| Re: Passport required from next month for UK to Ireland travel. Posted by grahame at 18:27, 27th August 2026 |     |
Indeed, you can walk across the land border between N.Ireland & Eire. Still.
Thank you for confirming that.
The original post says "this is to ensure compliance". Reading that carefully, I found myself wondering if it's easier for Irish Ferries simply to have a standard check (passport) for everyone that meets and indeed surpasses what the Border Force want - and that the Border Force would be happy with other IDs such as a driving license, bus pass, ...
Edit to add ....
Parent Company: Irish Continental Group plc, a maritime transport company.
Pending Buyout: ICG agreed to a €1.2 billion management-led buyout by Bluefin Bidco Limited—a group led by CEO Eamonn Rothwell and three senior executives—to take the company private.
Completion: The private sale is expected to finalize in the fourth quarter of 2026, pending final approvals.
Pending Buyout: ICG agreed to a €1.2 billion management-led buyout by Bluefin Bidco Limited—a group led by CEO Eamonn Rothwell and three senior executives—to take the company private.
Completion: The private sale is expected to finalize in the fourth quarter of 2026, pending final approvals.
As a private company, they can choose what ID they require of travellers and it's probably better business to look after the 95% who have passports and are so easy and uniform to process that spend time and money and employ more people to process the 5% "awkward squad'. There is no requirement that I know on them to act as a common carrier.
| Re: Passport required from next month for UK to Ireland travel. Posted by ChrisB at 17:55, 27th August 2026 | |
Indeed, you can walk across the land border between N.Ireland & Eire. Still.
| Re: Passport required from next month for UK to Ireland travel. Posted by TaplowGreen at 16:35, 27th August 2026 | |
In an article today there is no change to using ferries to Northern Ireland or to crossing the border. Apparently not all airlines require a passport for journeys to the Republic although the Irish immigration do seem to like one.
Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so no reason to require a Passport.
| Re: Passport required from next month for UK to Ireland travel. Posted by WSW Frome at 15:51, 27th August 2026 | |
This change strikes me as contradicting the original legislation. Need a serious lawyer involved. In an article today there is no change to using ferries to Northern Ireland or to crossing the border. Apparently not all airlines require a passport for journeys to the Republic although the Irish immigration do seem to like one.
I have not used an Irish Ferry for perhaps 10 years and then no id of any sort was required. I just had to give (any) name!
| Passport required from next month for UK to Ireland travel. Posted by grahame at 15:13, 27th August 2026 | |
From Irish Ferries via Facebook
From 28 September 2026, all passengers, including Irish and British citizens, travelling between the Republic of Ireland and Britain (both directions) will be required to carry a valid passport.
This is to ensure compliance with UK Border Force requirements relating to the accuracy and integrity of passenger data before boarding.
We encourage all passengers travelling or planning to travel after 28 September 2026 to check that they have a valid, in-date passport (or Irish passport card) before arriving at the port.
This is to ensure compliance with UK Border Force requirements relating to the accuracy and integrity of passenger data before boarding.
We encourage all passengers travelling or planning to travel after 28 September 2026 to check that they have a valid, in-date passport (or Irish passport card) before arriving at the port.
I have travelled many time to Ireland with Irish Ferries, Stena, and occasionally Air Flingus and Ryanair. Passport has never been required on the ferry before and I thought we had a free travel zone? This reads as if it's a UK Government change? what about the Stranraer to Larne and other ferries to Northern Ireland, and indeed the Enterprise international train from Belfast to Dublin?
