Ryanair: no more paper boarding passes, the low-cost airline creates new rules!

As of Wednesday November 12, 2025, Irish airline Ryanair is imposing a new rule: printed boarding passes will no longer be accepted. From now on, only the digital version will be valid, via the company’s mobile application. In its press release, Ryanair specifies that this digital boarding pass will be sent during online check-in, and that it will remain accessible offline in the app.
For you, as a traveler to Ireland, this means a concrete change: forget last-minute paper printing at home or at the airport, and give preference to your smartphone!

Ryanair goes all-digital!

Why the change? Ecology, economics… or both?

Ryanair puts forward several reasons: firstly, an ecological rationale – to reduce the use of paper and printing at airport counters. Secondly, the desire to optimize the user experience and rationalize costs: an end to the small gesture of printing, “paper” boarding counters, more remote processes.
The company notes that around 80% of its 207 million passengers a year already use the digital card.

However, some consumer associations denounce a possible “digital divide”: not all passengers are comfortable with smartphones, or have reliable Internet access or a charged phone.

If you’re planning a flight to Ireland with Ryanair, it’s best to anticipate any potential problems: low battery, app not downloaded, unstable connection.

What does this mean for your trip to Ireland?

If you use Ryanair for a flight to, from or via Ireland (e.g. to Dublin, Cork or Shannon), here are the points to watch out for:

Download the Ryanair app before you get to the airport. Make sure you have access to your boarding pass in the app.
Make sure your smartphone is charged: low battery? Take an external battery or cable to recharge at the airport.
Offline mode: even without an internet connection at the airport, the application should be able to display your boarding pass. Check this before you leave.
Online check-in: do it on time (often 48 h then 24 h before departure, depending on the airport) to receive your digital card.
Plan B? Although Ryanair has announced that in the event of a completely unusable phone they will issue a boarding pass at the counter free of charge, this assumes that you have already checked in online.
Beware of passengers who are less comfortable with digital technology: if you’re traveling with someone who is less accustomed to smartphones or digital technology, consider helping them prepare the app or print out a paper confirmation (although not accepted as a boarding pass).

Special points for visitors to Ireland

For a traveler coming from France or Europe to Ireland via Ryanair, this change comes at a time when the experience at the airport can already be stressful: formalities, resumption of flight time, baggage reclaim, and so on. Here are a few more tips:

If you’re arriving at the airport offline (rural area, sea crossing to Ireland), allow time before check-in to log in and download the e-boarding pass.
Remember to check that the Ryanair application is up to date and that notifications are activated.
Print out a PDF version of the boarding pass (even if it won’t be accepted), so that you have the reference number and can present it in case of trouble.
Keep an eye on company e-mails: check-in notifications, schedule changes or gate notifications.
At your destination in Ireland, note that some regional airports have limited wi-fi access: don’t count on an immediate connection on arrival to solve a digital boarding problem.

Impacts and reactions

The switch to 100% digital technology has met with mixed reactions. For some passengers, it’s a gain: no more paper to manage, everything is already in the application. For others, it’s a source of anxiety: “What if my phone breaks down?”, “What about passengers who don’t have a smartphone?”. As one passenger put it: “Those who want to stay on paper should be able to do so”.

One association points out that “around 30-40%” of people don’t have a smartphone or a data plan, which could pose a problem.

For those traveling to Ireland, this measure means extra attention to digital preparation. But in the long term, it could simplify airport flows, reduce counter waits, and enable Ryanair to pass on some of the savings in fares or services.