Going to France without passport?

bum · 17 Jun 2009 at 12:15

I'm planning to attent a summer school in France for 2 weeks from the beginning of July and I don't actually have my passport with me, as I applied for something else at Home Office without a return date.

I heard you can actually apply for something that allowing you leave/return UK without your passport. Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks

me227 · 17 Jun 2009 at 12:16

You can't if you're going out or back into the UK. I think some people get away with it on the ferry but on a plane you won't be able to.

Ucof · 17 Jun 2009 at 12:17

You should be able to use a driving Licence as it is in the EU.

Dont quote me on that though.

Naamiko_O · 17 Jun 2009 at 12:18

You need your passport to fly and if you take the ferry French officers can refuse you entry to the country if you don't have it, however sometimes they don't always check but they will do when you try to return.
I know that in europe, europeans can travel with just their ID card as it has their nationality on but we don't have such a thing in the UK.

Be safe, not sorry!

Edit: You can use your driving license but it's completly at the disgression of the French Officers, it's a very grey matter. I was meant to travel 2 months or so ago over to france for Lan79 gaming lan and forgot my passport so I rang up Birmingham Airport Immigration and they said that it's at the disgression of the French officers, they might let you travel, they might not (This was over on the ferry)
If you're flying you will definatly need your passport.

Burnsy2023 · 17 Jun 2009 at 12:19

Ucof said:
You should be able to use a driving Licence as it is in the EU.

Dont quote me on that though.

I think the UK opted out of that.

richard smith · 17 Jun 2009 at 12:29

You'll need a passport.

neil3k · 17 Jun 2009 at 12:31

passeporte

KaHn · 17 Jun 2009 at 12:38

The thing with ID cards is the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement but as stated is not included in the UK or Ireland.

get a passport tbh.

KaHn

bum · 17 Jun 2009 at 12:45

So I take that flying is the same with Eurostars then?

Bah I need to ring Home Office now

"andy" · 17 Jun 2009 at 12:50

shocked at ten posts without a "come back as an illegal immigrant so you get looked after better" post

Will Gill · 17 Jun 2009 at 12:57

100% need your passport, I tried the driving license blag and got laughed at

Origin · 17 Jun 2009 at 13:27

KaHn said:
The thing with ID cards is the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement but as stated is not included in the UK or Ireland.

get a passport tbh.

KaHn

He has a passport, it is at the Home Office.

as I applied for something else at Home Office without a return date.

magmax · 17 Jun 2009 at 13:39

100% you will need your passport.

bum · 17 Jun 2009 at 20:13

Attempted to call Home Office continously regarding my passport from lunch time till 5:30pm and never got through and as I called at 5:30 for the last time, the message says they got off work at 4:45....

:mad:

I don't have much time left until july and I'm getting a bit worried

dbmzk1 · 17 Jun 2009 at 20:46

Yes, you WILL need a passport.

You should also get a EHIC (previously E111).

Sash · 17 Jun 2009 at 20:50

You can only fly from the UK to Ireland without a passport afaik.

Hate · 17 Jun 2009 at 20:50

I can confirm on that when I went on the Eurostar I went through passport control each way.

Burnsy2023 · 17 Jun 2009 at 20:52

Sash said:
You can only fly from the UK to Ireland without a passport afaik.

That's true, we have a common travel agreement with them.

Stretch · 17 Jun 2009 at 21:09

richard smith said:
You'll need a passport.

Stretch · 17 Jun 2009 at 21:12

bum said:
Attempted to call Home Office continously regarding my passport from lunch time till 5:30pm and never got through and as I called at 5:30 for the last time, the message says they got off work at 4:45....

I don't have much time left until july and I'm getting a bit worried

If you want a passport very quickly you'll need to go to the Passport Office in person. I'm not sure how it works if you've already applied for one though.

The nearest one to me is in Peterborough but there maybe be one in london.

There is. London Passport Office