Preparing for your trip

For British Citizens Travelling to the EU:

Your passport must:

• Be issued within the last 10 years by the day you enter the EU. Check the date of issue on your passport.
• Be valid for at least 3 months after the day you depart the EU. Given this, your passport should not be older than 9 years and 9 months by the time you leave the EU.

Entry requirements may differ for EU countries not in the Schengen area. More information can be found here

You do not need a visa for short trips to the EU or Schengen area if both of the following apply:

• Staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period
• Visiting for tourism, short-term study, medical treatment, business, journalism, or similar reasons

Always check the entry requirements for the country you're visiting. More information can be found on the UK Government website here

For EU, EEA, or Swiss Citizens Traveling to the UK: More information about travel documents & entry requirements can be found here

For EU Citizens travelling to the EU: More information about travel documents & entry requirements can be found here

You must comply with all ID, passport, visa, immigration, and health formalities. Passengers with invalid or inadequate travel documentation will be turned away at check-in.

We assume no responsibility for the consequences, and you will not be eligible for a refund. It is your responsibility to check and fully comply with all the necessary rules for entry to the different countries.

Border Regulations - UK eVisa and ETA

Travel requirements to the UK are changing. The UK is moving from physical immigration documents (like BRPs, visa vignette stickers, ink stamps, and BRCs) to eVisas.

If you have a UK visa and currently use a physical document, create a UK Visas and Immigration account to access your eVisa here

If you already have an eVisa, ensure your travel information is up to date by notifying the UK Government about the passport you intend to use if it is not already linked to your eVisa account: www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details

Those who are visa-exempt for short visits to the UK, i.e. visits of up to six months, will still need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which is digital permission to travel.

For Non-European Visitors:

• You can begin applying for an ETA from 27 November 2024.
• An ETA will be mandatory for travel to the UK starting 8 January 2025.

For European Visitors:

• Applications for an ETA open on 5 March 2025.
• An ETA will be needed for travel to the UK from 2 April 2025.

For more information and to apply, visit the UK Government's Electronic Travel Authorisation page

Please note that the new controls only affect our non-Schengen routes (i.e., UK routes and Rosslare – Dunkerque).

DFDS is fully preparing for the arrival of these new measures, cooperating with the relevant authorities to ensure that we continue to carry our passengers on their journeys without major disruption. Please note that it is the responsibility of passengers to ensure that they are in permission of the correct documentation and completed relevant formalities.

Advanced Passenger Information:

When traveling to and from the UK, providing Advance Passenger Information is mandatory for each person travelling. It must be completed no less than 24 hours before travel. More info on Advanced Passenger Information can be found here.

With DFDS, there is no limit to your luggage. Only the transport possibilities in the entrained car give the luggage limit. However, you should load your vehicle properly and safely. Foot passengers must be able to carry their luggage independently on board.

DFDS may accept vehicles carrying Hunting and Sporting weapons or ammunition under certain controlled conditions. You must declare the carriage of firearms, weapons and ammunition and provide proof of legality for their carriage by disclosing the type of license/certificate held if applicable. This must be done at the booking stage. To comply with strict compliance and conditions, passengers must fill out the Notification of Carriage of Weapons/Ammunition Code 100 form at least 24 hours before travel, this can be provided at the booking stage by contacting us direct. Please also note the import regulations of the respective country.

For more information regarding carrying dangerous goods, please see section 12 in our Terms and Conditions.

For addtional information regarding our terminals head to our dedicated page here.

Dover - Calais/Dunkirk

On our Dover to Calais and Dover to Dunkirk ferry crossings, pet bookings must be made in advance of travel. Pets must remain secured inside your vehicle for the duration of the journey. However, you can visit your pet in your car during the crossing, simply head to Guest Services and a member of our team will assist you further. More information regarding pet travel can be found here.

Newhaven - Dieppe

Foot Passenger with Pets

If you are travelling with your dog onboard our Newhaven - Dieppe route as a foot passenger you must ensure you have booked a kennel for your dog. Upon arrival to the port we advise you to check in with your pet at the passenger terminal.

Once all checks are completed you will board via our passenger shuttlebus, however, this will be dependant on the Duty Office as you maybe escorted in our DFDS vehicle, which will take you directly to the ship, where our team will greet you to assist and direct you to our pet kennels.

Vehicle Passenger with Pets

If you are travelling with your dog onboard our Newhaven - Dieppe route as a vehicle passenger, you must ensure you have booked a kennel for your dog alternatively it must stay in your vehicle for the duration of the journey. All other pets must be kept in the vehicle and cannot be booked into the kennel. Upon arrival to the port we advise you to check in with your pet at the car terminal.

Once all checks are completed you will drive on to the ship and will be greeted by our team who will assist you with parking correctly and direct you to our pet kennels. More information regarding pet travel can be found here.

To help us make your journey as smooth and comfortable as possible, we need to know your requirements at your earliest convenience, ideally when you make your booking, but no later than two working days before you travel. We will always try our utmost to accommodate all requests for travel with us. Further information is available on our page dedicated to Accessible Travel.

All public areas including the bars, shop and restaurants are accessible for wheelchair users and guide dogs.

Assistance & Guide dogs

DFDS accept Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dog who are recognised by the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and the International Guide Dogs Federation (IDGF) programmes. The above programmes ensure Assistance dogs are specifically trained to assist and support people who require it.

Please notify our team if you are travelling with an Assistance Dog. You must ensure that the dog complies with the pet travel rules of the country they are travelling to. You will be asked to provide documentation.

There is no fee to bring your Assistance dog onboard and they are allowed in public areas on a harness/lead.

Emotional Support Animals

Emotional Support Animals are not legally recognised by the above organisations in the way that Assistance & Guide dogs currently are. Emotional support animals can travel with us, but they must follow the same rules as pets. Further information is available on our page dedicated to pets

Unfortunately meals cannot be prebooked prior to departure on our UK to France routes, however, you can still purchase food onboard.

Food & beverage offerings can be found here:

Dover to Dunkirk
Dover to Calais
Newhaven to Dieppe

Allergies: Onboard we can cater to all dietary requirements and offer a range of different meal options. Once within the restaurant please advise a member of staff and they will have an allergen policy for you to read and will also direct you to the most suitable options.

Sometimes the unexpected happens, therefore we advise all our customers to ensure they have adequate travel insurance. More information regarding travel insurance can be found in our Terms & Conditions, section 10

All passengers, adults and minors, must carry all required travel documents, including a valid ID card, passport, visas, immigration and health documents, in order to enter the countries they intend to enter or return to the country of departure. It is passenger responsibility to check and comply with all necessary rules to enter different countries.

For more information regarding passports, visas and health insurance, please see chapter 8 in our terms and conditions

With DFDS, there is no limit to your luggage. Only the transport possibilities in the entrained car give the luggage limit. However, you should load your vehicle properly and safely. Foot passengers must be able to carry their luggage independently on board.

DFDS may accept vehicles carrying Hunting and Sporting weapons or ammunition under certain controlled conditions. You must declare the carriage of firearms, weapons and ammunition and provide proof of legality for their carriage by disclosing the type of license/certificate held if applicable. This must be done at the booking stage or no later than 24 hours before departure.

For more information regarding dangerous good and weapons, please see chapter 12 in our Terms and Conditions

You are welcome to travel with your dog, cat or other pet onboard our Baltic Sear routes whether you book as a foot passenger or with a vehicle.

Pet-friendly Cabins
Our pet-friendly cabins are bookable online and should only be booked if you are travelling with a cat or dog. If there are no pet-friendly cabins are available, please do not book a different cabin type, these do not accommodate pets.

£27 per pet, per way, which is in addition to the cabin price. No fee for Guide, Hearing & Assistance Dogs.

Dog-friendly Kennels (Aura & Luna Seaways only)
Our dog-friendly kennels are bookable online and should only be booked if you are travelling with a dog. Kennels are provided onboard however we do not supply bedding, so you must bring this with you.£27 per dog, per way. More information about travelling with pets can be found here.

To help us make your journey as smooth and comfortable as possible, we need to know your requirements at your earliest convenience, ideally when you make your booking, but no later than two working days before you travel. We will always try our utmost to accommodate all requests for travel with us. Further information can be found on our page dedicated to Accessible Travel.

Assistance & Guide dogs

DFDS accept Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dog who are recognised by the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and the International Guide Dogs Federation (IDGF) programmes. The above programmes ensure Assistance dogs are specifically trained to assist and support people who require it.

Please notify our team if you are travelling with an Assistance Dog. You must ensure that the dog complies with the pet travel rules of the country they are travelling to. You will be asked to provide documentation.

There is no fee to bring your Assistance dog onboard and they are allowed in public areas on a harness/lead.

Emotional Support Animals

Emotional Support Animals are not legally recognised by the above organisations in the way that Assistance & Guide dogs currently are. Emotional support animals can travel with us, but they must follow the same rules as pets. Further information is available on our page dedicated to pets

At DFDS we welcome pregnant women onboard. However, please be aware that we do not have a doctor onboard our ships. Therefore, we advise pregnant women who are in week 34 or later not to travel with DFDS.

Terms and Conditions for pregnant travellers can be found in section 6 here

Onboard our Newcastle - Amsterdam routes, minors aged 17 or under, who are not travelling with an adult over 18, must have a letter of consent from their parents/guardians. Failure to produce this letter at check-n may result in refusal of travel.

For more information please see our Terms and Conditions, Section 7.

Passengers travelling with infants will receive a special sign (hanger) during check-in that will identify to vessel crew that there are infants in the car and staff will accommodate a better place for parking the car (except on the Paldiski - Kapellskar route). Please note: there is limited space on each deck and availability depends on loading, if there is no space, customers with children will be placed in standard passenger spots.

Pre-booking meals is available online via your online profile, under 'My Booking'.

Passengers will find the Swedish-style restaurant, 7 Seas Buffet, and the à la carte restaurant, Mare Balticum, on our Baltic Sea routes.

Food & beverage offerings can be found here:

Klaipeda to Karlshamn
Klaipeda to Kiel
Paldiski to Kapellskar

Allergies: Onboard we can cater to all dietary requirements and offer a range of different meal options. Once within the restaurant please advise a member of staff and they will have an allergen policy for you to read and will also direct you to the most suitable options.

Sometimes the unexpected happens, therefore we advise all our customers to ensure they have adequate travel insurance.For more information regarding travel insurance, please see chapter 10 of our Terms & Conditions

All passengers must carry all required travel documents, including a valid physical ID card, passport, visas, immigration and health documents, in order to enter the countries they intend to enter. It is your responsibility to check and comply with all necessary rules of the arrival country.

Entry requirements may change depending on your nationality:

Nordic citizens over 18 years of age
Physical passport
Physical driver's license (digital driver's license NOT valid), or
Physical national photo ID card.

Nordic citizens under 16 years of age who are accompanied by a parent/guardian are exempt from the requirement to present a physical personal ID document, as long as the parent/guardian is also a Nordic citizen with relevant physical ID.

Nordic citizens under 16 years of age who are not accompanied by a parent/guardian are subject to the same rules as adults.

EU/EEA citizens (including children under 18 years of age)
Physical passport or physical national photo ID card.

Third-country nationals (including children under 18 years of age)
Physical passport, including visa or residence permit for the Schengen area, if required

ID requirements for entry to Denmark

ID requirements for entry to Norway

Passengers travelling without a car must be able to carry their own luggage and are responsible for carrying the luggage from the terminal building to the ship and vice versa.

Passengers with vehicles do not have access to the car deck during the journey, so you must take what you need during the journey with you when you leave your car.

Electrical appliances:
For safety reasons, only necessary personal electrical appliances, such as a phone charger or blow dryer, are allowed. Electric kettles or other kitchen appliances are not permitted onboard. This is because electrical appliances generally pose a fire risk if there is a defect. It has therefore been decided that our ships only allow the use of as few electrical appliances as possible.

If requested by DFDS and/or the customs authorities, you must state the nature and amount of luggage carried.

If you have special luggage requirements, please contact us in advance to avoid disappointment.

Dangerous goods or firearms must be declared at the time of booking and not later than 24 hours before departure and can only be transported in a vehicle.

For more information regarding dangerous goods, please see chapter 12 in our Terms and Conditions

Oslo Terminal

AimoPark offers both short and long term parking spots outside the terminal. It is possible to pay at machine or via EasyPark app. You can travel by Bus 60 to the last stop Vippetangen.

Terminal Address
Akershusstranda 31
0150 Oslo
Norway

Frederikshavn Terminal

There are only a few parking spaces within the terminal area. We recommend that you park in the parking spaces offered by the Port of Frederikshavn. From here it is a 10-minute walk to the terminal via the walkway. You can travel by Bus 973X or train to Havnepladsen.

Terminal Address:
Frederikshavn Havn/Port of Frederikshavn
Færgeleje 4/Berth 4
Færgehavnsvej 16
9900 Frederikhavn
Denmark

Copenhagen Terminal

DFDS offers a limited number of parking spaces at the terminal for 195 DKK per day. We recommend pre-booking parking by contacting Customer Care +45 33 42 30 00. We also offer parking outside the terminal for 15 minutes for free. You can travel by Metro or tram to Nordhavn station.

We also offer a shuttle bus service to and from Copenhagen terminal.

Terminal Address:
Dampfærgevej 30
2100 København Ø
Denmark

More information on all terminals can be found here.

You are welcome to travel with your dog, cat or other pets onboard our Oslo -Frederikshavn-Copenhagen route whether you travel as a foot passenger or with a vehicle. Pets are only allowed to travel if a pet friendly cabin is booked in advance, as it is not allowed to leave them in your vehicle during the crossing.

If you travel with a dog, cat or ferret, the pet must have:

• ID marking/microchipping
• Received anti-rabies vaccine
• Received treatment against tapeworm echinococcus (dogs only)

For other pets, please check national rules of the destination country.

For more information regarding travelling with pets on the Oslo - Frederikshavn - Copenhagen route please click here.

Persons with disabilities or reduced mobility
If you, or someone you book for, has a disability, is reduced in mobility or has other physical limitations that may be a challenge on the trip, we would like to know this when you book – both for safety and so that we can ensure the best possible trip. Therefore, we ask you to contact us prior to the trip and follow the rules written down in clause 14 of our travel conditions.

Information at the time of booking
Before or during your booking or pre-purchase of a ticket, we need to know any special needs of travellers with disabilities or persons with reduced mobility. This applies to needs related to accommodation, seating or other necessary measures such as medical equipment carried, provided that the need is known at the time of booking or at the time of ticket purchase. Our terminals in Copenhagen and Oslo are handicap accessible, and you will find both elevator and disabled-friendly toilets in both terminals.

Persons with reduced mobility
All our ships have cabins designed for people with reduced mobility. As travellers' needs are individual and we want to organise your trip in the best possible way, these cabins can only be booked by phone. Please contact us in advance.

Information for wheelchair users
If you use an electric wheelchair and want to use the shuttle buses to and from the terminal, you must remember to book a ticket in advance and make sure that you are in an electric wheelchair when booking. It is only on the departure from Nørreport that it is possible to bring an electric wheelchair on the bus.

Impaired vision
For safety reasons, the traveller must inform about his or her reduced eyesight when booking. Blind people can travel unaccompanied and are allowed to bring guide dogs. Please contact us in advance for further arrangements.

Further information on accessibility can be found here.

Assistance animals:
When travelling with an assistance dog it is required that the dog complies with the Pet Travel Scheme and DFDS should be notified beforehand. Please be aware you are responsible for the welfare of the dog during your journey.

An emotional support dog would have to follow the same rules as a regular pet. They would have to stay in the pet friendly cabin during the crossing and only be let out to the designated area onboard to relieve themselves.

Children up to 3 years of age travel for free, provided that no additional bed is required. It is not allowed to bring your own baby beds or camping beds in the cabin due to safety regulations. We have bed rails available at the reception onboard. Bed rails can be mounted in front of the mattress and prevent the risk of falling out of bed while sleeping.

For certain Commodore cabins, it is possible to reserve a baby bed in advance. These cabins are more spacious and extra beds won't block the passage.

At DFDS we welcome pregnant women onboard. However, please be aware that we do not have a doctor onboard our ships. Therefore, we advise pregnant women who are in week 34 or later not to travel with DFDS.

For more information, please see chapter 6 of our Terms and Conditions.

Onboard our Oslo-Frederikshavn-Copenhagen route, unaccompanied minors under the age of 16 may not travel alone due to the length of the journey and safety regulations.

We allow people aged 16 and above to travel as a transportation passenger. If you are travelling on a mini cruise, you have to be 18 years of age or be accompanied by an adult.

For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions, chapter 7

We recommend pre-booking meals to be sure you can eat when you wish. You can choose between our 7 Seas buffet or choose a 2- or 3-course dinner at The Explorer a la carte restaurant. Please be aware that it is not possible to pre-book at our pizza & pasta restaurant, Little Italy.

Allergies:
Onboard we can cater to all dietary requirements and offer a range of different meal options. Once within the restaurant please advise a member of staff and they will have an allergen policy for you to read and will also direct you to the most suitable options.

More information on catering can be found here.

Sometimes the unexpected happens, therefore we advise all our customers to ensure they have adequate travel insurance.

Only for Norwegian customers:
You can buy cancellation insurance as a Norwegian traveller. The insurance must be bought at the time of booking the journey, and must be bought for each person to be valid. 50 NOK per person.

For more information regarding travel insurance, please see chapter 10 of our Terms & Conditions