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Millions of British people travel over toIrelandeach year, the number of visitors from the United Kingdom exceeds those from any other country globally.

While Ryanairis the top airline for British travelers,Aer Lingus, the Irish airline, comes in second.

However, if you have an Aer Lingus flight reserved, you should pay attention.

The carrier, which operates from11 UK airports, has updated its requirements, and as ofFebruary 25, 2026, all passengers will need a passport in order to board their flight.

According to the UK Foreign Office, British citizens are not legally obligated to present a passport when entering Ireland.

Alternatively, other types of photo identification are permitted, for example, a valid driver’s license.

This is due to the fact that both Ireland and the United Kingdom are part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) — along with theIsle of Manand the Channel Islands — indicating that residents can move between these areas without requiring a passport.

Nevertheless, the airline has recently updated their policies.

In a statement distributed to, Aer Lingus stated: ‘Aer Lingus is revising its documentation requirements for journeys between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, starting on 25th February 2026.’

All passengers (including those from Ireland or the United Kingdom) flying on Aer Lingus and Aer Lingus Regional routes between the Republic of Ireland and the UK will now need a valid passport or an Irish passport card.

Previously accepted forms of photo identification, such as a driver’s license, will no longer be acceptable for travel.

The airline states that this revised policy “aligns with the travel document requirements throughout the rest of our network and will promote uniformity and enhance our operational efficiency for our customers.”

However, there are a few exceptions: ‘Passengers traveling on domestic services with Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Emerald Airlines, are not subject to this revised travel policy. Domestic services cover routes such as Belfast-UK and Dublin-Donegal.’

The new policy has generated varied responses on social media. On X, Richard Bannister questioned: “What is their legal justification for demanding something not mandated by law?”

While Calum Maxwell stated: ‘And yet I could fly to Belfast and take the train toDublin…..no passport needed. Make it make sense!

At present, Ryanair requires passengers traveling from the UK to present a passport when flying to Ireland.

However, British Airways, the sister airline of Aer Lingus, still accepts alternative forms of identification.

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