Anyone boarding a ferry between the UK and the Republic of Ireland will need a valid passport from today, as new travel requirements come into effect. Both Irish Ferries and Stena Line have confirmed the new rules are now in force across their key routes, so British holidaymakers planning a trip should be aware. For Irish Ferries, that means the Dublin to Holyhead and Rosslare to Pembroke services are affected in both directions. Stena Line’s requirement covers passengers departing from Dublin, Holyhead, Fishguard and Rosslare. This means driving licences, national identity cards and any other forms of photo ID are no longer accepted on these routes. The move is in line with UK Border Force rules.British holidaymakers heading to Ireland should check their passports | GETTY Those who turn up without a passport won’t get to board, whether an Irish or UK citizen. It is worth noting both Irish Ferries and Stena Line will accept passport cards as a valid form of identification at check-in.Travel insurance expert at Confused.com, Tom Vaughan, shared advice for Britons preparing for their next Irish getaway. He said: “This is a big change for UK holidaygoers crossing the Irish Sea. “Until now, British and Irish citizens could travel between Ireland and Britain without a passport, using any other photo ID under the Common Travel Area agreement. “But from today, to meet UK Border Force requirements, ferry operators say all passengers, including children and infants, must show a valid passport to board, with no other ID accepted. Belfast to Britain crossings aren’t affected, so this applies specifically to journeys to and from the Republic of Ireland.”There’s one more thing to keep in mind if you’re not a British or Irish citizen. Irish Ferries has flagged that travellers visiting the UK for a short stay of up to six months may need an Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA. That covers entry to the UK, as well as Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.”British holidaymakers have been subject to various changes in entry requirements when travelling in recent years. To avoid being caught out, it is always worth checking that your documentation is valid for where you are visiting. Vaughan added: “Before you head to the port, don’t just check your passport hasn’t expired; check it’s valid for where you’re going. For Ireland, you need a passport that’s in date for the duration of your stay. Those who don’t meet the requirements will be turned away | IRISH FERRIES “Plenty of UK travellers still get caught out by passport validity rules, as our research shows less than half (43 per cent) know EU travel requires a passport issued within the last 10 years.”So it’s worth taking two minutes to check the issue date as well as the expiry date as leaving it late can be costly. If you get caught out, a same-day emergency passport now costs up to £240, and there’s no same-day service available for children’s passports.”Travel insurance won’t cover any sailings or holidays you miss if you’re turned away for an invalid passport, so a quick check now saves a lot of stress later. Our passport checker can help you make sure you’re ready before you travel.”Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter