Travelling between the Republic of Ireland and Britain
Stena Line recommend all passengers to bring a passport with them.  However, Irish and British citizens do not strictly require a passport to travel between the two countries but some form of identification is required.

Useful means of identification when travelling between Ireland and Britain are:

• Passport
• Driving Licence
• European Identity Card
• Bank cards
• Photo ID (school or college)
• Utility Bills
• Birth Certificate

Travelling to/from Ireland is subject to the Common Travel Area agreement, which has remained the same after the UK left the EU. For further details see the Irish Government's advice on travel requirements.

Please note: All nationalities except Irish or British citizens require passports, and they should also check if there are any visa requirements with the British or Irish Embassy before travelling. Passengers who arrive at our ports without valid documentation may not be allowed to enter either Ireland or Britain. 

Travelling between Republic of Ireland and France

It is compulsory for all passengers to have their own valid passport or officially recognised European Union I.D. card when travelling to and from France or Ireland. In some cases a visa may also be required. If you are driving a vehicle you will also need a valid driving licence.

It is responsibility of each passenger, parent, guardian or group leader to ensure that the documentation is valid and readily available for inspection at check-in. Stena Line accept no liability in this regard - the onus is on the passenger to ensure that the documentation is correct.

Non-EU nationals should check with the French Embassy or with the Irish Embassy before travelling as they may need a visa as well as a passport. A visa can take several weeks to obtain so please make the necessary arrangements well ahead of your travel date.
Passengers who turn up at our ports without a valid passport or an officially recognised European Union ID card (and a visa if required) will not be allowed to enter either France or Ireland.

Drivers of vehicles must carry and be able to produce a valid driving licence, failure to do so may prevent entry into Ireland or France.

For further information please visit:

Irish Department of Foreign Affairs  - advice on travelling to France

Irish Embassy in Paris

British Embassy in Paris

French Embassy in Dublin

The above Q&A is based on latest government advice which may be subject to change.

Yes, you can travel with your pet (dog, cat or ferret) to the UK. However, it is important to ensure you have all of the relevant documentation and vaccines in place by visiting a vet four months in advance of travel.

Pet owners should check the government advice pages below for the most up to date information on the requirements:

Travelling to the UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-from-1-january-2021

Travelling to Ireland: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b76e9-brexit-movement-of-pets

The UK has Part 2 listed status under EU Pet Travel Scheme, meaning that people travelling from Britain with their pets and assistance dogs will need to follow new requirements in order to travel to the EU and Northern Ireland. 

Before taking their pet to the EU for the first time post Brexit, pet owners must complete the following steps. The only new requirement for travel to the EU is the use of a certificate, rather than a pet passport:

• Ensure pet is microchipped
• Ensure pet is vaccinated against rabies. Please note that pets must be at least 12 weeks old before they can be vaccinated
• Wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel
• Dogs must be treated against tapeworm 24-120 hours before arrival, if they are travelling to a tapeworm free country
• Visit their vet to get an animal health certificate (AHC) for their pet, no more than 10 days before travel to the EU and Northern Ireland

Travelling from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain

If one or more of the following applies to your shipment, it must be booked via our freight reservation office by calling + 353 1 699 4436 or email stenalineireland@freightlink.ie

1. Vans commercially registered in Ireland.

2. Vans regardless of size carrying commercial or chargeable goods which are subject to import/export customs declarations.

3. Either (or both) a UK Goods Movement Reference (GMR) or an Irish Pre Boarding Notification (PBN) is required.

4. Vehicles / horseboxes carrying a horse or pony.

5. If a VAT invoice is required.

Prior to making your booking and providing the declaration at time of booking you should check the guidance at both https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-how-to-declare-personal-goods-you-bring-into-or-take-out-of-the-uk and https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs-traders-and-agents/customs-electronic-systems/customs-roro-service/examples-of-ferry-consignments-that-need-a-pbn.aspx. GMRs are required for all commercial/chargeable movements from GB to ROI from 1/1/22, but will not be required for these movements between ROI and GB until a later date (to be confirmed). PBNs are required for all commercial / chargeable movements, in both directions, currently.

Declaration required at time of booking:  I confirm that I have read both the gov.uk and revenue.ie  guidance referred to above and I can confirm that I am not carrying commercial or chargeable goods which are subject to import/export customs declarations in either or both the UK and Ireland, that I have no requirement for a GMR or PBN, and my vehicle is not registered and taxed as a commercial vehicle in Ireland.

Travelling from Northern Ireland to Great Britain

If one or more of the following applies to your shipment, it must be booked via our freight reservation office by calling + 353 1 699 4436 or email stenalineireland@freightlink.ie

1. Vans/Horseboxes regardless of size carrying commercial or chargeable goods which are subject to import/export customs declarations

2. A UK Goods Movement Reference (GMR) is required

3. If a VAT invoice is required.

Prior to making your booking and providing the declaration at time of booking you should check the guidance https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-how-to-declare-personal-goods-you-bring-into-or-take-out-of-the-uk. GMRs are required for all commercial / chargeable movements from GB to NI and in a very few cases from NI to GB.

Declaration required at time of booking:  I confirm that I have read the gov.uk guidance referred to above and I can confirm that I am not carrying commercial or chargeable goods which are subject to import/export customs declarations and that I have no requirement for a GMR.