Flying to UK without a passport?

Andy From Sligo

worth an ask - I have no passport at the moment, no passport at all. when I want to fly over to UK in the past I have had to go with flybe from knock to Birmingham because they accept a Driving Licence as ID - my preferred route is knock to Luton by Ryaniar but they wont (or didnt used to) accept drivers licence as ID and want a passport.

Just wondering why one airline will accept drivers licence and the other doesnt? - is it just different policy, or red tape or is there something more to it. and does anyone have any other workaround of flying with Ryanair without a passport?

thanks.

goingnowhere

Aer Lingus, BA, CityJet, Flybe all accept drivers licences

Andy From Sligo

goingnowhere wrote: »

Aer Lingus, BA, CityJet, Flybe all accept drivers licences

ya but none of them dont do a knock to luton run

goingnowhere

Aer Lingus do operate Knock Gatwick however

Andy From Sligo

goingnowhere wrote: »

Aer Lingus do operate Knock Gatwick however

yeah done that journey before, longer journey

El Tarangu

Would it not be easier to just get a passport - is there some reason that you don't want/can't get a passport?

jester77

The online application only takes a few days. I had to renew mine last week, took a photo with my phone and filled in the form on a Sunday evening. Took less than 15 mins to complete. Had my passport 4 days later on the Thursday. I'm living in Germany so you would probably get it even quicker in Ireland.

meeeeh

jester77 wrote: »

The online application only takes a few days. I had to renew mine last week, took a photo with my phone and filled in the form on a Sunday evening. Took less than 15 mins to complete. Had my passport 4 days later on the Thursday. I'm living in Germany so you would probably get it even quicker in Ireland.

If he has no passport it will take longer, renewals are different.

That being said op get a passport.

Andy From Sligo

El Tarangu wrote: »

Would it not be easier to just get a passport - is there some reason that you don't want/can't get a passport?

it would have to be a UK passport even though I have been resident in ireland for over 25years - to get an Irish passport would cost me over a thousand euro - and i dont go travelling a enough to warrant getting a passport if truth be told

RossieMan

Just get a UK one then?

You seem to be trying to make a problem were there isn't one.

Andy From Sligo

RossieMan wrote: »

Just get a UK one then?

You seem to be trying to make a problem were there isn't one.

hmm, still a couple of hundred euro and apply in person in dublin , think I checked it out before - I am not trying to make a problem, i asked did anyone know of a workaround of going with ryanair without a passport or know why they wannt a passport when the others will just accept a drivers licence

Deagol

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

hmm, still a couple of hundred euro and apply in person in dublin , think I checked it out before - I am not trying to make a problem, i asked did anyone know of a workaround of going with ryanair without a passport or know why they wannt a passport when the others will just accept a drivers licence

My impression is you are trying to make a short story long.. To get a UK passport you just need to fill in the online downloadable form, get it and a couple of photos signed by a garda and send it off. It's done in Belfast and you get it back a couple of weeks later. Cost is a little of 100euro last time I did it as far as I remember.

Andy From Sligo

Deagol wrote: »

My impression is you are trying to make a short story long.. To get a UK passport you just need to fill in the online downloadable form, get it and a couple of photos signed by a garda and send it off. It's done in Belfast and you get it back a couple of weeks later. Cost is a little of 100euro last time I did it as far as I remember.

well thanks - thats different to what I read when i was reading it up before on the internet, it was talking about going up to the UK embassy in dublin and proving who you are etc... that was a few years back I read that. Must have changed it. With your info I will read up again on it

stargazer 68

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

well thanks - thats different to what I read when i was reading it up before on the internet, it was talking about going up to the UK embassy in dublin and proving who you are etc... that was a few years back I read that. Must have changed it. With your info I will read up again on it

You may be called to the Embassy to verify your identity but that's just 'luck of the draw' thing.

zoe 3619

Is it your first passport or a renewal?
I recently renewed a uk passport-all done on line in a few minutes,including uploading photos of myself from the phone.
Came very quickly by courier and cost around a hundred euro.

Andy From Sligo

zoe 3619 wrote: »

Is it your first passport or a renewal?
I recently renewed a uk passport-all done on line in a few minutes,including uploading photos of myself from the phone.
Came very quickly by courier and cost around a hundred euro.

First passport applying in Ireland as a British citizen resident in Ireland since 1991. My last one run out in Ireland in the 90's and at that time, and for a time onwards Ryanair were just accepting my Irish drivers licence in place of a passport, then they changed all that in a course of time and was not accepting drivers licence as ID any more so had to fly with FlyBe or aer lingus who still accepted drivers licence.

L1011

Ryanair want to minimise the risk of being made bring someone back and have the strictest document rules and checks possible as a result. It's either get a passport or don't fly Ryanair, they aren't going to change

Andy From Sligo

looks like i will have to go passport route then - will negate getting/looking for cheap flight over to UK , but then I suppose at least I will have a passport for the future should I want to fly to spain or france or somewhere . Blimey, our neighbours (UK) and part of europe (at the moment for another 6 months anyway) and you need a passport like its some foreign country

killbillvol2

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

looks like i will have to go passport route then - will negate getting/looking for cheap flight over to UK , but then I suppose at least I will have a passport for the future should I want to fly to spain or france or somewhere . Blimey, our neighbours (UK) and part of europe (at the moment for another 6 months anyway) and you need a passport like its some foreign country

Eh, it is a foreign country?

Andy From Sligo

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Eh, it is a foreign country?

well ..... technically yes .. but hey , we are all after all in europe (at the moment)

Caranica

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

looks like i will have to go passport route then - will negate getting/looking for cheap flight over to UK , but then I suppose at least I will have a passport for the future should I want to fly to spain or france or somewhere . Blimey, our neighbours (UK) and part of europe (at the moment for another 6 months anyway) and you need a passport like its some foreign country

If you don't like it, fly another airline! Or get the boat. If you want a bargain use sail and rail or bus and ferry deals

ted1

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Eh, it is a foreign country?

well ..... technically yes .. but hey , we are all after all in europe (at the moment)

Its outside the Schengen area

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/eu-citizen/indexamp_en.htm

dingding

Might be worth getting one with brexit coming. With the closed boarders, The UK might not be to happy to have undocumented people trying to enter. Look at the recent windrush case where people living in the UK since the 50s were barred entry. Only a matter of time before everyone will need to scan a passport to get into the UK, what with the terrorism risk and all.

dingding

ted1 wrote: »

Its outside the Schengen area

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/eu-citizen/indexamp_en.htm

And it forces Ireland to be outside the Schengen area or else there will be a border in NI. With Brexit is there a case for Ireland to join Schengen.

Andy From Sligo

[QUOTE=Caranica;107876108]If you don't like it, fly another airline! Or get the boat. If you want a bargain use sail and rail or bus and ferry deals[/QUOTE]

didnt say I didnt like it - I asked why the other airlines will accept a drivers licence as ID but Ryanair dont any more (they used to few years back) and if anyone knew if there was a workaround or another way to fly by ryanair from Ireland to UK without having a passport ... (obviously now reading the posts it seems there isnt)

coylemj

dingding wrote: »

With Brexit is there a case for Ireland to join Schengen.

Definitely not. You cannot have an open border between Schengen and non-Schengen countries. The agreement known as the Common Travel Area would be scrapped if we signed up for Schengen so everyone would need a passport to fly to GB and even to cross the border into NI.

dingding

Looking at it from a UK perspective under the current scheme, say a person wants to enter the UK to carry out an illegal act, they just have to fly into Dublin, and enter the UK through Dublin Port - Holyhead with no checks. The open boarder with the UK would need the same rigour to be applied at Irish airports as UK airports and ports.

The irish driving license, the pink type must be one of the easiest documents to forge with no security features.

They could also change in Dublin and fly into the UK but they they may be picked up at one of the airports. Say they fly to bristol, the driving license will get them on the plane, only checked by airline and no checks in the UK.

ted1

dingding wrote: »

Looking at it from a UK perspective under the current scheme, say a person wants to enter the UK to carry out an illegal act, they just have to fly into Dublin, and enter the UK through Dublin Port - Holyhead with no checks. The open boarder with the UK would need the same rigour to be applied at Irish airports as UK airports and ports.

The irish driving license, the pink type must be one of the easiest documents to forge with no security features.

They could also change in Dublin and fly into the UK but they they may be picked up at one of the airports. Say they fly to bristol, the driving license will get them on the plane, only checked by airline and no checks in the UK.

If they wanted to enter the Uk they could get the bus or train to Belfast. Easier than flying.

murpho999

coylemj wrote: »

Definitely not. You cannot have an open border between Schengen and non-Schengen countries. The agreement known as the Common Travel Area would be scrapped if we signed up for Schengen so everyone would need a passport to fly to GB and even to cross the border into NI.

If there is a hard Brexit, which is probable, and a border comes back then why would we not join Schengen?

Also, I don't get OP's problem with getting a passport but could you get to Belfast and fly to Luton from there with Easyjet, no passport required?

murpho999

dingding wrote: »

Looking at it from a UK perspective under the current scheme, say a person wants to enter the UK to carry out an illegal act, they just have to fly into Dublin, and enter the UK through Dublin Port - Holyhead with no checks. The open boarder with the UK would need the same rigour to be applied at Irish airports as UK airports and ports.

The irish driving license, the pink type must be one of the easiest documents to forge with no security features.

They could also change in Dublin and fly into the UK but they they may be picked up at one of the airports. Say they fly to bristol, the driving license will get them on the plane, only checked by airline and no checks in the UK.

What other type is there?

The new credit card size licence (also pink) has new security features that make forgery difficult.

Either way UK & Ireland is a free travel zone as agreed by treaty so the scenario you describe has existed for decades, even at the height of the troubles, it's only Ryanair who have implemented the passport policy, not UK border forces.

PlaneSpeeking

jester77 wrote: »

The online application only takes a few days. I had to renew mine last week, took a photo with my phone and filled in the form on a Sunday evening. Took less than 15 mins to complete. Had my passport 4 days later on the Thursday. I'm living in Germany so you would probably get it even quicker in Ireland.

Got my renewal online in 3 - amazing service!

Mint Sauce

Getting a GB Passport is quick and easy as well Andy if you have had one previously. I did mine last year, on line part done in about 15/20 minutes, print off the forms to verify your identity, gives you a whole list of who can confirm it, including Nurses, Publicans, Clergy, Government Officals, etc etc, send the forms off to Belfast, and will have back in the next week or two.

My Irish Passport took 5-6 weeks to renew, but this was just before the On Line option was launched.

Do you have any other right to Irish Passport such as parents, etc, etc. Should not cost a €1000 if so.

Other than that, fly with another Airline, and from/to a different Airport.

Andy From Sligo

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Getting a GB Passport is quick and easy as well Andy if you have had one previously. I did mine last year, on line part done in about 15/20 minutes, print off the forms to verify your identity, gives you a whole list of who can confirm it, including Nurses, Publicans, Clergy, Government Officals, etc etc, send the forms off to Belfast, and will have back in the next week or two.

My Irish Passport took 5-6 weeks to renew, but this was just before the On Line option was launched.

Do you have any other right to Irish Passport such as parents, etc, etc. Should not cost a €1000 if so.

Other than that, fly with another Airline, and from/to a different Airport.

God, I have an existing out of date UK passport from the 90's if I havent chucked it out at some stage - so the form has to go back to belfast then not Dublin, right I didnt know that.

the wife has dual nationality , kids have Irish passports - its just me the odd one out (odd being the right word)

not good being a passenger in a car for long journeys, dunno how I would be on a trip from sligo to Belfast drive whats that about 2 and half hours drive is it?- thats why I wanted to go to knockairport only about 30 mins and a hour flight to luton and no long car travel in UK getting from another airport to see the rest of the family in Luton.

Caranica

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

God, I have an existing out of date UK passport from the 90's if I havent chucked it out at some stage - so the form has to go back to belfast then not Dublin, right I didnt know that.

the wife has dual nationality , kids have Irish passports - its just me the odd one out (odd being the right word)

not good being a passenger in a car for long journeys, dunno how I would be on a trip from sligo to Belfast drive whats that about 2 and half hours drive is it?- thats why I wanted to go to knockairport only about 30 mins and a hour flight to luton and no long car travel in UK getting from another airport to see the rest of the family in Luton.

You need to find solutions not more problems. There's always a way. Start with looking for your old passport

SteM

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Getting a GB Passport is quick and easy as well Andy if you have had one previously. I did mine last year, on line part done in about 15/20 minutes, print off the forms to verify your identity, gives you a whole list of who can confirm it, including Nurses, Publicans, Clergy, Government Officals, etc etc, send the forms off to Belfast, and will have back in the next week or two.

My Irish Passport took 5-6 weeks to renew, but this was just before the On Line option was launched.

Do you have any other right to Irish Passport such as parents, etc, etc. Should not cost a €1000 if so.

Other than that, fly with another Airline, and from/to a different Airport.

Publicans!? Really? Wow. :eek:

Andy From Sligo

SteM wrote: »

Publicans!? Really? Wow. :eek:

if they know you then why not LOL

coylemj

murpho999 wrote: »

If there is a hard Brexit, which is probable, and a border comes back then why would we not join Schengen?

If we joined Schengen, the first thing that would happen is that all of the would-be refugees currently camped out in Calais (all of whom ultimately are seeking to get to the UK) would be on the next ferry to Rosslare.

rainbow kirby

SteM wrote: »

Publicans!? Really? Wow. :eek:

The list of occupations who can sign a British passport application is much broader than for Irish ones.

Mint Sauce

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

God, I have an existing out of date UK passport from the 90's if I havent chucked it out at some stage - so the form has to go back to belfast then not Dublin, right I didnt know that.

the wife has dual nationality , kids have Irish passports - its just me the odd one out (odd being the right word)

not good being a passenger in a car for long journeys, dunno how I would be on a trip from sligo to Belfast drive whats that about 2 and half hours drive is it?- thats why I wanted to go to knockairport only about 30 mins and a hour flight to luton and no long car travel in UK getting from another airport to see the rest of the family in Luton.

You apply through gov.uk. The printed forms you return to the GB Passport office in Belfast, am guessing this is down to having an Irish address.

My previous GB Passport has expired 10 years previously (still had it), and easier, and probably more straight foeward, than renewing my Irish Passport through the then Passport Express, which had only expired that month.

SteM wrote: »

Publicans!? Really? Wow. :eek:

Yes. Generally, for UK residents, its a member of the Clergy and/or one or two occupations that can verify identity. If out side the UK the list is much more extensive, but the Passport office will ask for the their ID, address, contact details, etc etc, if they require further infomation.

dingding

murpho999 wrote: »

What other type is there?

The new credit card size licence (also pink) has new security features that make forgery difficult.

Either way UK & Ireland is a free travel zone as agreed by treaty so the scenario you describe has existed for decades, even at the height of the troubles, it's only Ryanair who have implemented the passport policy, not UK border forces.

I ment the cardboard one that every transition year has copied to allow them to drink.

Anyone with a scanner, a colour printer and photoshop would be able to gt by the quick ryanair check as you board the aircraft.

Mint Sauce

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

God, I have an existing out of date UK passport from the 90's if I havent chucked it out at some stage - so the form has to go back to belfast then not Dublin, right I didnt know that.

the wife has dual nationality , kids have Irish passports - its just me the odd one out (odd being the right word)

not good being a passenger in a car for long journeys, dunno how I would be on a trip from sligo to Belfast drive whats that about 2 and half hours drive is it?- thats why I wanted to go to knockairport only about 30 mins and a hour flight to luton and no long car travel in UK getting from another airport to see the rest of the family in Luton.

Aer Lingus to Gatwick, and ThamesLink Trains, from Gatwick to Luton, may be an option if you cant get the Passport in time.

dingding

Birmingham to Luton would be about the same by train, a couple of hours, might be another option from Knock. IF FlyBe ID policy allowed driving licenses.

Caranica

dingding wrote: »

Birmingham to Luton would be about the same by train, a couple of hours, might be another option from Knock. IF FlyBe ID policy allowed driving licenses.

They do

Andy From Sligo

Mint Sauce wrote: »

You apply through gov.uk. The printed forms you return to the GB Passport office in Belfast, am guessing this is down to having an Irish address.

My previous GB Passport has expired 10 years previously (still had it), and easier, and probably more straight foeward, than renewing my Irish Passport through the then Passport Express, which had only expired that month.



Yes. Generally, for UK residents, its a member of the Clergy and/or one or two occupations that can verify identity. If out side the UK the list is much more extensive, but the Passport office will ask for the their ID, address, contact details, etc etc, if they require further infomation.

thanks - yep I shall have to get one

Andy From Sligo

train journeys got awful expensive in UK

i'd say Birmingham to Luton pretty pricey

Mint Sauce

Andy From Sligo wrote: »

train journeys got awful expensive in UK

i'd say Birmingham to Luton pretty pricey

Train journeys can be booked up to three months in advance, and can work cheaper if you book a specific service/route. Bear in mind though, if you do book to be on the 3.30pm from birmingham, dont get on the 3.20 or 3.40. You can be fined, fined plus the full fare, fined and put off and the next stop, etc etc etc.

Check out thetrainline.com

CeilingFly

You're in sligo. There's a bus to Dublin airport.

Then take a flight with an airline that accepts driving licence.

It really is that simple.

dingding

TRain Sligo to Luton about 150 return (depending on service) including ferry.

https://www.thetrainline.com/information/rail-and-sail

What about if you went over the border and flew from there? What ID would be required for say an Easy jet. flight to luton

Andy From Sligo

Deleted User wrote: »

What about if you went over the border and flew from there? What ID would be required for say an Easy jet. flight to luton

i dont know - I shall have to check that out.

Andy From Sligo

CeilingFly wrote: »

You're in sligo. There's a bus to Dublin airport.

Then take a flight with an airline that accepts driving licence.

It really is that simple.

but as i said , not good as a passenger in a car on long journeys (travel sick even with a travel sick tablet), not good as a driver on long journeys (tend to get tired and nearly fall asleep :eek:) - don't like busses (travel sick & other passengers on the bus :eek:)

i'm a nightmare of a person really - I cannot even stand flying (think the plane is going to crash and hate turbulence) ferry takes too long and long ol journey (2 and half hours to dublin - 4 hours on ferry - 4 hours to get from wales to luton - god what a lousy long trip!)

what I could do with is for someone to knock me out with an injection then fall asleep in Sligo and wake up in Luton airport ... that would be grand . I bet Sligo general could arrange that