Do you still need a passport?

jammin_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Perhaps you're someone who only frequents the travel board but most people on MSE come for advice in the areas listed in my post and also on finance. If you look through any other board I think you'll find that NOBODY ever gets asked if they're a British citizen before answering their question, unless there's something in their post that implies that they might be. It'll certainly make discussions go with a swing if people have to be questioned about their residential status before having their questions answered.

Their residential status doesn't come into it. Only their country of citizenship affects what we're discussing here. To be honest, Oldernotwiser (interesting choice of username by the way), we really are taking this thread off-topic now, quite unnecessarily. Shall we call it a day?

Anyway, the OP, by all probabilities, is a British citizen. My point is simply that assuming this - a detail so crucial to the question - is not the correct way to go about answering it properly.

Tarry wrote:

I guess those people who frequent those others boards are not wanting to travel abroad though so you don't need to ask that sort of questions.

Exactly correct. But I think Oldernotwiser knows this really.

McKneff

We travel frequently on mini cruises from Hull to Amsterdam and our passport
are checked twice on the way on to the boat, at check in and before we board and then comimg back also in Amsterdam.

Barneysmom

Thanks everyone!
I am British, English
I just wasn't sure what the rules are now as it's been such a long time since we went abroad.
I wouldn't dream of trying to go without one though, that would be mad, if they still are being used for Europe.

You know those plastic I.D cards they are on about bringing out, will they be cheaper than a passport do you think? I don't think I want one really, what purpose do they have?

jammin_2

Barneysmom wrote: »

You know those plastic I.D cards they are on about bringing out, will they be cheaper than a passport do you think? I don't think I want one really, what purpose do they have?

If National ID cards become a reality in the UK, you will be able to move within the EEA carrying one in lieu of your passport. It's too earlier to speculate how much ID cards will cost, but yes, probably cheaper than a passport. It'd certainly be much easier to carry in your wallet than a passport.

dzug1

pennylane99 wrote: »

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/europe/belgium

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for at least six months

That's rubbish. It's against EU law for a member country to demand ANY minimum validity on ID dcuments carried by citizens of member states.

A UK government website should really know better

pennylane99

jammin wrote: »

If National ID cards become a reality in the UK, you will be able to move within the EEA carrying one in lieu of your passport. It's too earlier to speculate how much ID cards will cost, but yes, probably cheaper than a passport. It'd certainly be much easier to carry in your wallet than a passport.

you will still need a full passport to travel outside EU, at the moment the estimated cost is £60 on top of the passport fee to cover fingerprinting and eye scans

Tarry

I paid £72 back in July to renew my Dad's passport.

pennylane99

Tarry wrote: »

I paid £72 back in July to renew my Dad's passport.

the extra cost is scheduled for new passports from 2011, so could actually be a lot more by then

Tarry

I dread to think what it would cost in 2015 than (when mine runs out)

Barneysmom

£72.00!!! :eek:
Oh gosh I don't think we'll be going anywhere soon!