Common Travel Area: What is it, and how can it help travellers without a passport?

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Yet thanks to agreements stretching back a century, British travellers can venture without a passport anywhere within the Common Travel Area. To Ireland from Great Britain The Irish government says: “There is no requirement for Irish and British citizens to carry passports when travelling within the Common Travel Area. All other travellers require a valid passport to travel between the two countries.” Aer Lingus says acceptable identification includes: Valid passport or Irish passport card Driver’s licence with photo International student card Government issued photo ID cards Health insurance cards with photo/social security cards with photo Bus pass with photo Work ID with photo Ferry companies follow the Aer Lingus policy, broadly. To Ireland from Northern Ireland The Irish government says: “For journeys on and across the island of Ireland, British and Irish citizens do not require any travel documents.” To the Isle of Man No passport necessary.