From Monday, September 28, passengers travelling on the Holyhead to Dublin ferry route must carry a valid passport. This change applies to all travellers, including Irish and UK citizens, and replaces previously accepted photo ID such as driving licences.
Major ferry companies, including Stena Line and Irish Ferries, have announced they will only accept passports as photo ID for all passengers on this route. The new rule comes from strict UK Border Force guidelines about accurate passenger data before boarding.
Common Travel Area and border requirements
Under the Common Travel Area (CTA) agreement, British and Irish citizens do not legally need a passport to travel between the two countries. However, more travel companies now require passports to meet border processing rules. This change brings ferry travel in line with the document checks many airlines already use.
The rule applies to ferry routes between Holyhead and Dublin and between Fishguard and Rosslare. It affects everyone, regardless of age or nationality. Alternative photo IDs, such as driving licences, will not be accepted for British and Irish citizens on these routes. These restrictions do not apply to ferry routes that travel via Belfast, Liverpool, Cairnryan, or Heysham.
Advice for passengers and upcoming cash ban
Irish Ferries advises Irish and UK citizens travelling after September 28 to make sure they have a valid passport or Irish passport card before arriving at the port. This will help avoid delays or problems with their journey. The Irish Ferries Customer Service Team is contacting customers with existing bookings to help them with this new requirement.
There are calls to delay implementation to give passengers more time to get passports if they don't already have one. Next week, another change will take effect at Holyhead Port: from October 1, 2026, the port will no longer accept cash, and payments can only be made by debit or credit card. For more information on travel requirements to Ireland, check the UK Foreign Office website.
