Travel within EU without passport?
Nov 21, 2007, 9:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,993
Travel within EU without passport?
I can't find my passport and am flying to Madrid tomorrow! 
My friend just told me that you can fly within the EU on a UK driving license - I'm sure that isn't true? Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks - the wife is going to kill me!
My friend just told me that you can fly within the EU on a UK driving license - I'm sure that isn't true? Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks - the wife is going to kill me!
Nov 21, 2007, 9:55 am
#2
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You can fly within Schengen countries with a "Schengen" approved ID. UK is not a Schengen country so they will not let you in rightfully. Let your wife have some fun with Spaniards in Madrid. 
Can't you get an emergency passport? They do these at the HEL.
Can't you get an emergency passport? They do these at the HEL.
Nov 21, 2007, 9:55 am
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Location: UK
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Posts: 4,168
That is not possible, you do require a passport.
When is your flight to MAD ? You can get a passport issued same-day, but this might not be an option for you as the turn-around time is (IIRC) 4 hours.
BAH
When is your flight to MAD ? You can get a passport issued same-day, but this might not be an option for you as the turn-around time is (IIRC) 4 hours.
BAH
Nov 21, 2007, 10:28 am
#6
Join Date: May 2005
Location: UK
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Posts: 4,168
Given recent events the chances of the identity card ever seeing light of day seems more remote than ever (thankfully).
BAH
Nov 21, 2007, 10:31 am
#7
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Nov 21, 2007, 10:32 am
#8
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Location: London, UK and Southern France
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As a purely legal matter, if you are an EU national, you can in theory cross intra-EU borders with any document that shows your entitlement to cross the border, i.e. anything that proves your ID and nationality.
In practice, the airline is likely to refuse you boarding if you do not have a passport or, for some nationalities, ID card.
In practice, the airline is likely to refuse you boarding if you do not have a passport or, for some nationalities, ID card.
Nov 21, 2007, 10:41 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: CGK
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Posts: 5,677
A driver's license is not sufficient for this purpose, not least because it does not list your nationality on it.
As for the case at hand - entering the Schengen Zone from a non-Schengen country (regardless of whether that non-Schengen country is part of the EU or not) requires a proper ID document. And since the only acceptable border crossing document available to Brits is their passport, you're pretty much sunk without it.
The bit with the driver's license applies when you fly within the Common Travel Area the UK and Ireland have instituted. Likewise, if you were flying within the Schengen Zone, the driver's license would also be sufficient. Actually, if you were to check-in online or at a kiosk, you would not need ID at all to fly within Schengen.
Nov 21, 2007, 10:51 am
#10
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As a purely legal matter, if you are an EU national, you can in theory cross intra-EU borders with any document that shows your entitlement to cross the border, i.e. anything that proves your ID and nationality.
In practice, the airline is likely to refuse you boarding if you do not have a passport or, for some nationalities, ID card.
In practice, the airline is likely to refuse you boarding if you do not have a passport or, for some nationalities, ID card.
Code:
/ 21NOV07 / 1748 UTC
National CYPRUS (CY) /Residence GERMANY (DE)
Embarkation SLOVAK REPUBLIC (SK)
Transit NETHERLANDS (NL)
Destination UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAIN) (GB)
Visited ROMANIA (RO)
ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW
NETHERLANDS (NL)
Visa not required, provided holding Residence Permit.
Passenger is required to hold tickets for return/onward
journey and all documents required for next destination.
Non-compliance with transit regulations may result in
deportation of passenger and/or costs for transporting carrier.
UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAIN)
Passport or National Identity Card required.
Visa not required.
Minors:
children registered in parent's or guardian's passport:
- may not travel without holder of passport; and
- visa in passport (if required) must indicate that it is
also valid for the child(ren).
Flights from/to United Kingdom to/from Channel Islands,
Ireland (Rep. of) and the Isle of Man are domestic flights.
Therefore, there is no Immigration control.
Non-compliance with entry requirements(incl. forged documents)
will result in fines for carrier of GBP 2,000.- per visitor
and either deportation or indefinite delay for visitor at
point of entry (detention costs at carrier's expense).
A person may be considered committing an offence upon arrival
in the United Kingdom, if failing to produce to an Immigration
Officer a document, which satisfactorily establishes identity,
nationality, or citizenship. A person guilty of this offence
may be liable to up to 2 years in prison, or a fine, or both.
For School Groups travelling within the E.U., pupils do not
require:
1. a passport or visa, when the "List of Travellers" (LOT):
- is stamped by the school and authenticated by the
responsible authority of the Member State; and
- contains photos of the pupils; or
2. a visa, when the LOT:
- is stamped by the school (this will not contain photos of
the pupils); and
- pupil holds their own travel document and proof of
residence.
In both cases, the school group must be accompanied by a
teacher who can identify the pupils.
NETHERLANDS (NL)
Vaccinations not required.
UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAI
Vaccinations not required.
CHECK TINEWS/N10 - WHEN DEPARTING THE U.S.A.
Timaticweb Version 1.3
21 November 2007
Quite a few years ago (roughly between the present and the advent of the E.U.), I flew to and from TLS with a German friend. She had no trouble getting on the IJ (Air Liberte) flights and through French and U.K. immigration with just a German ID card.
Nov 21, 2007, 10:57 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
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If the OP has a recently-expired 9within 1 year) passport, it's good for travel to Spain.
For what's it's worth, here's the KLM.com Timatic query page.
The fields you want to answer at a minimum are:
Nationality
Destination
Embarkation
"Answer" is for your country of residence only if it's not your country of nationality.
Code:
/ 21NOV07 / 1753 UTC
National UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAIN) (GB)
Embarkation UNITED KINGDOM (GREAT BRITAIN) (GB)
Destination SPAIN (ES)
SPAIN (ES)
Passport (may be expired max. 1 year) required.
1. Visa not required for a stay of max. 3 months:
a. if holding British passport endorsed:
- British Citizen ; or
- British National (Overseas) ; or
- British Overseas Territories Citizen (previously
referred to as British Dependent Territories
Citizen , see TIRULES/R16 ), provided bearing
endorsement Holder is defined as British National
for Community Purposes" which applies only to
residents of Gibraltar; or
- British Subject ; OR
b. if holding British passport with any of the following
territories mentioned on the outside front cover:
- Anguila, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat,
Turks & Caicos Is., St. Helena or Virgin Is..
If intended stay exceeds 3 months, visitor must apply for
an extension at the Immigration Department.
2. In all other cases:
Passport required (must be valid at least 3 months beyond
expiration of visa).
Visa required.
If not holding British passport endorsed British Citizen or
with wording "European Community" or "European Union" on the
front cover, visitor may be requested to show:
- visible means of support during stay (EUR 57.- per day of
stay with a minimun of EUR 514.- or equivalent in other
freely convertible currency, except for students); and
- documents and ticket for return/onward journey.
Non-compliance with the entry regulations may result in fines
between EUR 6,025.- and EUR 60,240.-.
Minors: when accompanied by parent or legal guardian or if
travelling alone:
a. up to/incl.15 years old can be included in a parent's
passport but must be accompanied by that passport holder;
b. from 16 to 18 years old must hold:
their own passport and exit form from country of origin
(if required by that country).
The exit form must be certified by the parent(s) or legal
guardian and legalized by their local authorities, e.g.
police, immigration authorities, etc..
For travel within the Schengen area: travel documents are not
generally required for travel within the Schengen area for
immigration purposes, however, it is strongly recommended that
the minor be in possession of the exit form, as passengers may
be subject to random checks.
SPAIN (ES)
Vaccinations not required.
CHECK TINEWS/N10 - WHEN DEPARTING THE U.S.A.
Timaticweb Version 1.3
21 November 2007
For what's it's worth, here's the KLM.com Timatic query page.
The fields you want to answer at a minimum are:
Nationality
Destination
Embarkation
"Answer" is for your country of residence only if it's not your country of nationality.
Nov 21, 2007, 10:57 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, QF LTG+LTQP
Posts: 495
I guess it's times like this that being a dual-national comes into its own...
Of course entering/leaving Spain would be easy.
Getting back into Britain could be difficult. I suppose I could just chance it with IRIS!
Would they get upset that a "foreigner" checked in in MAD, but never came through immigration?
Of course entering/leaving Spain would be easy.
Getting back into Britain could be difficult. I suppose I could just chance it with IRIS!
Would they get upset that a "foreigner" checked in in MAD, but never came through immigration?
Nov 21, 2007, 11:29 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
Nov 21, 2007, 12:04 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: CGK
Programs: LH SEN (LH*G), HH Diamond, AB Gold (1W Saph)
Posts: 5,677
Granted, but there are a number of countries which are not EU members but which I can enter with just my ID card. Switzerland and Croatia come to mind, there are some others that escape me at the moment. Before the last two rounds of EU expansion, I could also enter the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, etc. with just my national ID card as well, long before EU had any relevance there.
Nov 21, 2007, 12:09 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Plat, ICH Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 4,381
Eh, no, you would be stopped at the gate, as you will need an ID to match against your ticket/BP. Apart from that though technically there is no border control, you are not allowed to travel outside of the country of which you are a citizen without a valid travel ID.