Passport rule for some Ireland-Britain ferry routes from 28 September
Passengers on certain ferry routes between Ireland and Britain will need a valid passport from the end of next month under new border force rules.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Ferry passengers travelling between Ireland and Britain will need a valid passport on selected routes from 28 September, under new UK Border Force rules introduced by the Home Office.
The change replaces a long-standing arrangement under the Common Travel Area agreement, which had allowed driving licences and certain other identity documents to be used on these journeys. Now, anyone travelling with Stena Line or Irish Ferries on the Holyhead to Dublin and Fishguard to Rosslare routes, in both directions, will have to present an in-date passport at boarding.
The UK Border Force said the move is designed to improve the accuracy and integrity of passenger data. The requirement will not apply to all services, however. Stena Line routes from Belfast, Liverpool, and other ports such as Cairnryan and Heysham are not affected at this stage.
A clear message has been issued to all travellers, regardless of age or nationality: check your journey before you travel, and from the end of next month, make sure you have a valid passport with you. The change marks a departure from the usual travel arrangements between the two islands, which had operated under the Common Travel Area rules for over a century.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Passport requirement applies to specific Holyhead-Dublin and Fishguard-Rosslare ferry services from 28 September, with other routes unaffected at that time. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV1's coverage focuses on the practical implications of the new passport rules, giving clear details of which routes are affected, the start date, and the reason given by the UK Border Force. It also highlights that the requirement applies to everyone, whatever their age or nationality, and advises passengers to check before travelling. The report uses a correspondent at the Home Office to add official context.
- “you will be required to show a passport on certain ferry services.”
- “Make sure you check your journey before you travel and from the end of next month, on the 28th of September, make sure you take an in-date passport with you as you travel.”
Broadcast Timeline
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