** ALL ** Passport Related Questions in here! Please Read Post#1 first!

Stanford

"You need a valid passport to visit France and we advise you to take a number of photocopies of your passport with you. During your stay you should carry a photocopy of your passport at all times"

https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/france/

Try_harder

Stanford wrote: »

Strictly speaking you don't need a passport to travel within the EU but the French can be over zealous, I would check with the ferry company to see what their experience has been, bring at least a form of photo ID such as a Drivers Licence

As we are NOT part of The Schengen Area you do need a passport to travel outside Irl/UK

SACH Central

Thanks for the replies.

I was just wondering how closely the ‘border patrol’ would actually scrutinize the actual passports themselves.

Would it be possible that I could get in unnoticed.

Try_harder

They scan them all so I cant see how it would go unnoticed

Stanford

SACH Central wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I was just wondering how closely the ‘border patrol’ would actually scrutinize the actual passports themselves.

Would it be possible that I could get in unnoticed.

The reason I suggested that you check with the ferry company first is that if you need a passport they might ask to see it on boarding and may not let you board without a valid one. As regards getting in unnoticed that literally depends on Immigration at Calais and remember you face the same challenge getting home.

Stanford

I agree with "Try Harder", don't risk it, you could face being refused entry and deported on the next ferry to Dover which won't help when you come home to renew your Irish passport

mvl

ouch, I don't envy you at all. also, I wouldn't risk being "forcefully" separated from the family.

checked the embassy page, it appears they can issue temporary travel documents within a day, but for emergencies.
https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/great-britain/passports/top-passport-questions/can-i-get-my-passport-today/

best of luck!

coylemj

There's obviously no guarantees and we're not talking about Ryanair but if the OP is travelling in a car with his wife and children (all of whom have valid Irish passports), I can't see it being a show-stopper.

Four valid and one out of date Irish passports - family group in a car, will they be refused entry to France? I doubt it. The biggest risk is going to be with Sharon (ferry check-in employee) in the hi-viz jacket at Dover if the ferry company asks for passports - they don't in Rosslare.

For sure, you are entering the Schengen zone from a non-Schengen country (UK) so you are obliged to produce a passport but I have driven to France three time from Rosslare and the French cops just waved us off the boat when we landed.

Try_harder

coylemj wrote: »

There's obviously no guarantees and we're not talking about Ryanair but if the OP is travelling in a car with his wife and children (all of whom have valid Irish passports), I can't see it being a show-stopper.

Four valid and one out of date Irish passports - family group in a car, will they be refused entry to France? I doubt it.

For sure, you are entering the Schengen zone from a non-Schengen country (UK) so you are obliged to produce a passport but I have driven to France three time from Rosslare and the French cops just waved us off the boat when we landed.

We are also a non-Schengen country

coylemj

Try_harder wrote: »

We are also a non-Schengen country

OP is in the UK and wants to go to France, the issue he is facing would apply even if he had a Spanish or German passport and they are both in Schengen.

Travelling between Schengen and non-Schengen countries requires a passport, regardless of your nationality.

Try_harder wrote: »

As we are NOT part of The Schengen Area you do need a passport to travel outside Irl/UK

You need a passport to enter the Schengen zone but can freely move around the Schengen countries without a passport.

I suspect that border checks are more thorough coming back to the UK from France than they are in the opposite direction.

Pretzill

You won't get in without a passport. I have travelled by ferry to France many times from Dover, Hull (Belgium) and Rosslare you have to drive through passport control.

afatbollix

The Brits check every passport when leaving the country at the Ferrys. They check them by sight, Make you put down the windows so the camera will get a good look at you and then they scan them in which you see at the airports. It will not go unnoticed that it's out of date.

If the queue is an hour long they will still check every passport.

The French won't check them.

If you are coming back to UK forget it. You will be at Calais on the phone to the Irish embassy for hours trying to get them to fax one over. Its happened to a member of my group while traveling through Calais.

Shefwedfan

Now I know this is probably already discussed but I can't find thread

So I have booked another trip to UK for next year. Each year I say I have to start saving tesco vouchers but I never do. I get Stena Line over and Irish Ferries back. It suits me better.

Anyway I was wondering can you get family member vouchers and use them to convert to Ferry vouchers?

Also each time you get a few quid in vouchers should you convert?
Or are you supposed to wait and put all the vouchers into one big bundle?

What is the best way to do?

Duffryman

Hi there. We've used the Tesco tokens for ferries a few times ourselves. In fact, we're just back from a trip to the UK last week, thanks to the tokens and the Rosslare-Fishguard ferry.

Anyway, to answer your questions:
- No, you can't use vouchers belonging to other family members or friends. Same as with any Tesco deal, the vouchers can only be used against the Tesco Clubcard they were actually earned with in the first place. So for example, if your sister earned vouchers with her Clubcard, you can't use them in conjunction with the vouchers you earned yourself on your own card. I suppose it would be an option that if family or friends were willing to help you out in this way, that you get a duplicate of your own card and ask them to use that instead of their own, but that might be too much of an ask and would have to be done months in advance anyway.

- As regards cashing them in - just let all the vouchers build up until you want to book, and then go to the Tesco Clubcard Boost thing online and do them all together. You'll get a reference code straight away that you can then use to book the ferry you want. It's a lot easier than having several reference codes from several cashings-ins, and I'm not sure anyway if you can use more than one code per booking. Have only ever done it this way myself.

Might be more straightforward here though to just choose either Stena or Irish Ferries for both outward and return journeys. But that's up to yourself.

Happy travelling anyway!

BengaLover

Hi all, can I use an expired passport to fly to uk? It expired a month ago. Flying with Ryanair. Thank you

Marlay

Assuming you are flying from Ireland to the UK that is not a domestic flight. Passport needs to be valid:

"If you have a European passport and you are travelling to a European destination or Morocco, your passport only needs to be valid for the period of intended stay."

It is all covered here: https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/faq-overview/Travel-documentation

BengaLover

Thanks, so basically the passport is invalid if it’s out of date? I wasn’t sure what invalid meant.

coylemj

Marlay wrote: »

Assuming you are flying from Ireland to the UK that is not a domestic flight. Passport needs to be valid:

I think you mean the Republic of Ireland. If the OP is flying from Belfast then Ryanair state the following ID requirement for a UK domestic flight....

Any photo ID which matches the passenger name in the booking.

BengaLover

Yeah Republic of Ireland to uk

coylemj

BengaLover wrote: »

Yeah Republic of Ireland to uk

Which is not a 'domestic' flight as it's between two countries. Sorry if that sounds pedantic but you put it in the thread title.

Even though most airlines except Ryanair treat it as one. Aer Lingus will accept virtually anything with your photo on it to fly to the UK.

Littlehorny

I flew to England a few years ago with an expired passport but flew Aer Lingus to be sure. I heard at the time that Ryanair wouldn't accept it.

stargazer 68

BengaLover wrote: »

Hi all, can I use an expired passport to fly to uk? It expired a month ago. Flying with Ryanair. Thank you

You can't travel with Ryanair on an expired passport. Apply online for new one and you will probably have it next week. I say probably as my son and a couple of people from work had theirs in 4 days but that was last month.

salmocab

Dovies wrote: »

You can't travel with Ryanair on an expired passport. Apply online for new one and you will probably have it next week. I say probably as my son and a couple of people from work had theirs in 4 days but that was last month.

I applied online and got it within 24 hrs two weeks ago

fxotoole

Ryanair deffo won’t let you fly from the Republic of Ireland to the UK. You need an in-date passport to do that with Ryanair.

As others have suggested, renew your passport online and you’ll have a new passport in a matter of days.

Or you could fly with another airline.

Cape Clear

shovel wrote: »

Hi.just checked out the supervalu self catering breaks site and it's a shadow of it's former self.
Where did all the holiday home breaks go to?.
For Halloween there are three options in the whole country.
A few years ago there would have been loads of options.
Lookes at Airbnb and the prices are very high with none of the usual holiday homes on offer.
Where did an affordable off season holiday home go??

Gone the way of the Celtic Tiger I'm afraid!

From my own experience I rented a cottage in Kenmare in May 2016 for €300 via supervalu. The same cottage is available this September for €795. 2 years older, colder and less homely. http://www.rentacottage.ie/property-details.html/kenmare-holiday-village-kenmare-holiday-village-1-25?check_in=08%2F09%2F2018&check_out=15%2F09%2F2018&guests=3

There are some deals available but you need to book early and maybe go slightly off the beaten track. Not too many reasonably priced places on hotel grounds with leisure facilities out there anymore.

Zascar

https://www.groupon.ie/deals/ga-hoi-an-express-ltd-7

Just saw this and looks like a cracking deal. I was going to go for the 4 star hotels as I'm not sure I trust 3 star in vietnam. Just wondering has anyone done it and is it a safe bet to buy a grouon deal for this type of thing?

I googled and found a few similar offers reviews on trip advisor that seem to get good reviews - but not sure if they are the same.

There is another one here also including Vietnam: https://www.groupon.ie/deals/ga-halong-tours-booking-207

Thoughts?

whomitconcerns

There's no flights included! I'd keep looking if I was you

shygal

Zascar wrote: »

https://www.groupon.ie/deals/ga-hoi-an-express-ltd-7

Just saw this and looks like a cracking deal. I was going to go for the 4 star hotels as I'm not sure I trust 3 star in vietnam. Just wondering has anyone done it and is it a safe bet to buy a grouon deal for this type of thing?

I googled and found a few similar offers reviews on trip advisor that seem to get good reviews - but not sure if they are the same.

There is another one here also including Vietnam: https://www.groupon.ie/deals/ga-halong-tours-booking-207

Thoughts?

Why dont you trust 3 star hotels?

harr

Plus you have to purchase two coupons to get the offer so no single option..

geecee

There is a single traveller option (under: room type)
It adds around 50% to the cost

I was looking at their combined Vietnam & Cambodia package and cant believe that they do not visit the Killing Fields or S21 prison camp as part of the tour when in Phnom Penh
(seems like a bit of white washing going on)

That's like going to Paris and skipping the Eifel tower and the Louvre!

JohnCleary

10 nights, 4* hotel @ €759.

You'd do it yourself for a LOT cheaper. I couldn't think of anything worse than a package / organised tour in SE Asia... everything is so easy to do yourself and your have flexibility (and it's cheap).

In Hanoi / Saigon you were paying approx. €30 for a nice room (hotel with a pool) per night... goes way cheaper, if you're that way inclined.

Applied online for OH passport on Sunday evening. Passport arrived today, Tuesday. Now that's a great service.

cojobt

Hi,

I'm flying to Faro from Belfast on Aug 1, returning Malaga to Belfast Aug 6, but my Irish passport expires on August 18th.

Does anyone know if this will be a problem? Flying with easyJet. They said check with consulate.

coylemj

Not a problem if travelling to the EU, US or Canada. Passport only needs to be valid during your trip, you don't need 3-6 months extra validity.

cojobt

Ok. Thanks for your reply. That's good to hear. Do you have experience of this? Flying back on Aug 6th, passport expires 18th.

goingnowhere

As posted above for EU travel an EU passport need only be in date on the dates you are travelling

Its against EU law to insist on any kind of additional buffer time

coylemj

cojobt wrote: »

Ok. Thanks for your reply. That's good to hear. Do you have experience of this? Flying back on Aug 6th, passport expires 18th.

I don't have any 'experience' of travelling in the EU with a soon to expire passport but I once visited the US with a passport with 6 weeks remaining and they never remarked on it.

This has been asked and answered here many times, the answer is the same.

In an extreme case, you only need the passport to be current when you arrive in an EU country, they wouldn't stop you flying home if it had expired (ok, Ryanair might) because they know that your home country will readmit you even if your passport has expired.

cojobt

Great, thanks for the responses. You've put my mind at ease. I was worrying about spending a day queuing in Molesworth Street.

Speedsie

cojobt wrote: »

Great, thanks for the responses. You've put my mind at ease. I was worrying about spending a day queuing in Molesworth Street.

You'd be a long time waiting on Molesworth St, they moved to Mount St a few years ago.

I accidentally traveled to Spain on a passport that expired the day before. Only discovered when I went through Spanish security. They were fine with it, but I had to get an emergency passport to return to Ireland, and my expired one taken off me in the Consular office.

If you have a few days left on it, you'll be fine.

my3cents

But don't worry another offer will be around soon. I was about to book with a 25% offer when the 30% landed in my inbox.

Pay the extra €12 each way and you can change the booking anytime and keep the 30% discount but you will pay any extra if you change to travelling at a more expensive time.

30% off sale: Valid on Irish Sea routes. Book online and 48hrs in advance, and by midnight 1st August 2018. Travel to 18 December 2018. Includes cruise ferry and Dublin Swift fast ferry sailings. Excludes following July & August sailings: Swift 11:30 (Sat to Mon) & 14:15 and Epsilon 14:30 and 08:30 (Sat only).New bookings only. Subject to availability. Excludes: freight, bicycles, foot passengers, Sail Rail, land-bridge, inclusive holidays, Tesco travel tokens or any other 3rd party arrangements.Fees for non-web bookings apply. Standard terms & conditions of booking & travel apply. Irish Ferries reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time..

https://www.irishferries.com/ie-en/specials-from-Ireland-to-Britain/Special-offers/

Agent_47

Am trying with difficulty to get any reduction in cost, only if I stay overnight at least 2 nights will the price drop. I only want to drive over and collect an item and drive back that night.

Would I be better trying two single fares? It is tracking all my permutations but the cost for a day return is €230, dropping to €120 if I overnight stay

Odyssey 2005

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Applied online for OH passport on Sunday evening. Passport arrived today, Tuesday. Now that's a great service.

Did the same this week. Oh applied on Sunday evening, passport arrived this morning (wed). Fantastic service they seem to have gotten their house in order.

my3cents

Agent_47 wrote: »

Am trying with difficulty to get any reduction in cost, only if I stay overnight at least 2 nights will the price drop. I only want to drive over and collect an item and drive back that night.

Would I be better trying two single fares? It is tracking all my permutations but the cost for a day return is €230, dropping to €120 if I overnight stay

That sounds about right depending on the day. I always travel on a Wednesday night (Rosslare to Penbroke) and thats normally less than €80 the one way with discounts. I come back on a Wednesday during the day from Pembroke to Rosslare and thats a bit more expensive at about €90.

With the current 30% off I'm getting € 123.90 (in total for both trips) booking those times for the first Wednesday in September and returning a week later.

When I try and book returning the same say or just a day later the discount goes off and it wants full price.

So the offer is no good if you want to return the same day

salmocab

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Did the same this week. Oh applied on Sunday evening, passport arrived this morning (wed). Fantastic service they seem to have gotten their house in order.

I’d say the online thing is completely automated with the only human interaction the person popping it into the envelope. All the online applications are the straight forward adult renewals.

fxotoole

salmocab wrote: »

I’d say the online thing is completely automated with the only human interaction the person popping it into the envelope. All the online applications are the straight forward adult renewals.

It's mostly automated, yes. Since they're renewals, the passport office already have all the data from the previous applications, so minimal checking is required.

Other categories are to be moved online over the next few years, which will also improve the service.

Caranica

fxotoole wrote: »

It's mostly automated, yes. Since they're renewals, the passport office already have all the data from the previous applications, so minimal checking is required.

Other categories are to be moved online over the next few years, which will also improve the service.

I was told all renewals online by the end of the year

Lashes28

Just back from the guards station. Trying to renew our sons passport but the guards wouldn't sign it because he said he didn't personally know us,that we need to bring it to a priest,bank manager or school teacher that would know us. Did we just get an eejit of a guard or is this a new thing?!? The only one I'd know is a school teacher but they are out for holidays?!

Under His Eye

Only a guard can sign it.

treascon

Under His Eye wrote: »

Only a guard can sign it.

Completely incorrect information. There is a list of people who can sign the form with the additional information sheet or I’m sure it’s available online. Anyway to the op you were unlucky in that you got a really unhelpful person! I would just go in again and hopefully get someone else. Just more hassle for you though

Lashes28

He was bout 12 ! Great thanks. I will go back again tomorrow