Starting September 28, 2026, all passengers traveling between the Republic of Ireland and Britain must hold a valid passport, regardless of age or nationality, as outlined by UK Border Force rules communicated by Stena Line and Irish Ferries.

Existing bookings are being updated and supported by customer service to help travelers transition to the new passport requirement.

The changes do not affect ID requirements for business or leisure travelers on Stena Line routes from Belfast to Cairnryan or Heysham, with no change on these specific sailings.

The UK Home Office and the Irish Departments of Foreign Affairs and Justice have been contacted for comment as part of the ongoing government response.

Officials from the UK Home Office and Irish government departments were asked for comment regarding the changes.

Sinn Féin pressed for talks with London on an agreement to ensure timely processing and to explore a potential future all-island migration management policy.

The announcement notes that this ferry-specific measure mirrors airline practices in some cases and emphasizes adherence to border control requirements.

The UK Home Office confirmed there is no change to overall travel requirements to the UK itself, stressing that the passport rule is a ferry operator decision to provide advance passenger information in line with border security.