Travelling with Pets – BRITAIN / FRANCE Routes

Dogs, cats or ferrets are allowed on our ships, as long as declared at the time of booking and they meet the EU entry guidelines and have a current EU issued Pet Passport or a valid Animal Health Certificate (AHC).

On all of our routes, you must pre-book your pets before you check-in – add them at time of booking to ensure availability.

For more details visit:

 

Don't give your pet too such to eat or drink before the ferry sails and allow adequate time to enable them to exercise, go to the toilet and settle down before boarding.  When travelling with a pet, boarding closes 60 minutes before departure, to allow time to verify the microchip and pet passport/animal health certificate.  As all pets must stay inside the vehicle during the trip, we recommend that they have space along with food, water, some toys, and ideally a window of your vehicle left slightly open. 

When travelling to France from Britain, you will need to visit your vet 1 month before travel and ensure your pet has:

  • a microchip
  • a valid rabies vaccination
  • an animal health certificate unless you have a valid pet passport issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland
  • tapeworm treatment for dogs if you’re travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Malta. The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you arrive.

These requirements also apply to assistance dogs.

Guide, Hearing and Assistance animals

  • Irish Ferries welcome Guide, Hearing and Autism Assistance animals onboard our ships.
  • All guide, hearing and autism assistance dogs must have the necessary paperwork when checking in at the Port and must wear the correct harness and jacket at all times when travelling.
  • They are allowed to remain with their owner on the passenger decks for the duration of the voyage if they are an officially registered guide, hearing or autism assistance dog.
  • Please contact us in advance of travel so that our Teams on-board can be notified and will be ready to offer special assistance if required.