6
  1. Do immigration checks exist between Northern Ireland and England/Scotland? (not just for flights but also ferry/bus/train)

  2. Do immigration checks exist between the Republic of Ireland and England/Scotland?

1
  • 1
    No, but it is wise to carry some kind of photo ID when travelling between the island of Ireland and Great Britain. The Irish impose border controls on arriving air traffic from GB.
    – Calchas
    Jul 31, 2015 at 15:06

1 Answer 1

5

All of the areas you mentioned are in the so-called Common Travel Area...

The Common Travel Area (CTA) is a travel zone that comprises Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. In general, the CTA's internal borders are subject to minimal or non-existent border controls and can normally be crossed by British and Irish citizens with minimal identity documents.

The UK Border Force does not carry out routine immigration checks on travellers (regardless of nationality) arriving in the UK from another part of the CTA. However, because the Channel Islands are separate from the UK for customs purposes, it carries out selective customs checks on travellers arriving from there.

So there are no checks other than random checks.

The checks for people arriving from within the Common Travel Area to the Republic of Ireland by air or sea have some formal arrangements, but they are also largely random...

In 1997, Ireland changed its immigration legislation to allow immigration officers to examine (i.e. request identity documents from) travellers arriving in the state from elsewhere in the CTA and to refuse them permission to land if they are not entitled to enter. Although this is stated to apply only to people other than Irish and British citizens, both of the latter groups are effectively covered as they may be required to produce identity documents to prove that they are entitled to the CTA arrangements.

NOTE: although arrivals from the Irish Republic to the UK are not subject to inspection, there are some conditions where the person becomes an illegal entrant.

1
  • 5
    Although the UK does not inspect Irish passengers, if you land at Dublin airport from the UK you will be mixed with other international passengers and pass through passport control. You will need photo ID, ideally a passport or a driving licence with "place of birth" specified as in the UK/Ireland.
    – Calchas
    Jul 31, 2015 at 15:07

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .