JulesJ

Has anyone travelled to The Republic of Ireland recently via ferry? I would like to know how strict the immigration checks are. I am panicking as my passport (New Zealand passport) is with the home office and I am not sure if it will return back in time for my trip booked to Ireland - from Fishguard to Rosslare and then from Dublin to Holyhead. I have a UK drivers licence, but I believe as a non-UK passport holder this will not suffice. Can anyone advise? Many thanks!

Alec

They are due to introduce routine passport checks for ferry sailings between UK and Ireland, but I don't think this has happened yet (but due sometime in 2010). What has been happening for the last few years is when you land in Dublin, staff wearing Immigration Garda (immigration police) bib walk among arriving cars asking for any non-EU passport holders to show their passports. So if you keep stumm, they won't notice your lack of passport but I wouldn't take chance - your particular sailing may be pre-chosen for full passport check!

cambe

Alec, I live in NI but have travelled from Dublin to Holyhead several times and I have never been asked for any identification, has this changed?

JulesJ, I would assume that if you have a UK driving licence with a photograph on it that would suffice. I have never been asked for passport or ID coming from England to the Irish Republic and have done this journey many times but mostly by aeroplane.

I will be interested to hear other replies on this.

cambe

To add to the above you do need photographic ID to get on an aeroplane but not to get into the country from the UK.

GeoffHamer

British citizens do not need a passport to visit the Republic of Ireland. The ferry companies and airlines require proof of identity, but a driving licence with a photograph should do. All other nationalities are supposed to take a passport but, if you look and sound British, how would anyone know you're not? I wouldn't want to take any chances myself.
This is from Irish Ferries' website:
www.irishferries.com

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.

Photo ID, Bank Cards or bills for house utilities addressed to you are all acceptable and useful means of identification.

Please note that all nationalities except Irish or British 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.

hetismij

I'd take particular note of the last line of GeoffHamer's post. You may get into the Irish Republic without a passport - but who says you will also get back into the UK without one?
You could end up in a very sticky situation. Or not.
Only you know whether this trip is so important it is worth the risk.

Ricardo_215

I came into Dublin as a foot passenger on the Irish Ferries Ulysses last Saturday - packed with fellow air-grounded passengers. At immigration we were told EU passport this way, non EU the other way. I didn't even speak, just walked down the EU line. But of course they may do spot checks. Usually at Dun Laoghaire an officer asks everyone what their nationality is. I'm not sure of the exact legality, but if I go by ferry I don't always bring a passport - my driving license (with photo) has always been accepted by anyone who asks for id. You don't even need a passport to fly between the 2 countries, unless you use Ryanair.

Ricardo_215

Sorry, I mean, it's legal for me, not sure about you with NZ passport

JulesJ

Everyone, thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
I must say I am pretty nervous about this whole business. It is a very important trip for me and my family, and everything is all paid for! To withdraw my passport from the home office (I am currenty applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain - it is just taking much longer than I expected) will mean losing a great deal of money also.
As another option I could always get a flight to Northern Ireland - being part of the UK I doubt I would need my passport for this - and get a train/bus down to meet my family in Cork. What do you guys reckon about this idea?

Frances

My daughter and boyfriend went from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire as foot passengers last Sat.This was a surprise trip for her boyfriends birthday but she eventually had to tell him where they were going because I told her she should take her passport.She said that at Dun Laoghaire there was a cursory glance - they are both UK passport holders but as students both have very full passports with enough activity to subject them to scrutiny!
There was no problem on the way back and I don't think they were even asked for their passports.
In Holyhead if there is any query you will be asked for identification documents-that is irrespective of whether you require a passport or not.
Do not consider falsifying any document.

alihutch

It also depends if you feel comfortable about being in a foreign country without a passport.

I thought that very few airlines would let you fly without passport ID or require ID that you won't have

cambe

JulesJ, have you paid for the ferry crossing, are you taking a car to Ireland?

Where are you leaving from in the UK?

Ryanair ask for a passport number to check in online for a flight from London to Belfast (I am going to London from Belfast with Ryanair next week and have just checked in and the option is passport number or national ID card). Easyjet don't ask for a passport number from Belfast to UK, they ask for photographic ID only.

The train fare from Belfast to Cork will be expensive (although they do have some cheap rates but not easy to get) and you have to change stations in Dublin. I checked Irish rail and it cwould be 88 euro return. http://www.irishrail.ie/home/

You can fly from Belfast to Cork which might be cheaper with Aer Arann http://www.aerarann.com/ . The flight leaves from Belfast City airport, however, easyjet fly into Belfast International Airport from most places in UK and there is no direct transfer between airports.

This is complicated. Have you telephoned the Home Office and explained your situation?

Good luck.

GeoffHamer

Travelling via Northern Ireland makes no difference to the legal position. British citizens do not need a passport to travel to the Republic, so the ferry companies do not insist on a passport. I have already quoted from Irish Ferries' website. This is what Stena Line says:
"British or Irish citizens travelling on our Irish Sea routes with Stena Line do not need a passport to travel to Britain or Ireland but are advised to take a form of identity."

The legal position is that anyone who is not a British or Irish citizen should have a passport to travel in the Republic, whether arriving by sea or air, or from Northern Ireland. This is completely illogical in practice: how do they distinguish between a British citizen with no passport and, say, a New Zealand citizen with no passport?

JulesJ

Don't worry, there is no way I will falsify anything, nor lie! No way, I have spent 6 years living in the UK slowly working towards becoming a citizen (through ancestry) and am not going to jeopadise that!

Cambe, thanks for looking into the train thing, that is so kind of you. My ferry is booked, there are 3 of us travelling, my Mum and Dad visiting from NZ. We are taking a car, leaving from Fishguard, Pembrokshire.

In regards to the home office, the situation is pretty black and white, if I want my passport back, my application is cancelled and I lose the fee I have paid (not much less that £900 - eek!) I can only hope and pray that it arrives back in the next 3 weeks.