Check-in & boarding
Here you can see when you need to be at the terminal in IJmuiden or North Shields, which documents you need for the UK and how arrival works in the morning.
- Check-in closes 45 minutes before departure
- Passport for every traveller, ID cards not accepted
- Apply for your ETA online in advance
Check-in in IJmuiden and Newcastle
Table of Contents
The deadlines
DFDS closes check-in 45 minutes before departure. The ferry from IJmuiden leaves at 17:30, so check-in there closes at 16:45. From North Shields it leaves at 17:00, and check-in closes at 16:15. Both times are local; the UK is one hour behind the Netherlands.
Vehicles with low ground clearance check in earlier: 45 to 60 minutes after car check-in opens, and no later than 15:30 in IJmuiden and 15:00 in Newcastle. Mention this when you book.
Passport and ETA
To enter the UK, every traveller needs a valid passport. For most EU citizens the UK no longer accepts national ID cards. Exceptions apply only to a few groups, such as people with status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Visitors also need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for every person, including every child. The only exceptions are travellers with a British or Irish passport and people with permission to live, work or study in the UK. You apply online to the UK government in advance; it is linked to your passport and is valid for two years or until the passport expires. You usually get a decision within a day, but it can take up to three working days, so don't leave it until the day you travel. You don't need an ETA for the return journey to the Netherlands.
What to show at check-in
Have these ready:
- a passport for every traveller,
- your booking confirmation,
- your vehicle documents if you are travelling by car, motorhome or motorcycle,
- your pet's documents if a dog is travelling with you.
If a child is travelling with an adult who has a different surname, DFDS may ask for proof that the child is allowed to travel. There are security checks at all ports.
Check-in in IJmuiden
The terminal in IJmuiden is on the Sluisplein, west of Amsterdam on the North Sea coast. It is open from 09:00 to 17:45. If you are travelling without a car, the transfer bus brings you from central Amsterdam. Address, parking and directions are on the IJmuiden ferry terminal page.
Check-in in Newcastle
In North Shields on the Tyne, the ferry berths at the DFDS terminal at Royal Quays. The terminal is open from 09:00 to 16:30. The transfer bus from Newcastle city centre is timed so that you arrive before check-in closes. There is more on the Newcastle ferry terminal page.
In the morning: arrival
The breakfast buffet opens at 07:00 and runs until the ship docks. The vehicle deck usually opens about 15 minutes before docking, and announcements tell you when to go to your car or the gangway. All passengers leave the ship at the port. In North Shields you then go through UK border control, so keep your passport to hand. What comes next is on the Getting there & onward travel page.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about check-in
Can I enter the UK with a national ID card? +
No. For most EU citizens the UK no longer accepts ID cards, so you need a valid passport. Visitors also need an ETA for every person.
Do children need their own ETA? +
Yes, every person needs their own ETA, including babies and children. The ETA is linked to the passport. What it costs is on the Prices & fares page.
What happens if I arrive late? +
Check-in closes 45 minutes before departure: at 16:45 in IJmuiden and at 16:15 in Newcastle. After that you can no longer board. Allow plenty of spare time for the journey to the port.
Which documents do I show at check-in? +
Your passport, your booking confirmation and, if they are travelling with you, the papers for your vehicle and your pet. What the UK requires for dogs is on the Dogs & pets page.