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.

Ryanair seems to ask for a passport for flights

I'm back and forth all the time no one ever looks!

I live in NI, my family are England. Children do not need photo ID for UK flights. Some airlines state to bring birth certificate but I have never been asked for it. I believe all airlines require photo ID for adults for uk travel (BA didn’t until relatively recently) though this can by driving license, not passport. EasyJet will take expired (within 5 years) passport for uk flight. I regularly travel back and forth with newborn and toddler.

Link for easyjet confirming: https://www.easyjet.com/en/help/boarding-and-flying/travel-documents-and-information

Passports for adults particularly if checking bags. Baby 100% can travel on birth certificate only. My nearly 3 year old is still travelling on birth certificate and we are over and back several times a year.

Ryanair doesn't accept birth certificate

I took my 4wk old from England to Belfast for a family gathering (by plane) with zero issues. Cant remember what we used to identify her, but it definitely wasnt a passport. She didnt get that until 12wks old.

I would contact the travel carrier you plan to use (plane or ferry) and ask them what they'll accept

Which airline are you flying with?

Nobody needs a passport to travel between the UK and northern Ireland but if you fly they might insist on photo ID in which case you would need a passport for the baby.

Depends on the airline so check before flying, Ryanair won’t let you use a BC.

I’ve done the journey, both ways, about half a dozen times with (now) 20 month old DD, no passport. Haven’t even been asked for one (or had to show her birth certificate). Ryanair.

Purely anecdotal, though. Do check!

Think it’s been covered by pps but I’m from NI and live in London and have done this journey with kids numerous times.

A passport/photo ID is definitely not needed for kids or adults on the ferry.

Some airlines require photo ID for adults, which can be a driving licence. I think I’ve only ever flown easyJet with the kids and I brought their birth certificates (to prove they were my children) but they weren’t even checked.

I'm currently in N Ireland having sailed over from Liverpool on Saturday. It's a trip we do regularly albeit usually from Scotland and we have never been asked for any type of ID. Neither of my children (13 & 9) have a passport and I have never taken any form of ID with me for them. We have travelled since they were babies

You mean the one between the UK and France?

I've been travelling from Scotland to NI by air/sea for years with DD and never needed a passport or photo ID for her, just mine as required by EasyJet etc. DDs surname is different to mine and that's never been queried either. Bring the birth certificate for your peace of mind, and have a great trip.

Yup then you take the bridge from France to NI.

If you're flying I think you would be wise to carry a passport. But you can use other forms of photo ID. But if it's on a ferry it's the same country and I dont think it's necessary.

When I used to do this I just said I was from England and was waved through. Obviously non British/ Irish people seemed to have a bit more hassle sadly!

Technically you don't need a passport to fly to NI or ROI. But you do need ID, and Ryanair insist on passports. BA might be fine with a BC, call them? DD flew on a expired passport on a UK Ireland route once!

That must have been a while ago?

It gets mentioned in the Irish Press from time to time that Irish border officials are a bit over-zealous about border control with Britain. British/Irish people don't need a passport, because of the common travel area, but Irish border officials ask for a passport to prove that someone is British/Irish. A logical conundrum that would please the finest logicians of history.

See, for example:

https://www.irishtimes.com/world/uk/2024/08/14/the-myth-of-passport-free-flying-between-britain-and-ireland-under-the-common-travel-area/

"For all intents and purposes, the CTA does not exist when arriving in Ireland. In practice, only the British authorities show any sort of respect for this 100-year-old agreement, which should embarrass Irish officials given how much noise the State made about its supposed importance during Brexit talks."

Government website advice

NI is the same country as England, why would you need a passport to go there?

Check with whoever you’re booking with but they don’t check id our flights from Birmingham to Belfast and you don’t need to input it beforehand for adults and kids. Aer lingus were telling passengers to put them away last time

I asked an airline worker about this recently as I fly the route alot and sometimes get asked for a passport, sometimes not. She said if its a non UK based airline (ie ryanair,) you will be asked for a passport, uk based (easyjet,) you won't be.. and this has been the case for me since asking. However, I would still be worried about not having it- just in case!

Sorry to be pendantic but you can't travel between the UK and Northern Ireland - because Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

You can travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

British passports say "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" on the front. But for some reason people (sorry, but iny experience, English people) don't seem to read what the front of their passport says, in gold print.

I've had lots of fun conversations in which English people, who were told I'm Northern Irish, have explained GCSEs and their legal system etc. to me.

You don't need a passport. I regularly fly between NI and England with my children and not one of them even own a passport.

NI is part of the UK...