FERRY passengers travelling between Ireland and Britain will be required to carry a valid passport, it has been announced.
The UK Border Force said the change will come into effect from Monday, September 28, stating that the rules update is due to the “accuracy and integrity of passenger data before boarding”.
Passengers onboard Irish ferries are currently not always asked to show a passport but have sometimes been required to have another form of photo ID.
The rules update stated that the change “aligns ferry travel requirements with the document checks already carried out by many airlines”.
Stena Line and Irish Ferries informed customers on Wednesday that the rule will apply to all passengers regardless of age or nationality.
Stena Line said all passengers travelling between Holyhead and Dublin or Fishguard and Rosslare will now need to show a passport on departure and no other forms of ID will be accepted.
“Customers with existing bookings are currently being notified by the customer service team to ensure customers are fully supported during this change of operations,” Stena Line added.
There is no change to the ID requirements for business or leisure passengers travelling with Stena Line from Belfast.
Irish Ferries said in a statement that it is “encouraging Irish and UK citizens travelling or planning to travel after 28 September 2026 to check that they have a valid, in-date passport (or Irish passport card) before arriving at the port to avoid delays or disruption to their journey”.
Under the century-old Common Travel Area agreement, Irish and British citizens do not legally require a passport to travel between Ireland and Britain.
However, some airlines require a passport for boarding.
