Airlines and boat operators that fail to ensure passengers have proper documentation before bringing them to Ireland are to face increased fines from today.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has signed an order to increase the maximum fines to €5,000 – up from €3,000. 

The fines have not been increased since the Immigration Act was first signed in 2003. 

Ms McEntee said airlines and ferry operators play “an essential role in protecting and upholding our borders”. 

“They are obligated to ensure their passengers have the necessary valid passports, ID cards and visas to travel to Ireland,” she said. 

“This is one of a number of steps which I am taking to deliver a fair, but firm immigration system.” 

Irish passport control at Dublin Airport. Image: PA Images / Alamy

She said there has already been a “30% to 40% reduction” in people coming to Irish airports with false documents or destroying their documents on arrival in the past two years due to tighter security.

“The actions that were taken, the fines that are already being applied, the work that's been done in the airport - but also in other European airports and beyond - is working,” she said. 

“However, where the rules are not followed, increased fines will now apply.” 

She said doorstop operations at Dublin airport and increased training for airline staff will reduce the number of people arriving in Ireland without the necessary travel documents. 

Increased fines for airlines

Minister McEntee has also provided specific funding for the Garda Airport Liaison Officer programme, and increased resources for the Border Management Unit (BMU) and the International Protection Office. 

BMU and Garda National Immigration Bureau can carry out doorstop operations at airplanes to target those who destroyed documents inflight. 

Approximately 4,500 ‘doorstop’ operations were carried out in the first half of 2024. 

Gardaí arrested 115 people in the first half of 2024 for arriving without appropriate documentation. 

The Minister also intends to introduce further measures, such as “a dynamic fines model” that recognises “carriers who strongly enforce documentation requirements”.