Travelling between Britain and Ireland

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

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 travelling between Britain and Ireland

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 travelling between Britain and Ireland

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.

Apply for an ETA

Children aged 17 and under will need their own form of ID and an ETA to enter the UK.

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.

Apply for an ETA

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.

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 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 passport.

See more travel document questions