Travelling to Ireland - Passport Advice Needed

[Queenie]

Hiya,

My sister and her family are going on holiday to Ireland soon via ferry. Three of them, (my sister, BIL and their 6yr old) all have UK passports but she also has a 3 month old baby who doesn't have a passport. Does anyone have a definitive answer on whether the baby needs a passport to travel to Ireland (not Northern Ireland)? They'd rather not have to apply/pay for a passport for her if it's not needed but the website hasn't been clear and the number to ring them is premium rate.

Cheers guys!

 

[GlendaONeill]

If an adult needs a passport then the baby needs a passport too. You can't leave the UK without it, I'm afraid. It's silly as the kid's one is valid for 5 years. So how can they tell if its the same child 4 years later.

I'm thinking about flying though. Don't know if the ferry company checks those details before you go.

 

[GlendaONeill]

Just found this for you on the UK passport website

Although the United Kingdom is part of the European Union (EU), you still need to carry a full British 10-year passport (or five-year child passport if you are under 16 and not on a parent’s passport) every time you travel to Europe. This includes day trips and travel by Eurostar.

Many countries no longer check passports at their land borders, but they still expect visitors to be able to produce a valid form of identification. For UK travellers this is the British passport. Remember, your passport will have to be checked at immigration control when you return to the UK.

 

[wilma-bride]

I was just going to post what Glenda has already confirmed. Ireland is not part of the UK so the baby will need a passport. When we lived in Northern Ireland and travelled back to England, we always had to carry Daniel's Birth Certificate as, although he didn't need a passport, they insisted we were taking him out of the country and therefore needed to provide proof that he was ours

 

[kizzy212]

My sister is going on day trip on 26th aug with rynair. She has spoken to rynair and they have confirmed that a passport is not needed just a birth certificate or medical card for proof of indentiy.

 

[kizzy212]

got this from rynair web site!!!!

Photo-ID for children under 16 years is not required for:

Children travelling with an adult between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland or domestic flights within either the United Kingdom or Ireland
Children included on the passport of the parent with whom they are travelling.
German children under 10 in possession of a valid German Government Kinderausweis travel document.
Spanish children under 14 in possession of a valid Birth Certificate and or Family Book for traveling on domestic flights within Spain only.
Italian children up to the age of 15 years who are in possession of a valid Certificato Di Nascita which has been endorsed as "VALIDO PER L'ESPATRIO" valid for travel and signed by "IL QUESTORE" subject to acceptance for entry to your destination.
Children travelling with an adult between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland or domestic flights within either the United Kingdom or Ireland.
Residence cards, family books, seaman books or military id cards etc. will NOT be accepted for travel in place of the required valid photo-ID detailed above.

Expired or damaged forms of photo-ID will not be accepted for any flight.

Failure to present valid photo-ID matching the names on your reservation will result in your being refused check-in without refund.

 

[Claire L]

Do I need a passport to travel to the Republic of Ireland?

The Republic of Ireland is classed as being part of the Common Travel Area of the UK so you do not need a passport to enter. Most airlines or ferry services only require satisfactory photographic ID (i.e., your passport, driving licence, etc). We recommended that you take your passport if you have one and that you take care to read any advice the airline or ferry service give you about travelling when you book your tickets

From the FCO.

But as it says airlines and ferries often require photo id but not sure if that applies to children as well.

Claire