U.K. and Ireland - Belfast to Dublin via train for US Citizen

I'll be taking the enterprise train service from Belfast to Dublin in a few months.

Last year, when I went to Ireland, they gave me a passport stamp good for 90 days. I assume they may stamp me in the UK, if they choose to do so - but do I need anything else to cross into the republic? Will they do passport stuff on the train, or just let it be?

I am a US citizen/passport holder...

Although it's been years since I did this journey, I don't recall there ever being any passport checks.

Add Content

There are no passport checks - I've made this trip many times over many years. The UK and Ireland form a "Common Travel Area":

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/customs-travel/Enteringtheuk/arrivingatukborder/travellingtocommontravelarea/

One thing to note though if you do the journey in reverse is that the Republic of Ireland usually grants leave to enter for 90 days while the UK grants it for 6 months.

If you enter the CTA via Ireland and then travel to the UK without being examined by a UK Immigration Officer, you are restricted to 90 days (or whatever period of stay is granted by the Gardai) within the CTA rather than the 6 months that would usually be granted by default if you enter via the UK. If however, you hold a UK visa or entry clearance with a different condition, that would take precedence for the portion of time spent in the UK, but would be considered to have started on the day you entered the CTA.

eg. US citizen enters the CTA in Ireland and is granted 90 days stay. This 90 day stay applies to the full extent of their stay in both the RoI and the UK.

eg. Indian citizen holding a UK C-VISIT visa (180 day stay in the UK) enters the CTA in Ireland and is granted 90 days stay. The 90 day stay limit applies only to their stay in the RoI and they may stay the remainder of the 180 days granted by the visa in the UK. The 180 day clock however starts from the date that they entered Ireland and not on the date they entered the UK.

Thanks everyone. Sounds like no issue, I won't be doing the trip in reverse and will only be in both counties for two weeks total.

There are occasional passport checks on the train, but if there isn't one, you don't have to do anything.

One thing to note though if you do the journey in reverse is that the Republic of Ireland usually grants leave to enter for 90 days while the UK grants it for 6 months.

If you enter the CTA via Ireland and then travel to the UK without being examined by a UK Immigration Officer, you are restricted to 90 days (or whatever period of stay is granted by the Gardai) within the CTA rather than the 6 months that would usually be granted by default if you enter via the UK. If however, you hold a UK visa or entry clearance with a different condition, that would take precedence for the portion of time spent in the UK, but would be considered to have started on the day you entered the CTA.

eg. US citizen enters the CTA in Ireland and is granted 90 days stay. This 90 day stay applies to the full extent of their stay in both the RoI and the UK.

eg. Indian citizen holding a UK C-VISIT visa (180 day stay in the UK) enters the CTA in Ireland and is granted 90 days stay. The 90 day stay limit applies only to their stay in the RoI and they may stay the remainder of the 180 days granted by the visa in the UK. The 180 day clock however starts from the date that they entered Ireland and not on the date they entered the UK.

Not totally correct - Indian citizens requires both Irish and UK visas for respective countries.

Not totally correct - Indian citizens requires both Irish and UK visas for respective countries.

No. Indian citizens who hold valid class "C" visas issued by the United Kingdom and who have used this visa in the past to enter the United Kingdom may travel to Ireland without having to obtain an Irish visa (even if they exit the CTA following their entry to the UK).

No. Indian citizens who hold valid class "C" visas issued by the United Kingdom and who have used this visa in the past to enter the United Kingdom may travel to Ireland without having to obtain an Irish visa (even if they exit the CTA following their entry to the UK).

Indeed. This is quite a new arrangement.

Indeed. This is quite a new arrangement.

A much needed improvement. There is a very strong case for something in the reverse direction, at least to allow incidental visits by tourists to NI.