Ferry passengers must now show a passport to board UK-Ireland sailings or risk being turned away

From the Newshound archive · first published 28 September 2026 · last updated 29 September 2026.

Stena Line and Irish Ferries began refusing boarding to passengers without a valid passport on Monday on all routes between Britain and the Republic of Ireland. The change affects roughly two and a half million passengers a year sailing from Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke Dock. Driving licences, national identity cards and other photo ID are no longer accepted, despite the Common Travel Area legally permitting passport-free travel between the two countries. One Welsh tour operator, Elfyn Thomas, said customers had already cancelled trips because they lacked passports, calling the one-month notice period "unfair".

The change is to meet UK Border Force rules on passenger data accuracy, though Border Force insists requiring a passport was the ferry companies' own decision.

Routes between Britain and Northern Ireland are unaffected, and passport cards will be accepted as an alternative to a full passport on the Irish Republic routes.

Non-British and non-Irish passengers visiting the UK for up to six months may also need an Electronic Travel Authorisation on top of their passport.