Ferry passengers will see a major change come into force (Image: Piotr Koscielniak via Getty Images)
Ferry passengers crossing between the UK and Ireland face a major shake-up to travel requirements later this month, with passports set to become compulsory from September 28. Currently, travellers sailing between Britain and the Irish ports of Dublin and Rosslare are allowed to use alternative forms of photo identification — including a bus pass.
But that flexibility is about to disappear. Speaking on his Telegraph Travel Expert podcast, well-known travel journalist Simon Calder did not hold back in his assessment of the new rules. He argued that tightening checks on ferry crossings makes little practical sense.
“We want more security, but if you’ve got a huge, long international frontier between the UK and Ireland which is completely open, and has to remain so without any checks because of the Good Friday Agreement, then putting these rules in place across the Irish Sea is completely pointless,” he said.
Simon was vocal about the impact the changes will have on travellers, particularly those who have never seen the need for a passport.
“There is a significant contingent of people, perhaps older travellers, who simply think ‘why do I need a passport, the only international journey I make is going back to Dublin to see family or going on the odd holiday to Kerry’,” he explained.
He also raised concerns about young families, pointing out that parents travelling with newborn babies — who are often yet to receive their own passport — would be significantly affected.
“At the other end of the age spectrum, many people want to take their brand new child across the Irish Sea. Bring the baby, newborn across, and they are able to do that without a passport,” he said. “It is going to be very significant in almost making life very difficult for the sorts of people who have got used to seamless travel.”
Passports will be needed to travel by ferry (Image: Anna Barclay, Getty Images)
His message for anyone who turns up at the port without a passport after the deadline was blunt: “They won’t be getting on the ship I fear.”
For those who do not yet have a passport but still need to make the crossing, Simon outlined a couple of workarounds. He pointed out that British Airways currently has no plans to introduce a passport requirement for its UK-Ireland flights.
Alternatively, travellers could sail from Scotland or Wales to Northern Ireland and then continue their journey by road — a route that does not require a passport.
Both Irish Ferries and Stena Line have confirmed the new requirements. Irish Ferries said all passengers on its Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Pembroke routes must present either a valid passport or an Irish passport card from 28 September.
The company confirmed the rule applies to all travellers regardless of nationality, and that driving licences, national identity cards and other forms of photographic identification will no longer be accepted.
“Irish Ferries is introducing this requirement to comply with UK Border Force requirements on the accuracy and integrity of passenger data before boarding,” the company said.
Stena Line confirmed a similar policy for passengers on its Holyhead to Dublin and Fishguard to Rosslare routes, adding that services operating from Belfast, Liverpool, Cairnryan and Heysham will not be affected by the change.
“This requirement applies to all passengers, including Irish and UK citizens. From September 28, 2026, driving licences, national identity cards and other forms of photographic identification will no longer be accepted for travel on these routes.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
