Brits travelling to Ireland by ferry will need a valid passport from September 28, a change that ends 100 years of passport-free travel. The new rule applies to all ferry passengers and marks the first time passports have been required for this journey in a century.
New ID Requirements for Ferry Passengers
UK Border Force will tighten its rules on the “accuracy and integrity of passenger data before boarding”. Currently, passengers are not required to show a passport but can be asked for another form of photo ID, such as a driving licence.
Ferry operators with regular crossings, including Stena Line and Irish Ferries, have informed customers of the changes. Irish Ferries said: “This is a change to the current ID accepted and means that from 28 September, no other forms of photo ID will be accepted by Irish Ferries for any passengers, including Irish and UK citizens.”
Routes Affected by the Passport Rule
“This is to ensure compliance with UK Border Force requirements relating to the accuracy and integrity of passenger data before boarding,” the company added. Stena Line operates crossings between Holyhead and Dublin, and Fishguard and Rosslare.
Irish Ferries has two routes between Britain and the Republic of Ireland: Holyhead to Dublin, and Pembroke to Rosslare. Passengers on all these routes must produce a passport, with no other ID accepted.
End of the Common Travel Area Passport-Free Zone
Passengers previously did not need passports due to the Common Travel Area (CTA), a passport-free zone including the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The CTA has existed since 1923.
A Stena Line spokesperson said: “Customers with existing bookings are currently being notified by the customer service team to ensure customers are fully supported during this change of operations.”
A spokesperson for Irish Ferries said passengers must show a passport or Irish passport card upon request when the change takes effect. “This requirement applies to all passengers, including Irish and UK citizens,” they added. “From September 28, driving licences, national identity cards and other forms of photographic identification will no longer be accepted for travel on these routes.”
