ferries between Ireland and Wales: passport now required for all passengers
Since Monday, September 28, 2026, Stena Line and Irish Ferries no longer allow boarding without a passport on routes between Ireland and Wales, including for children and infants.
Driver’s licenses, national ID cards, and birth certificates will no longer be accepted for check-in, even for children and infants. Travelers connecting Ireland and the United Kingdom must still comply with separate British ETA requirements.
All three routes affected, in both directions
The new rule applies to lines connecting the Republic of Ireland to ports in Wales. Stena Line enforces it on Dublin-Holyhead and Rosslare-Fishguard, while Irish Ferries applies it to Dublin-Holyhead and Rosslare-Pembroke. In each case, officials will verify the requirement at departure regardless of the direction or route.
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs recently updated its travel advice for Great Britain to reflect this change. As of September 28, 2026, most ferry companies, including Irish Ferries and Stena Line, now require a valid passport or an Irish passport card.
Airlines such as Aer Lingus and Ryanair have already enforced the same requirement for flights from Ireland to the United Kingdom since February 25, 2026. The ferry was the last common crossing option allowing travel with a simple ID card.
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