good value for money, there seems little point in paying for them before they are needed.

dzug

Well from Ryanair's site - they are well known for having strict rules and sticking to them:

Photo-ID for children under 16 years is not required for:

• Children travelling with an adult between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland or domestic flights within either the United Kingdom or Ireland

I doubt on that basis that anyone else will require anything either

rog2

ID, although not necessarily photographic, used to be required for travel to Ireland because of the 'terrorist' situation.
I have always been asked for ID when taking the Liverpool-Belfast ferry.

jamescredmond

I've visited the Irish republic at least 100 times down the years and have only been asked for my driv. lic. twice.
for peace of mind: take p/port, driv.lic./kid's b.certs and enjoy the trip.
ireland has changed much over the past 30yrs but it remains a pleasant destination with pleasant hospitality dispensed by pleasant people.
so have a pleasant vacation.

Nobjocki

I've never been asked for ID and if you've got
an English reg car with kids they won't even stop you.

It is actually the perfect way to smuggle large quantities of drugs - should you be so inclined.

1jim

Thanks everyone
I have looked into this a little more and contacted Irish Ferries and they have emailed the following reply,
"
Good Morning

There is no passport requirement between Britain and Ireland for British or Irish citizens however some valid form of picture ID is required. So passport or driving licence is perfect. In the case of the children if you take their birth certificate that should suffice.

Thanks for choosing to sail with Irish Ferries.

Regards"

I think that we will hold of getting the children passports until we really need them as can open bank accounts with the birth certificates, there dosent seem much point in paying out for this now when we dont need them
Thanks to everyone who replied (apologies for blue reply, cant seem to change it back to black)
Jim