PASSENGERS travelling between the UK and Ireland will see a major change to passport requirements from tomorrow.
A popular airline is switching up its identification process for anyone flying between the two states.
From Wednesday, February 25, Aer Lingus will join Ryanair in requiring all passengers travelling between the UK and Ireland to carry their passports.
The Irish airline previously accepted alternative identification documents for these routes, such as driving licences or Irish Garda age cards.
Despite the Common Travel Area agreement between the UK and Ireland, a new rule change will require all passengers travelling between the two states to carry either a passport or passport card.
In a statement issued by Aer Lingus’s spokesperson, the airline said the new measures “will ensure consistency across our network and further improve our operational performance for our customers”.
They added: “Aer Lingus is updating its travel document requirements for flights between the Republic of Ireland and the UK, effective from 25th February 2026.
“All customers (including Irish or British nationals) travelling on Aer Lingus and Aer Lingus Regional services between the Republic of Ireland and the UK will now require a valid passport or Irish passport card.
“The other forms of photo ID (driver’s licence, etc.) previously accepted will no longer be valid for travel.”
Flights between Belfast and the UK are exempt from this latest update.
British Airways, which is the sister airline of Aer Lingus, will continue to allow passengers to travel without passports on flights from London City and Heathrow to Dublin.
The airline said: “You do not need a passport to travel between these destinations, known as the Common Travel Area (CTA), but you do require recognised photographic identification that proves your identity and nationality.”
Ferry companies sailing between Ireland and England and Wales will continue to accept alternative forms of identification.
There are no checks between the Republic and the North of Ireland.
Aer Lingus has launched dedicated phone lines for passengers who do not have a passport but need to fly between Ireland and the UK before they can obtain one.
