Aer Lingus has announced that, from 25 February 2026, every passenger travelling on its services between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom must present either an Irish passport, an Irish passport card, or another state-issued passport at check-in and the boarding gate. Driving licences, Garda Age Cards and most EU national ID cards—long accepted under the Common Travel Area (CTA)—will no longer be accepted. Domestic flights within the Republic (Dublin–Donegal) and Aer Lingus Regional services between Belfast and Great Britain remain exempt because they do not cross an international border.
The carrier says the policy will “standardise documentation checks and reduce last-minute boarding issues.” According to airline sources, UK Border Force has stepped up spot-checks on Irish arrivals using non-passport ID, resulting in a small but rising number of denied-entry incidents that create operational knock-on effects. Ryanair introduced a passport-only rule several years ago, leaving Aer Lingus as the last major airline on the cross-channel shuttle still accepting alternative ID.
For business travellers, the change closes a convenient loophole that allowed frequent commuters to breeze through Irish airports with a driving licence kept in a wallet. Companies that rotate staff between Dublin, Cork, Shannon and UK hubs for meetings or short-term projects will have to ensure their assignees carry a passport or apply for an Irish passport card—currently issued in five working days for online applicants. HR teams should review travel-policy wording, reminding assignees that failure to carry acceptable ID will now lead to denied boarding.
![Aer Lingus moves to passport-only identification on Ireland–UK routes]()
If your organisation needs assistance navigating these updated documentation requirements, VisaHQ can help. Through its Irish portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) the agency offers expedited passport renewals, Irish passport card processing, and step-by-step guidance for securing the UK’s upcoming Electronic Travel Authorisation, simplifying compliance for both individual and corporate travellers.
The policy also interacts with the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, which is being phased in for non-visa nationals during 2026. While Irish citizens remain exempt from the ETA, third-country nationals resident in Ireland and connecting onward to the UK must ensure they secure an ETA—or, depending on nationality, a visa—before travel. Aer Lingus says it will expand pre-departure communications to highlight the passport and ETA requirements.
Travel-trade bodies have voiced limited opposition, acknowledging that a passport-only rule adds friction but brings Aer Lingus into line with competitor practices. “It’s an inconvenience, but a predictable one,” said Clodagh Byrne, policy director at the National Business Travel Association Ireland. “Our advice is simple: check your employees’ documentation now—don’t wait until 24 February.”
The carrier says the policy will “standardise documentation checks and reduce last-minute boarding issues.” According to airline sources, UK Border Force has stepped up spot-checks on Irish arrivals using non-passport ID, resulting in a small but rising number of denied-entry incidents that create operational knock-on effects. Ryanair introduced a passport-only rule several years ago, leaving Aer Lingus as the last major airline on the cross-channel shuttle still accepting alternative ID.
For business travellers, the change closes a convenient loophole that allowed frequent commuters to breeze through Irish airports with a driving licence kept in a wallet. Companies that rotate staff between Dublin, Cork, Shannon and UK hubs for meetings or short-term projects will have to ensure their assignees carry a passport or apply for an Irish passport card—currently issued in five working days for online applicants. HR teams should review travel-policy wording, reminding assignees that failure to carry acceptable ID will now lead to denied boarding.
If your organisation needs assistance navigating these updated documentation requirements, VisaHQ can help. Through its Irish portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) the agency offers expedited passport renewals, Irish passport card processing, and step-by-step guidance for securing the UK’s upcoming Electronic Travel Authorisation, simplifying compliance for both individual and corporate travellers.
The policy also interacts with the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, which is being phased in for non-visa nationals during 2026. While Irish citizens remain exempt from the ETA, third-country nationals resident in Ireland and connecting onward to the UK must ensure they secure an ETA—or, depending on nationality, a visa—before travel. Aer Lingus says it will expand pre-departure communications to highlight the passport and ETA requirements.
Travel-trade bodies have voiced limited opposition, acknowledging that a passport-only rule adds friction but brings Aer Lingus into line with competitor practices. “It’s an inconvenience, but a predictable one,” said Clodagh Byrne, policy director at the National Business Travel Association Ireland. “Our advice is simple: check your employees’ documentation now—don’t wait until 24 February.”
