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.

You do not need a passport to travel to Belfast with Ryanair, you can use citizen card photo Id.

If you fly, check your airline. Yes Belfast is classed a domestic flight but check the airline. My aunt once tried to fly from Belfast to Manchester with her provisional license and was declined. I appreciate its maybe different for a baby but do check.

You don't need a passport to go to NI. Just check the rules of the company you're travelling with regarding ID requirements.

We regularly fly from Bristol to Belfast. Both kids don’t have a passport and mine actually expired about 5 years ago. I take my driving licence as id but as my husband normally books they only ever look at his anyway.

So
NI is part of the UK
then a condition of the Good Friday Agreement is that there is a common travel agreement between Ireland and the UK so from Belfast you can drive to the Republic without any border control.
so no you do not need a passport for the baby to travel to Belfast.
but if you fly from the UK or drive through Holyhead/Fishguard/Pembroke to the Republic you ll need to show a valid passport for every passenger. Not to Belfast though if from the UK.

No they don't need a passport, they need a form of ID. A child under the age of 18 can travel on a birth cert.

https://www.irishferries.com/ie-en/frequently-asked-questions/top-10-faqs/passports-identification/

The below image is taken from irish ferries website with more details available on the link above.

i booked flights to Belfast yesterday and there is no mention of passports anywhere on the summary I was sent or when I bought them. We’ll take them anyway for car hire
As PP said you might need them for checked bags (it’s cheaper to check in some bags under kids names on Aer Lingus!)

NI is in the UK.

I live in NI and originally from England, you don't need passport for kids birth certificate is fine

You don't need a passport for either the boat or our local plane to Belfast (easyJet - other carriers may vary!), just birth cert. None of my kids have passports and we go to visit family multiple times a year.

It's insane how much wrong information there is on this thread. So many people confidently shouting "nonsense!" even though they are the ones wrong, or repeating incorrect information several pages in. Or people hiving information for the wrong country! The correct info has been posted a few times (passport not needed if travelling by ferry, may be needed if flying), but i doubt this thread has helped the OP much.

It would seem a bit ridiculous to need photo ID when you don't need it to go to Scotland or Wales from England, but travel operators are a law unto themselves, especially Ryanair.

Check the website of the travel operator you use and screenshot the details in case you get a check in clerk who doesn't know what they are doing.

We KNOW that NI is in the UK!

It's not about needing a passport, it's about needing photo ID for the transport operators. Ryanair insists on a passport, other airlines are happy with a driving licence. The OP will need to check with the operator concerned to find out what the rules are for babies.

Adults need an ID only for NI, children don’t need anything at all.

then a condition of the Good Friday Agreement is that there is a common travel agreement between Ireland and the UK so from Belfast you can drive to the Republic without any border control

The Common Travel Area was in force long before the GFA. It also includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

I fly to the IoM regularly and have seen people turned away more than once for not having photo ID, which doesn't need to be a passport as it's not Ryanair.

But this thread illustrates why the OP is BU to use AIBU to seek reassurance that information on whichever reliable website she used to check the actual rules about going by ferry from GB to NI because any correct information is drowned out by nonsense, misunderstandings and arguments.

I referred to English people in my post.

Op - I have been travelling with 2 kids back and forth from England to NI for 15 years. 3/4 times a year. Flown every airline. Was there with kids a week ago.
We have never taken their passports or their birth certs. No/one has ever asked for either.
Adults need ID - DOES not have to be a passport. Under 16s - nothing.
once in NI you can merrily cross back and forth to the Republic as you like, no checks no ID needed.
enjoy the trip!!!

It's not ridiculous when you realise you're travelling to where there is a land border with a foreign country, unlike Scotland or Wales.

This is a simple question, ignore all the noise. No, you do not need a passport to travel within the UK, whuch includes NI. But you may require one for a flight due to carrier rules.

That's it.

That post was responding to a comment about traveling "from NI to UK".
So wind your neck in

We flew to NI from England many times with our children as babies and only birth certificates because they didn’t have a passport yet. But make sure you check the latest rules.

The level of misunderstanding on this thread is worrying.

And yet completely normal for MN and Britain in general.

i an English and married a man from NI and my English aunt would put a foreign stamp on Christmas cards to NI long after we told her she could use a normal stamp. I think she just didn’t believe us

I’ve flown to Belfast this week with Ryanair. When I booked they said you would need photo ID (either passport or National ID card). They did check ID at the boarding gate on both flights.