ChatterBank6 mins ago
passport
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If you are a UK citizen you do not need a passport to go to the Irish Republic. Similarly Irish citizens do not need a passport to travel to the UK. There are no government immigration checks in either direction.
However, airlines need to check the identity of their passengers for security reasons. Different airlines have different policies on what they will accept. Passports, photo driving licences and official EU identity cards are invariably acceptable. Some airlines (ie not Ryanair) will accept other photo ids.
The UK and Ireland form a Common Travel Area
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Travel_Area
for an explanation. You need ID, not a passport, though that is OK if you have one.
According to the Edinburgh Airport website, the only scheduled flights on this route are operated by Ryanair and Aer Lingus.
The Aer Lingus policy on Photo ID is as follows:
"Irish passengers travelling to the U.K. are not required to carry their passport however it is still required to bring either a passport or some form of official photo identification when travelling to the U.K. You will often have to produce your passport when registering at hotels or cashing travellers cheques.
Passengers under 16 years travelling to the UK from Ireland, need not have their own passport or be named on their parent's passport, however it is advisable that they bring some form of identification (e.g. birth certificate, bus pass or student card) if possible. The following ID are accepted:
o Valid Passport
o Driver�s licence with photo
o International student card
o National ID card / Government issued photo ID cards
o Health Insurance cards with photo / Social security cards with photo
o Bus pass with photo
o Work ID with photo"
Ryanair has this policy on Photo-ID:
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=p id&quest=photoid
Chris