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Ferry travel to Ireland may require passport

Ferry Online Travel News 01/11/2007

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The UK's new electronic border may require ferry travellers to Ireland to hold a passport

The UK has begun plans to implement a new electronic border system which should be operational by the year 2009. The electronic border will mark the end of the UK-Republic of Ireland Common Travel Area which previously allowed residents of both countries to travel the area without a passport.

When the system is in place, travellers between the UK and the Republic of Ireland will have to present their passports to travel. Travellers from Ireland to Northern Ireland will most likely not require a passport however travellers between Northern Ireland and the UK will.

Passengers travelling by ferry or plane can easily be monitored, however the land crossing between Northern Ireland and the Republic is not so easily controlled. Monitoring the border would be almost entirely impractical.

The electronic border will require ferry companies and airlines to provide the government with advance passenger information. It is unclear, however, if passengers will have to pass by some kind of formal passport control.

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