Can I travel to France/Belgium/Germany without a passport??

[The Moose]

As the title says - can I go (car) without passport??

I washed my passport so am going to post it off to be made new again but want to go to France in the mean time.

Can I travel just on my (photocard) driving licence??

Cheers

The Moose

[ellroy]

Technically I think you can, but practically not.

I used to travel all over on a military ID, with no issue, but, I believe, the rule is you can travel on a national ID card, or passport, if a EU citizen and within the EU. However, I do not think the driving license counts.

[cazzer]

You can more than likely get out.
But you won't get back.

Not a bad result really.

[Finlandia]

No, as UK is not part of the Schengen agreement. Then again, the risk of getting caught by car is slim to none.

[Puggit]

No...

You might be able to get in to Europe, you'll sure struggle getting back (unless you claim asylum - then you'll be given a free pass to Croydon)

[fadeaway]

Nope, you can't.

You can travel between France, Belgium and Germany without one, but to enter and leave the UK you need a passport.

[bradders]

Went on ski trip a few years ago, and one of our party of 4 managed to leave his passport on the top of the fridge in the apartment we were staying in. We were driving, and stayed in Soll, Austria.

Passed through all Euro borders without any issues, and expected a massive problem getting back into th UK. Problem never transpired. They let him travel back into the UK using his photo driving license. Passport got posted back a couple of weeks later.

Getting out might prove to be more of a problem I think, as I've always been checked on the way out.

[Oily Nails]

Puggit said:

... you'll be given a free pass to Croydon)

I have seen many a website, many a bar fight and many a threat....but SWEET JEBUS! If that isn't the single most vile and evil statement I have ever read..... :shudder:

[The Moose]

Thanks for the replies guys - I have to say I would rather not have the hassle of getting back in tbh.

Bit silly as I am obviously English - White middle class male - im going to be English!! Lol.

I just wouldn't want te hassle tbh.

Cheers

The Moose

[shirt]

cazzer said:

You can more than likely get out.
But you won't get back.

Not a bad result really.

if going through calais, he may be ok.

I was planning a trip to luxembourg with a passport-less mate. I rang the ferry company who said they'd let us travel as long as he had his driving licence photo id and we should also check with customs.

rang dover customs, whose phone was answered by a frenchman with a poor grasp of english. he transferred me to an english guy who explained thus:

dover is/was (this was 3-4yrs ago) staffed by the french, the brits staff calais. he said that if a brit arrived at calais who could prove they were british, they would get on the boat. he gave me his name in case we had a problem, and advised we ring the embassy of each country we intended to pass through to ok the dl as id. belgium were the only ones to say no.

so yes its possible, though hardly practical. ferry operator should be your first call as, whilst not a legal requirement, its in their terms that you have a valid passport.

[davethebunny]

my boss went on a booze run to calais a couple of years ago in the car from coventry.

Tooke his mrs' expired passport by mistake. No probs either way

[CoolC]

I've used Eurotunnel 4 times this year. I've never had my passport checked on the way out of the UK, but had it checked on the way back every time.

[JCW]

In short. Yes you can. I've done it a few times mistakenly, and they'll simply ask you for your name/address etc and let you on your way.

[Beardy10]

Slightly off topic. You can quite happily travel to and from the Republic of Ireland with just your driving license though you have to have been born in the UK.

[Original Poster]

Puggit said:

No...

You might be able to get in to Europe, you'll sure struggle getting back (unless you claim asylum - then you'll be given a free pass to Croydon hell.

[Roo]

CoolC said:

I've used Eurotunnel 4 times this year. I've never had my passport checked on the way out of the UK, but had it checked on the way back every time.

Had exactly this last week. And it's the UKBA who are very stringent at the moment with checking them.

[F i F]

euroboy said:

I travel in/out from the UK to France, Belgium and NL dozens of times per year by air, ferry and train.

I have NEVER not been asked for my passport.

In summary: No, you are screwed.

This ^^, exactly this. In fact to make an EFA, sometimes you are asked for it several times dependant upon location and operator.

Only once not showed passport, that was because for very good reasons I didn't have it, Border Agency had been pre-informed but still wanted to see photo i.d. in that case driving licence and Swedish plod papers sufficed.

[FUBAR]

Whether legally or not it is possible. Group of us went to Spa for a TD/weekend last month. PH's very own Touching Cloth turns up at the ferry port and realised he had left his passport at home, but had his photo driving licence. Passport Control let him out, though commented he might have problems coming back in. Passport Control at Dunkirk on the return let him through with just his photo card and a .

[5potTurbo]

FUBAR said:

Whether legally or not it is possible. Group of us went to Spa for a TD/weekend last month. PH's very own Touching Cloth turns up at the ferry port and realised he had left his passport at home, but had his photo driving licence. Passport Control let him out, though commented he might have problems coming back in. Passport Control at Dunkirk on the return let him through with just his photo card and a .

This is usually the case. A friend & colleague of mine regulalry loses his passport (idiot!) and manages to get to/from the UK (back to Luxembourg) using his photocard UK driving licence.

Dukirk (Dunkerque) are particularly accomodating with the a photocard UK driving licence, but they will NEVER guarantee to letting you enter the UK without a valid passport!

Best thing: get a new passport.

As the UK is not a Schengen member and we do not have national ID cards, it is still recommended to have your passport with you when you cross borders within the Schengen area.