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.

Ryan air requires a passport to the republic
Aer Lingus will accept birth cert

We do this regularly- took DS to Dublin when he was 2 weeks old this way. We do live near the ferry port though so didn't fly. There are no checks between NI and Ireland and although they can in theory check on the Cairnryan-Belfast ferry route, it's never been requested of us. I do always carry the BC though.
We did manage to get passports for both kids by the time they were 6 weeks old. Both of them look like squashed potatoes in the photos but no one seems to care!

To be fair, I'm Scottish and I struggle to understand the English legal system and GCSEs etc too. I think it's not unreasonable to assume that the 4 devolved nations might have different systems for these things.

I’m sure that’s right, but there are also many people in England who don’t realise that NI is in the U.K.

When I first went to university I had friends ask if we used Euros and whether it would cost more to phone me.

By ferry or by some airlines (EasyJet) you can just use the birth certificate for the baby if needed. Most of the time they won't even look.

Ryanair insist passengers have passports for all flight regardless.

I am sure if you wanted to fly from Heathrow to Manchester you would need photo id. It is an anti-terrorism rule.

All airlines require some adult ID regardless of internal or external flights. it’s a security thing.
Trains and ferries, never been asked.

No they don’t! Not for mainland UK to Northern Ireland they don’t because their rules don’t supersede legal requirements!
in fact they’ll accept a student ID or even a buss pass with matching name within the U.K for flights.

Yes, as you will see from my later comment, we have covered that now.

You won’t need a passport but always best to organise one and bring it if you can.

I learned that last year when I was on a domestic flight affected by weather. One of the options the pilot mentioned when we were already on the plane was diverting the flight to Paris. Cue my horror because I didn’t bring my passport on the trip! Thankfully it didn’t happen, but I think there were a few planes that night which landed in mainland Europe after what was supposed to be a domestic flight.

I can’t imagine how fed up I’d be if the culmination of an evening of hassle and delays that lasted into the middle of the night was being told I needed to sleep in the airport with a tiny baby until a return flight could be scheduled because the authorities wouldn’t allow us entry into the country we’d landed in.

Not for mainland UK to Northern Ireland they don’t because their rules don’t supersede legal requirements!

Yes they do, because the documents are required to travel WITH THEM. They have decided that you need a passport or national id card to use their services. You have the choice to use a different airline if you don't want to use a passport, but they can quite legally say that you cant fly with them without following their rules.

From their website:
In order to check-in, you need a valid travel document. When travelling with Ryanair, we generally accept 2 forms of ID.

A valid passport;
A valid National Identity Card.

We do not accept a driver's license or birth cert for travel to any location. It is each passenger’s responsibility to carry Photo ID which meets our requirements and the requirements of the relevant Immigration Authority.

Note the OUR REQUIREMENTS in that paragraph.

No they don’t! Not for mainland UK to Northern Ireland they don’t because their rules don’t supersede legal requirements!
in fact they’ll accept a student ID or even a buss pass with matching name within the U.K for flights.

Their rules can be whatever they want them to be.

They can't ask for less than the legal requirements, but asking for more they can absolutely do.

Flying from England to NI, under 16 Do not need to show identification on domestic flights, but the adult traveling with them must have photographic identification and be able to confirm the child's identity, so a birth cert will do. You can fly with your driving license does not have to be passport. But driving over on the boat you do not need to show anything.

oh yes they do. I also have to show my passport when flying from Scotland to England with Ryanair.

other airlines are happy with my driving licence.

and if you hadn’t had your passport they would have taken your licence. Or your bus pass!

Not in 15 years have I been asked for proof the kids our mine, despite having a different surname and often travelling without the other parent, or for a birth certificate but probably would hurt to carry it.

Wrong.
they’d be fucked if they started demanding passport to fly internal flight, lots of people don’t have passports.

Ryanair - nope - they’d deny boarding. Seen it happen.

i avoid them as much as possible - ghastly airline. They don’t give a fuck.

They've been doing it for decades, and seem to be quite unfucked so far.

Per border control, you don't need a passport for travel between NI and GB, BUT the carriers (airlines/ferries etc) are entitled to ask for whatever ID they like. If that's a passport, then you need a passport. Swim the Irish sea, and your driving license is fine. Ask the carrier you intend travelling with what is needed, then you can prepare. I think 8 weeks will be fine.

Yes. Also the rules on ferries changed fairly recently - you were able to travel without ID. So for example if we went to Jersey by ferry we didn't need ID but if we flew we did.

But they do, people have discussed Ryanair's requirements on MN before.

When I've used BA to fly to Scotland they've asked for ID but not checked it. However, the last time I flew with them on that route was at least 10 years ago and on a recent flight within the CTA from LHR they did ask for ID and check it.

I've actually been asked for ID on a train as well for a specific type of ticket, but that wasn't in the UK. I thought it was overkill but they did make it clear when I bought the ticket, so I didn't get caught out by it.

Ryanair by contrast likes to catch people out so they can deny boarding and pocket the cash for the ticket.

It absolutely makes sense to require a passport though
The CTA provides for free unhindered travel for all Irish and British citizens. But not for anyone else..and how do you know which are the British and Irish citizens without a passport?

if someone, Spanish, Latvian, Martian is already IN the U.K. then they do NOT need their passport checked as they move from Wales to Scotland to Northern Ireland. So no, Ryan Air do not need to see your passport if you board a flight from Edinburgh to London.
Nor are they immigration. They check ID for identity, not to enquire if you’re legally in a country or not.