travel to uk with drivers licence??

bungaro79

i'm heading to the uk for a weekend in early february. my passport is out of date in the middle of march, is it ok to travel using my driving licence (i'll bring my passport to the airport regardless!).

Skuxx

Which airline are you going with? From memory I think Aer Lingus accept driving licence but Ryanair require a passport! Hopefully someone else will know for sure!

Stheno

Skuxx wrote: »

Which airline are you going with? From memory I think Aer Lingus accept driving licence but Ryanair require a passport! Hopefully someone else will know for sure!

Yeah ryanair require a passport, the rest of the airlines will take drivers licence

bungaro79

thanks lads, going with aer lingus so hoping the drivers licence will do. i know that some countries want you to have at least 6 months left on the passport before travelling but i'm wondering if the passport will be ok even thought there will be a month left since its only travel to the uk

coylemj

bungaro79 wrote: »

thanks lads, going with aer lingus so hoping the drivers licence will do. i know that some countries want you to have at least 6 months left on the passport before travelling but i'm wondering if the passport will be ok even thought there will be a month left since its only travel to the uk

That 6 month rule doesn't apply for travel within the EU and you don't need a passport either to travel with Aer Lingus or for entry to the UK because of the common travel area. You're basically worrying about nothing, bring the passport and you'll be fine but even if your passport had expired, the driving licence would suffice for Aer Lingus.

Although technically you don't need it, it's better to have your passport, especially when coming back as the folk in the UK airports sometimes aren't as well up on the requirements as the people in Dublin airport.

Travel between Ireland and the UK or UK Domestic travel

Citizens of Ireland and the UK must carry some form of official photo identification.

Note: In order to travel between Ireland and the UK with photo identification other than a passport, passengers must have been born in Ireland or the UK and also be a citizen of either country.

The following forms of photo identification are acceptable:

• Valid Passport
• Driver's licence with photo
• International student card
• National ID card / Government issued photo ID cards
• Health Insurance cards with photo / Social security cards with photo
• Bus pass with photo
• Work ID with photo

http://www.aerlingus.com/travelinformation/knowbeforeyoufly/visaspassports/

Marcusm

coylemj wrote: »

Although technically you don't need it, it's better to have your passport, especially when coming back as the folk in the UK airports sometimes aren't as well up on the requirements as the people in Dublin airport.

]

I'm going to challenge you on that one! I've never experienced an issue with anyone at a UK port of entry (sea or air port) looking for a passport but have had it demanded at Kerry, Galway, Knock and (repeatedly) Dublin. In Dublin, I even had one of the guards (who must have dealt with me 10 times in 3 months) state that I had to carry government ID at all times while on the street in Ireland! I'm Irish born, and bred albeit living in the UK for more than 10 years.

I guess in part it's a fault of the airports which, unlike the UK ones, don't segregate the CTA travellers.

coylemj

Marcusm wrote: »

I'm going to challenge you on that one! I've never experienced an issue with anyone at a UK port of entry (sea or air port) looking for a passport......

I was only referring to departure, I haven't been asked for ID when entering the UK in many years. Sometimes when you're departing from one of the smaller UK airports and show Sharon your Irish driving licence or an employee ID with photo, she will call Tanya over to see if it's ok, it's just that type of 'issue' that I'm referring to.

A passport gets you through the gate first time with no delays so I've given up on any other type of document, purely to reduce stress levels when coming home.