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Passport to be required for UK-Ireland ferry crossings
UK Border Force rules will require passports or passport cards for all passengers, with no other photo ID accepted on several Irish Sea ferry routes.
On Monday, September 28, Stena Line and Irish Ferries will require all passengers to present passports on routes between Holyhead and Dublin, and Fishguard and Rosslare.
Both companies stated the change aligns ferry travel with airline document checks, ensuring compliance with UK Border Force requirements regarding the "accuracy and integrity of passenger data before boarding."
Under the Common Travel Area agreement, Irish and British citizens do not legally require passports; however, the new mandate applies to all travelers regardless of nationality, with no alternative photo ID accepted.
The Irish Ferries Customer Service Team and Stena Line are currently notifying customers with existing bookings, encouraging all travelers to verify valid documents before arriving at the port to avoid disruption.
These restrictions do not apply to routes traveling via Belfast, Liverpool, Cairnryan, or Heysham, where identification requirements remain unchanged for business and leisure passengers on those services.