Ryanair to require digital boarding passes from November 12
Ryanair will stop accepting printed boarding passes and move to 100 percent digital boarding on November 12, 2025. Travelers will need to check in on the myRyanair app and present the in-app pass at security and the gate. The airline says the shift follows similar digital moves in other industries and comes after the peak school-holiday period to ease the switchover. Ryanair adds that nearly 80 percent of customers already use mobile passes and that the change should speed boarding and reduce paper waste.
Key points
- Why it matters: Paper boarding passes will no longer be accepted by Ryanair from November 12, 2025.
- Travel impact: Check in and generate your pass in the myRyanair app before arriving at the airport.
- What's next: Expect more in-app features, like live flight info and "order to seat."
- Rollout date moved from November 3 to November 12 to avoid peak travel.
- Ryanair says almost 80 percent of passengers already use digital passes.
Snapshot
From November 12, Ryanair passengers will no longer be able to download or print a paper boarding pass. Boarding will require the digital pass generated during check-in in the myRyanair app. The airline frames the policy as faster, smarter, and greener, pointing to nearly 80 percent adoption of mobile passes and new app tools including real-time gate and delay updates. Ryanair initially targeted November 3, but delayed the cutover to a less busy period after the mid-term break to smooth operations. Travelers who prefer paper should plan to adapt now by confirming device access, charging phones before travel, and enabling the app's offline wallet.
Background
Ryanair has long nudged customers toward online check-in and mobile passes, charging fees for airport check-in and limiting desk services. The digital-only turn consolidates that direction into a single workflow anchored in the myRyanair app. The carrier points to faster boarding times, clearer disruption communications, and reduced printing as benefits. Its terms and conditions had already signaled a paper-pass sunset tied to early November, and the formal announcement confirms the drop-dead date. For travelers, the core change is simple: a smartphone with the Ryanair app becomes essential for boarding, alongside a passport or other required travel documents.
Latest developments
Ryanair's digital-only boarding pass policy: what travelers should do now
Download or update the myRyanair app, then complete online check-in as early as your fare allows. Save the boarding pass to the in-app wallet and consider a secondary device or printed trip itinerary for backups like booking references. Verify that your phone can display barcodes at full brightness, and keep a portable charger handy for longer days. If your trip is time-sensitive, build a buffer in case self-service lines or app sign-ins take longer during the first weeks of the change. For broader context on how federal staffing issues can also ripple through checkpoints and air traffic flow, see our explainer on potential federal shutdown impacts on travel, which outlines how strained operations can slow screening and flight throughput. Government shutdown travel impacts.
Analysis
Ryanair's move is notable because it goes beyond "mobile preferred" to "mobile required." For a high-volume, quick-turn LCC, shaving seconds off each interaction compounds into on-time performance and cost savings. The carrier also strengthens its direct digital channel, which supports ancillary sales and push notifications during disruptions. The trade-offs center on digital exclusion and edge cases: travelers without smartphones, those with dead batteries, and routes where manual document checks remain common. Ryanair's communications emphasize that the rollout follows a half-term lull to reduce friction, and the app now bundles live gate information and disruption alerts to justify the mandate. The strategy mirrors concerts and sports adopting phone-only tickets, but airlines face higher stakes when identification, visas, and safety-critical timing intersect. Execution on day one will determine whether benefits outweigh queuing hiccups and customer-service escalations.
Final thoughts
Ryanair's November 12 change cements the phone as your boarding credential. Make the switch well before departure, double-check that your device can display the QR code offline, and add power redundancy. If you have connecting plans or tight turns, arrive earlier during the first weeks of the rollout while agents and travelers settle into the new flow. With preparation, the shift to a digital boarding pass can streamline your journey and reduce paper waste, aligning with the airline's timetable for a full digital boarding pass experience.