Ireland ferry lines require passports for all travelers starting Sept. 28

Irish Sea ferry passengers will face stricter check-in rules starting Sept. 28, when operators end the use of driver's licenses and alternative photo IDs for boarding.

Mandatory passport rules across key routes

Irish Ferries and Stena Line will require all passengers to present a valid passport before boarding crossings between Ireland and Great Britain, the carriers confirmed. The rule applies across major links in both directions, including Dublin to Holyhead, Rosslare to Pembroke and Fishguard to Rosslare.

While the Common Travel Area permits British and Irish citizens to travel between both jurisdictions without passports under immigration law, carriers maintain the right to set stricter boarding policies. The ferry lines introduced the mandate to comply with UK Border Force standards regarding passenger data verification prior to departure.

Boarding rules and documentation standards

Every traveler must present an approved document, including infants and children. Irish Ferries accepts standard valid passports along with official Irish passport cards, while Stena Line requires a passport containing a machine-readable zone. Passenger booking details must match the travel document exactly and data mismatches can result in denied boarding at the passenger's expense.

Remote workers and overland travelers must carry physical passports rather than local driving licenses when traveling to Ireland or crossing back to Britain. Travelers holding non-Irish and non-UK citizenship should also verify whether they need an approved UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before booking a sailing toward British ports.