Passports for Ireland (by ferry) - are they needed?

[roisin]

We are going to Ireland next summer for a couple of weeks. I just checked passports and ds2's has actually run out.

But I have a feeling that passports aren't actually needed for the Republic from the UK, unless you are flying?

No. I've gone across by ferry myself a few times and never been asked for ID at all.

Historically they have not been required, but in light of recent terrorism threats it may have changed.

It would be worth pinging off a quick e-mail to the ferry company, print out their reply if it is in the negative and put it with your travel documents.

I should note, I've always travelled from Scotland to NI, still the UK, hence, why I might not ever have been asked for ID.

Although we drove into the Republic from NI numerous times and again, no stops or asks for ID.

Message withdrawn

I just take my license.

Haven't been as a foot passenger, only in a car with British plates and our saltire sticker in the back windscreen.

Thank you everybody. The rest of us have all got passports anyway. I'll have a think about whether to renew his or not.

Doodledootoo - we've got a cottage booked for a week at the far end of Kerry (Portmagee) - we've been there before. But we're going to spend 5 days ambling our way over and do a bit of touring in between and a couple of days on the way back too.

We have some thoughts already as to what we want to see: but recommendations always welcome! got a thread here

we went over in june, and didnt need passports.

we've needed them on the liverpool-dublin seacat every time recently. its the getting back in to england bit. needed them at holyhead too.

Thanks

Ireland and the UK are part of a common travel area, so passports shouldn't be necessary. However, travel companies may require them. (This is because they are liable to a fine of £2000 under the Carriers' Liability Act if they are found to be carrying someone who doesn't have the right to be travelling to wherever-it-is. I think this applies to ferry companies as well as airlines.) I'd check with the ferry company. Personally, I'd tend to err on the side of caution and renew the passport sometime in the next year. Better to be safe than sorry... But you might be OK without it.