New rules will apply for travel to Europe from 1 January 2021. For more information and to check if you need to update your passport for travel to Europe after the 1st Jan 2021, please visit the government site here.

How much time you need on your passport depends on the country you’re visiting. Check the travel advice for the country you want to travel to. If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must meet the Schengen area rules.

Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

• Less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)
• Valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

More information can be found on the GOV.UK site.

You will still be able to travel with a burgundy or ‘European Union’ passport after Brexit. New blue passports are being issued, so you can expect to be sent one of these when you renew your current passport.

Other Documentation Information

Irish Sea

For travel between Ireland and England, photographic identification is required for all passengers (including children and infants) as they may be asked to prove citizenship at any time.

For travel to Northern Ireland on our Larne - Cairnryan & Larne - Troon routes, photographic ID is not required, however we do advise you take photographic ID in case you are asked to prove your citizenship by Irish immigration officers.

On all Irish Sea routes, senior citizens and students must provide proof at check-in (eg student ID card) so as not to incur an increase in fare.

For more advice on entry into Ireland please visit the gov.uk site.

All Other Routes

Valid passport or National Identity Card is required. All members of the EU must have a valid national identity card or passport (with photo) to travel into the UK.

Your passport will be checked when you arrive at a UK port or airport to make sure you’re allowed to come into the country. It should be valid for the whole of your stay. You may also need a visa to come into or travel through the UK, depending on your nationality. For more information visit the gov.uk site here.

Driving licenses, "Livrets de Famille" for infants will no longer be accepted.  Members out of the EU must have a valid passport.

For French nationals, the extension to an expired ID card will not be accepted for entry into Belgium.

Visas

Non-EU members are advised to speak to their embassy regarding other relevant information, such as Visas.

Useful Visa Services information can be found at ukvisas.gov.uk

For passport and visa enquiries, passengers can contact the UK Border Force helpline: 0843 308 8259

ID Cards

UK identity cards ceased to be legal documents on 21 January 2011. For more information please visit gov.uk

From 1st October 2021, changes to the government legislation will mean that most EU, EEA and Swiss national can only travel to the UK using a valid passport, unless they have applied to the EU settlement scheme or otherwise have protected right under the Citizen’s Rights Agreements.

From 1st October 2021, an ID card will no longer be accepted for travel to the UK unless exempt. Find out more here.