To think I can't take a baby to Northern Ireland from England without a passport?

[DownmarketSellingSunset]

I'm due a baby later this year, and then approx. 2 months later we're due to go to Ireland for a family gathering. It's quite an important family party, and my DH would really like to go if possible. Chances are we'll drive rather than fly, but I don't think that's necessarily relevant.

The internet seems to suggest I don't legally need photo ID for the baby, a birth certificate would be fine. That seems risky to me, has anyone ever done it? I'll try and get a passport in time whatever happens, but I don't know how long they're likely to take in late spring so it's possible we won't be able to register the birth and get the passport in time.

Disclaimer - this is my second baby so I have some idea what I'm letting myself in for in terms of travelling so soon after the birth. Obviously, I'm aware that it might not be a straightforward birth this time, or the baby could need extra support after the birth etc, which means we might not be able to travel so soon anyway...

My toddler has a passport already.

I think when I flew to Belfast from Glasgow nobody looked at passports. Could that be right? I can't remember

Erm, NI is still part of the UK. Driving and the ferry would be the easiest option.

It depends which airline you fly with as to whether you need a passport

I don’t believe you need a Passport to go to Belfast. I’m sure they didn’t check. It’s no different to going from Scotland to England to wales

Driving / ferry they don't ask for any id from what I recall!

Are you planning to go to Ireland from Northern Ireland?

I’ve flown many times from London to Belfast and not shown a passport for my kids (and on just a driving licence for me).

You don’t need a passport to travel between Northern Ireland and mainland UK. Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

Other methods of transport may require different ID requirements too. Do you mean you would use the channel tunnel?

Northern Ireland is part of the UK.
Even the Irish Republic falls within the common travel area.
Just bring the birth cert, you’ll be fine.

Both Northern Ireland and England are in the UK. You don't need a passport to go to Scotland or Wales, do you? NI is the same as them.

You don't require any I'd to travel between England and Northern Ireland. They are both part of the UK. You don't need a passport to even travel to the Republic of Ireland as they are part of a common travel area.

However some airlines require photo id but in my experience boats don't.

Edited to add I travled withy son to a family wedding at 7 weeks . We were flying ryanair so needed the passport for them. We took the photos the day he got out of hospital and applied. We got it back a few weeks later but this was 5 years ago so may take longer now.

The channel tunnel goes to France not Belfast.

The only time I've had to show a passport when crossing the Irish Sea on a ferry have been when I've travelled on a coach, or as a foot passenger (and train on the other side).

Driving a car, never been asked for a passport.

No passports required for the ferry. I’ve never even been asked for ID

I think what ID you need for flying depends on the airline. I would check when/if you book

What channel tunnel?

Ah you're right. Was getting confused

Northern Ireland is in the U.K. so if you’re driving no one is going to be checking anyone’s passports. At the most, if the ferry request it would be a birth certificate.

Eldest DC was 9 weeks old when we first took them to Ireland. My FIL said they didn’t need a passport, but I refused to risk it. We went straight to the registrar office to max speilman for photos, then filled in a passport application at the nearest post office and sent it off the same day with the priority service you could get back then.

We had their passport in hand before their baptism when they were 4 weeks old!

Errrr….. it’s a fucking long way round if you go via France?

We go lots as my husbands family all live in NI. My youngest doesn’t have a passport yet and we’ve never been asked.

The easiest way would be to call the company you’re planning to travel with and check their requirements. Technically, no passport is needed, obviously, but depending on your means of travel, you might need ID.

No, they're talking about the other channel tunnel between Northern Ireland and Scotland that Boris built.
Do you not remember?

It happened very quickly cos he used a ready baked tunnel.

I miss Boris.

OP it is important that you check the requirements of your transport provider. I have recently flown from Belfast to London and needed to show a passport. Specifically a passport not any other form of ID.

I'm not sure if still the case but with my DC2 there were long delays in registering births so just make sure you get booked in very promptly!

You do not need a passport for the baby to travel between NI and mainland Britain (England/ scotland/ wales). Ive done this on easyjet, aerlingus and BA many many times including this December. Birth certificate is always accepted and even then not always asked for but should be brought.

I only ever have my passport checked if I am bringing in checked baggage. That said, good idea for adults to carry photographic id even if not having checked baggage as airlines do reserve the right to check it and can deny entry.