Irish Ferries is warning that anyone travelling on one of its ferries between the UK and the Republic of Ireland will need to carry a valid passport from the 28 September.
The company says the new rules, which comes into force on 28 September, apply to both Irish and UK citizens.
They are being introduced to ensure compliance with UK Border Force requirements covering the accuracy of passenger data. No other form of photo ID will be accepted after 28 September.
The company, which runs services between Holyhead and Dublin and between Pembroke and Rosslare, says the new requirements align it with document checks already carried out by many airlines.
It is contacting customers who have already made bookings on these crossings after 28 September about the new requirements.
It is also recommending all passengers to check entry requirements before departure anyway, as in addition to a passport a visa and even an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) may be required.
The new developments on passports follow on from the rules which were introduced last year which require anyone towing a caravan weighing more than 750kg to Europe to have registered the caravan for Europe. Registration only needs to done once, and lasts for ten years, although you may not need to register if you are only visiting Ireland, Spain, Malta or Cyprus, as at the moment those EU members do not require caravans to be registered.
Further information about the upcoming passport rules can be found on Irish Ferry’s FAQ page.
You can also take a look at what our columnist Lottie Gross has to say about campsites near cities, as she asked “is this the demise of urban camping?”
Image: Irish Ferries
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