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Customs/Border Question when travelling within countries

Posted by on

Hello-

Last year I flew into Glasgow from the US, and then from Inverness to Dublin to US.

Of course, I went through customs when landing in Dublin. I am planning my next trip-
flying again into Glasgow; I am thinking about flying into Belfast and then taking train to Dublin as my final destination before heading back to US.

Since Northern Ireland is part of the UK, do I have to go through customs in Belfast as a non EU resident? I'm just curious if any issues when trying to "leave" Dublin, as there would be record of entering the country. As far as I know, there are no border checkpoints between Northern Ireland and Ireland?

I hope that this isn't a stupid question!

Posted by
2980 posts

Sounds like a non issue to me.
You'll be flying from one UK location to another, so there should be no special arrival procedure.
There may be a question at Dublin airport as you depart, in which case you might retain your ticket stub for the flt into Belfast as proof of entry.
You're right, there are no border checkpoints between the North and the Republic.

Posted by
8889 posts

As Robert said, a flight from Glasgow to Belfast is a UK internal (domestic) flight. No border is crossed.
You will need to show your passport as ID when you check in for the flight; but that is an ID check by the airline, not any border authority.
Both the UK and the Republic of Ireland are part of the EU, so no customs on the land border (when you are on the train); and the two countries have a no passport agreement, so no passport checks either.

Posted by
5456 posts

It isn't just the land border where there are no official passport checks - there aren't if you travel between the UK and Ireland in either direction by ferry or from Ireland to the UK by air. It is only entering Ireland by air from the UK will you encounter them. British nationals don't need a passport at all only an ID. (It is different for those that need Visas.)

On return to the USA they can see when you entered the UK.

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