Aer Lingus has announced a significant tightening of ID rules on its Ireland–Great Britain services. Beginning 25 February 2026, passengers of all nationalities—including Irish and British citizens—must present a passport or Irish passport card at check-in and boarding. Driving licences, Garda age cards and most EU national ID cards will no longer be accepted.
The airline told Ireland Live on 11 February that the policy “aligns documentation standards across our network and reduces last-minute boarding issues”. Exceptions apply only to Aer Lingus Regional flights between Belfast and Great Britain, which operate within the United Kingdom, and to the carrier’s Dublin–Donegal domestic route.
![Aer Lingus switches to passport-only ID on Ireland-UK routes from 25 February]()
The move effectively narrows the practical scope of the Common Travel Area, under which Irish and UK nationals have travelled for decades using alternative photo ID. For mobility managers, the biggest near-term risk is travellers arriving at the gate with a driving licence and being denied boarding. HR teams should therefore update pre-trip checklists and traveller-education materials immediately.
If you need assistance determining which documents are now required—or securing a UK ETA—VisaHQ can help. Their Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) lets travellers and corporate mobility teams check requirements and apply online for passports, ETAs and other travel authorisations, reducing last-minute surprises at the airport.
Non-Irish, non-British nationals face an additional layer: most will need to secure a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before departure. Corporates relocating staff between Irish and UK offices should budget extra lead time—and potentially extra cost—for ETAs, which are linked electronically to passports.
The airline told Ireland Live on 11 February that the policy “aligns documentation standards across our network and reduces last-minute boarding issues”. Exceptions apply only to Aer Lingus Regional flights between Belfast and Great Britain, which operate within the United Kingdom, and to the carrier’s Dublin–Donegal domestic route.
The move effectively narrows the practical scope of the Common Travel Area, under which Irish and UK nationals have travelled for decades using alternative photo ID. For mobility managers, the biggest near-term risk is travellers arriving at the gate with a driving licence and being denied boarding. HR teams should therefore update pre-trip checklists and traveller-education materials immediately.
If you need assistance determining which documents are now required—or securing a UK ETA—VisaHQ can help. Their Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) lets travellers and corporate mobility teams check requirements and apply online for passports, ETAs and other travel authorisations, reducing last-minute surprises at the airport.
Non-Irish, non-British nationals face an additional layer: most will need to secure a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before departure. Corporates relocating staff between Irish and UK offices should budget extra lead time—and potentially extra cost—for ETAs, which are linked electronically to passports.
