Travelling to Ireland

[IslaMann]

I'll be travelling to Ireland in early April. Last time I went (hand luggage only) I was off the plane, through immigration, and on to my bus within 20 mins. I need to book my bus ticket soon. Would I be wise to book a later bus if Brexit doesn't get delayed as I assume I'll then have to go through the non-EU channel at immigration? Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Afaik, the Irish-UK Common Travel Area WILL still be in place - in theory you shouldn't even need a passport to travel between the two nations - so your journey should be fine.

Shouldn't be an issue.

But * give yourself extra time just incase, better than being out of pocket

whymewhynow but I already need a passport so why will that change?

Technically you don't need a passport, but the airlines ask for one.

The passport is for the airline not for Irish immigration. The Common Travel Area still stands despite Brexiteers efforts to fuck every good thing we have with Ireland

Ah ok thanks. Fingers crossed it'll be an easy passage through the airport then. Thank you everyone.

Just make sure you have insurance because your EHiC card will not work after 29.3.19 and you have to pay for healthcare at the point of contact in Ireland.

You do need a passport for Ireland. I was quite surprised to be asked for mine at Dublin airport last year because I was also under the impression that you didn't need it. They check at airports and apparently have done since 1997!

That was Irish border control by the way. The airlines require you to have ID anyway.

I went by car ferry to Ireland a couple of years ago, landed in Dun Laoghaire and then drove from there to Belfast for a family wedding. I wasn't once asked for my passport (even though I had it with me).

Did the return journey a week later and still wasn't asked.

The rules are different for sea travel (although Condor Ferries now requires photo ID, not necessarily a passport, for ferry journeys to the Channel Islands).