Travelling on Ferries Between Ireland and the UK? Have Your Passport Ready

New Passport Requirement from Irish Ferry Operators

Planning to take a ferry from Ireland to the UK or vice versa? You will now have to carry your passport or Irish passport card to check in with your ferry operator.

Effective from 28 September 2026 onwards, no other identity documents (like a driving licence, a national ID card or such other photo ID documents), which were previously acceptable under the Common Travel Area (CTA) agreement, can be used to board a ferry between Ireland and the UK.

Irish ferry operators have recently informed their passengers of this new requirement. This is to comply with UK border control requirements with regard to the accuracy and integrity of passenger data before boarding. It applies to passengers of all nationalities, including British and Irish citizens.

What If I Am an Irish or British Citizen?

A valid, current passport is now mandatory for all passengers before they can board a ferry from Ireland to the UK or vice versa. Even if you are a British or Irish citizen, you will have to carry your passport to travel by ferry.

Irish Ferries advised passengers that this new rule was now applicable to their Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Pembroke routes, in both directions.

Stena Line, another prominent ferry operator, announced that everyone travelling from Dublin, Holyhead, Fishguard or Rosslare ports would be required to present their valid passport during check-in.

Both operators will accept the Irish passport card as well.

Do I Need an Entry Permit, Like a Visa or an ETA?

British and Irish passport holders do not require a visa or electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel between the two countries owing to the CTA agreement in place. If you are a third-country national, you may need a valid UK visa or an ETA to enter Britain depending on your nationality.

Non-visa nationals (e.g., those from an EU/EEA country, the US, Australia, Canada, etc.) coming to the UK for a short stay (i.e., six months or less) for tourism, business, visiting family/friends, short-term study, or landside transit, will have to apply for an ETA. If they are going to work in the UK or stay for more than six months, they will have to obtain an appropriate UK visa.

Visa-required nationals will have to apply for a visit visa for short-stays. If they are coming to the UK to work, study, join family, or run a business, they will need to obtain a suitable visa first.

If you already hold a multiple-entry Standard Visitor visa or leave to remain in the UK, you will not have to apply again for a visa to travel to Britain from Ireland.

My Passport Is Expiring/Has Expired. What Shall I Do?

If your passport or Irish passport card is about to expire, or has already expired, and you have an upcoming ferry trip between Ireland and the UK, apply immediately for a passport renewal or submit a fresh application. If your child does not have a passport yet, you will have to apply for their first passport.

Renewing your British or Irish passport, or applying for a fresh one, looks like a straightforward process on paper, but can be fairly complex and time-consuming depending on your circumstance.

You will have to adhere to the application/renewal process and ensure your digital photo and other supporting documents meet the Home Office (for British passport) or Immigration Service Delivery (for Irish passport or passport card) guidelines to avoid any unnecessary delay.

Contact IAS

Our team of UK and Irish immigration law experts can help you apply for a new passport or renew your expiring one. Call our UK office on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or our Ireland office on +353 19039449 for prompt help with your passport application/renewal or visa/ETA application.