What travel documents do I need to bring?
Start your journey smoothly by bringing the right travel documents. To board the ferry, you’ll need:
- Your booking confirmation number
- A form of identification*
- If required, a visa or permission to travel
This page offers guidance based on your nationality and destination. For the latest information, check official government advice or contact the relevant embassy or consulate.
Remember, it’s your responsibility to have the correct documents for everyone in your booking. Please make sure that the name on your booking matches the name on your ID. If you don’t have the right documents, you won’t be allowed to travel and you will be responsible for any fines or costs.
*All passports must have an MRZ code. This is on the personal data page and usually consists of 1-3 lines of letters and digits.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Travelling between Britain and Ireland
| IMPORTANT TRAVEL UPDATE |
| If you're planning to visit the UK for a short stay and you don’t need a visa, you may need to apply for an ETA. This is a digital permission to travel. Eligible non-European passengers will need this from 8 January 2025, and European passengers from 2 April 2025. Remember to apply for your ETA before you travel. British and Irish citizens, as well as those with UK immigration status, won’t need an ETA to enter the UK. Find out more and apply for ETA |
UK Citizens
Please bring your booking confirmation number and a form of identification, such as:
- A current or recently expired passport
- A government-issued photo ID card
- A health insurance or social security photo ID card
- A photographic driving licence
- A photographic bus or train pass
- An international student card
Children aged 17 and under will need either their own photo ID or a birth certificate if proof of identity is requested.
Irish Citizens
Please bring your booking confirmation number and a form of identification, such as:
- A current or recently expired passport
- A current or recently expired Irish passport card
- A driver’s licence with photo
- A government-issued photo ID card
- A health insurance or social security card with photo
- An international student card
Due to the special arrangements of the Common Travel Area, Irish citizens do not need an ETA to enter the UK.
Children aged 17 and under will need either their own photo ID or a birth certificate if proof of identity is requested.
EU Citizens (travelling to the UK)
You’ll need to bring your booking confirmation number and a passport that’s valid for your entire stay.
From 2 April 2025, you’ll also need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) if you’re staying for less than six months. This digital permission to travel, issued by the British government, covers multiple trips over two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Both business trips and holidays count towards this 180-day period.
Children aged 17 and under will need their own form of ID and an ETA to enter the UK.
EU Citizens (travelling to Ireland)
You’ll need your booking confirmation number and an official photo ID, such as:
- A European ID card
- A valid passport
Children aged 17 and under will need either their own passport or European ID card.
Other Nationalities (travelling to the UK)
You’ll need to bring your booking confirmation number and a passport that’s valid for your entire stay. Children aged 17 and under will need their own valid passport.
Check with the relevant embassy or consulate for visa or ETA requirements.
ETA
From 8 January 2025, you will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) if you’re staying for less than six months and you do not require a visa. This digital permission to travel, issued by the British government, covers multiple trips over two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Both business trips and holidays count towards this 180-day period.
eVisas
If you hold a physical immigration document, visit gov.uk/evisa to learn about updating to an eVisa and to set up a UKVI account.
If you have a Biometric Residence Permit, make sure to update to an eVisa before 31 March 2025. It's completely free to switch, it won't change your permission to enter or stay in the UK, and you can use an old permit to set up an eVisa after 31 December 2024.
If you already have an eVisa, make sure your travel document is registered to your UKVI account.
Other Nationalities (travelling to Ireland)
You'll need your booking confirmation number and a passport which is valid for the length of your stay. Please check with the relevant embassy or consulate for visa requirements.
Children aged 17 and under will need their own valid passport.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Travelling between Ireland and France
EU Citizens
You’ll need your booking confirmation number and an official photo ID, such as:
- A European ID card
- A valid passport
- A valid Irish passport card
Children aged 17 and under will need their own passport or European ID card.
Non-EU Citizens (travelling to France)
You'll need your booking confirmation number and a passport which:
- Is valid for at least three months beyond your departure date (from the Schengen area)
- Has been issued within the last 10 years
- Has a blank page for official stamps.
Children aged 17 and under must have their own passport.
Please check with the relevant embassy or consulate for visa requirements.
| IMPORTANT TRAVEL UPDATE |
| The EU will soon introduce a new short-stay digital travel authorization (ETIAS) for entry into most EU countries, excluding Ireland. You don’t have to do anything now except be aware of these upcoming changes. Once it begins, we will let you know how and where you can apply. Learn more at europa.eu/etias. |
Non-EU Citizens (travelling to Ireland)
You'll need your booking confirmation number and a passport which is valid for the length of your stay. Please check with the relevant embassy or consulate for visa requirements.
Children aged 17 and under will need their own valid passport.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Travelling between the UK and the Netherlands
EU Citizens (travelling to the Netherlands)
You’ll need your booking confirmation number and a valid passport. Children aged 17 and under will need their own passport.
EU Citizens (travelling to the UK)
You’ll need to bring your booking confirmation number and a passport that’s valid for your entire stay.
From 2 April 2025, you’ll also need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) if you’re staying for less than six months. This digital permission to travel, issued by the British government, covers multiple trips over two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Both business trips and holidays count towards this 180-day period.
Children aged 17 and under will need their own form of ID and an ETA to enter the UK.
UK & Non-EU Citizens (travelling to the Netherlands)
You'll need your booking confirmation number and a passport which:
- Is valid for at least three months beyond your departure date (from the Schengen area)
- Has been issued within the last 10 years
- Has a blank page for official stamps.
Check with the relevant embassy for any visa requirements. Children aged 17 and under must have their own valid passport.
| IMPORTANT TRAVEL UPDATE |
| The EU will soon introduce a new short-stay digital travel authorization (ETIAS) for entry into most EU countries. You don’t have to do anything now except be aware of these upcoming changes. Once it begins, we will let you know how and where you can apply. Learn more at europa.eu/etias. |
UK Citizens (travelling to the UK)
You’ll need your booking confirmation number and a valid passport. Children aged 17 and under will need their own passport.
Non-EU Citizens (travelling to the UK)
You’ll need to bring your booking confirmation number and a passport that’s valid for your entire stay. Children aged 17 and under will need their own passport.
Please check with the relevant embassy for visa or ETA requirements.
ETA
From 8 January 2025, you will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) if you’re staying for less than six months and you do not require a visa. This digital permission to travel, issued by the British government, covers multiple trips over two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Both business trips and holidays count towards this 180-day period.
eVisas
If you hold a physical immigration document, visit gov.uk/evisa to learn about updating to an eVisa and to set up a UKVI account.
If you have a Biometric Residence Permit, make sure to update to an eVisa before 31 March 2025. It's completely free to switch, it won't change your permission to enter or stay in the UK, and you can use an old permit to set up an eVisa after 31 December 2024.
If you already have an eVisa, make sure your travel document is registered to your UKVI account.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Travelling between Sweden and Denmark
I’m an EU citizen. What do I need to bring?
You’ll need your booking confirmation number and an official photo ID, such as:
- A European ID card
- A valid passport
Children must have their own valid passport or ID card.
I’m a citizen of a Nordic country. What ID do I need to bring?
You’ll need your booking confirmation number and an official photo ID, such as:
- A European ID card
- A valid passport
- A driving licence
We don’t accept Norwegian bank cards as a form of ID.
Children under 18 travelling with a parent or legal guardian can use the guardian’s ID. If travelling without a legal guardian, children under 18 must bring their own valid ID and a printed power of attorney form. This form can be downloaded in Danish or English.
I am a non-EU citizen. What do I need to bring?
You'll need your booking confirmation number and a passport which:
- Is valid for at least three months beyond your departure date (from the Schengen area)
- Has been issued within the last 10 years
Check with your embassy or consulate for any visa requirements. Please note, the EU will soon introduce a short-stay digital travel authorization (ETIAS) for entry into most EU countries. For details, visit the official EU site at europa.eu/etias.
Children must have their own valid passport or ID card.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Travelling between Sweden, Germany, Poland and Latvia
I’m an EU citizen. What do I need to bring?
Please bring your booking confirmation number and an official photo ID, such as:
- A European ID card
- A valid passport
Children must have their own valid passport or ID card.
I am a non-EU citizen. What do I need to bring?
You'll need your booking confirmation number and a passport which:
- Is valid for at least three months beyond your departure date (from the Schengen area)
- Has been issued within the last 10 years
Children must have their own valid passport.
Check with the relevant embassy or consulate for any visa requirements. Please note, the EU will soon introduce a digital travel authorization (ETIAS) for entry into most EU countries. For details, visit the official EU site at europa.eu/etias.
Do I need to bring any documentation for my vehicle?
When travelling with a vehicle between Sweden, Poland and Latvia, you must have a valid vehicle technical passport. The original must be presented at check in. If you have a trailer, you must also present its original passport.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Other questions
Do you accept digital identification?
No. We do not accept digital identification.
The name on my booking doesn’t match my passport, what can I do?
Please contact our customer service. If your passport does not match your booking, you may not be allowed to board, or your insurance may not be valid.
When do I need to present my ID?
We may check travel documents at check-in, embarkation, disembarkation, and upon entry into the country. Please make sure you keep your travel documents handy.
Whose responsibility is it to make sure I have the right documents?
It is your responsibility to bring the right documents with you when you travel. Without them, you might not be allowed to board or could be denied entry at your destination—and there could be fines involved. If we end up covering any fines, removal or repatriation costs due to missing documents, we’ll need you to reimburse us in full for those expenses. We’re here to help you prepare, so if you have any questions about what you’ll need, just let us know!
What are the rules on children travelling unaccompanied?
For most of our routes, anyone aged 17 or under must travel with a parent or legal guardian aged 18 or over.
On routes between Britain and Ireland, young adults aged 16 & 17 may travel without a parent of legal guardian aged 18+, but they must bring with them a letter of authority from a parent or legal guardian.
What is the Entry Exit Scheme into Europe?
The Entry Exit Scheme (EES) is a border management system due to be introduced by the EU. Once it begins, all non-EU nationals will have to register their face scan and fingerprints. These biometric checks will replace the manual stamping of passports at Europe’s external borders. As a carrier, we will be required to scan passports at check-in. We will then receive a response code which will let us know if a passenger is allowed to board. [CM1]
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS is a digital permission to travel scheme for short stay visitors to the EU. When it begins, you will need to apply for an ETIAS permission to travel if:
- You are not an EU citizen
- You don’t need a visa to enter the EU
- You are staying for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
This will apply to most tourists visiting Europe from non-EU countries, such as the UK. We will let you know how to apply in your pre-travel emails once the scheme begins. [CM1]
Related Questions
-
Are your ports and ferries accessible for reduced mobility passengers? -
Where can I find directions to the terminal? -
Can I bring my pet? -
How are the entry requirements to the EU and UK changing?
Copyright Stena Line 2025