Do i need a passport if i went to France on the ferry?

sturll

omelette451 wrote: »

The 'eurozone' refers to the currency union; I was thinking more of the EEA as a travel union.
The OP asked about a ferry to France, not a trip to Turkey.
Most people travel mostly in the EU/EEA, and I for one would *love* to have a credit card-sized passport to avoid the need to destroy my red one any more by carrying it around everywhere with me.

What i meant was if (going by your referral to ID cards) then he would still need a passport if in the future he decided to go to say the USA.
So all your ID card would have done was put a potential problem off whereas a passport would have solved it all.

dzug1

jammin wrote: »

As per omelette451, British Citizens need a valid passport to enter the territory of another Member State (except Ireland).

Any stories that you don't need a passport to enter France are fictional.

Last time I went to France by car the first time anyone looked at my passport - or even checked I had one - was arriving back at Portsmouth.

It shouldn't have happened of course but it did.

tomarola

Yes you need your passports and I would advise insurance just incase.

omelette451

dontdoit wrote: »

I for one, wouldn't. You have a passport so why go to the expense of another card you have to pay for, and then need, to travel. You don't honestly beleive that the UK would give you one for free. The UK will eventually demand fingerprints and photos of everyone entering/leaving the UK (similar to US-VISIT),

But you wouldn't need it! Other European countries issue them as an 'extra' passport designed to make it easier to travel freely within the Union, but their citizens are free to choose to use a proper passport instead if they so desire. I also don't see how it need be overly expensive either, given that they would be issued at the same time as normal passports. Just for clarification, I'm not talking about the ill-fated ID cards as currently proposed by the government (complete with fingerprints, etc.), but rather about those as currently carried by citizens of nearly every other European country and which contain no information not currently contained within a passport (and conceivably, if the two are merged, a driving licence). By all means you could choose not to have one, but I don't see why those of us who want one should be denied it.

sturll

omelette451 wrote: »

But you wouldn't need it! Other European countries issue them as an 'extra' passport designed to make it easier to travel freely within the Union, but their citizens are free to choose to use a proper passport instead if they so desire. I also don't see how it need be overly expensive either, given that they would be issued at the same time as normal passports. Just for clarification, I'm not talking about the ill-fated ID cards as currently proposed by the government (complete with fingerprints, etc.), but rather about those as currently carried by citizens of nearly every other European country and which contain no information not currently contained within a passport (and conceivably, if the two are merged, a driving licence). By all means you could choose not to have one, but I don't see why those of us who want one should be denied it.

So if you're willing to purchase and obtain an ID card style passport, why not just get a passport?

jammin_2

sturll wrote: »

So if you're willing to purchase and obtain an ID card style passport, why not just get a passport?

If National ID cards were to exist for British Citizens, they may be cheaper than a passport. If a person travels within Europe, but not elsewhere, there is an obvious financial saving.

There is also the convenience factor. A credit card sized ID card can fit in your wallet. Passports, carried separately, can be lost.

But then you probably don't need to worry about losing your passport when in France, since you don't feel you need to take it, eh Sturll?

sturll

jammin wrote: »

If National ID cards were to exist for British Citizens, they may be cheaper than a passport. If a person travels within Europe, but not elsewhere, there is an obvious financial saving.

There is also the convenience factor. A credit card sized ID card can fit in your wallet. Passports, carried separately, can be lost.

But then you probably don't need to worry about losing your passport when in France, since you don't feel you need to take it, eh Sturll?

Perhaps you should look into things before you attempt to patronise me. Travel from/To the UK is one of the few entry points within the EU where you actually need a passport. I have yet to be asked for my passport upon leaving the UK via Ferry to France.

If you would like to carry around and pay for 2 separate travel documents then go ahead. Me - Ill just buy the one :beer:

omelette451

jammin wrote: »

There is also the convenience factor. A credit card sized ID card can fit in your wallet. Passports, carried separately, can be lost.

Exactly. A passport is bulky, annoying to carry (and in some countries there are laws saying that you have to have official ID with you at all times), and completely unnecessary. I would much prefer to have a credit card-sized piece of lightweight plastic that I can keep in my wallet all the time and that could be used whenever I need ID (I don't drive).

There's also a symbolic factor, in that we're supposed to be full and equal citizens of Europe but it still feels that we're not. I have to make a specific effort to get out my passport whenever I want to go anywhere, meaning the rest of Europe is still "abroad", but a Frenchman (for example) coming here doesn't need to make any more effort than opening his wallet and pulling out what seems like a Tesco clubcard. That's how it's supposed to be for everyone, Schengen or non-Schengen.

(As an aside, I always remember getting off a train in pre-Schengen Basle, when anyone with an ID card showed it like a bus pass and waved through but anyone with a passport, British, Nigerian and Pakistani alike, had to wait and have it scanned properly. Unfairness times a million.)

sturll

omelette451 wrote: »

Exactly. A passport is bulky, annoying to carry (and in some countries there are laws saying that you have to have official ID with you at all times), and completely unnecessary. I would much prefer to have a credit card-sized piece of lightweight plastic that I can keep in my wallet all the time and that could be used whenever I need ID (I don't drive).

There's also a symbolic factor, in that we're supposed to be full and equal citizens of Europe but it still feels that we're not. I have to make a specific effort to get out my passport whenever I want to go anywhere, meaning the rest of Europe is still "abroad", but a Frenchman (for example) coming here doesn't need to make any more effort than opening his wallet and pulling out what seems like a Tesco clubcard. That's how it's supposed to be for everyone, Schengen or non-Schengen.

(As an aside, I always remember getting off a train in pre-Schengen Basle, when anyone with an ID card showed it like a bus pass and waved through but anyone with a passport, British, Nigerian and Pakistani alike, had to wait and have it scanned properly. Unfairness times a million.)

Then we should surely change our currency?

The thing is most British people don'tconsider themselves Europeans but British. Europe will always be abroad whether you have an ID card or not, since it is another country and always will be - Unless we invade them and they get out their much loved white flag

Calling a passport bulky is quite frankly ridiculous. You have not put forward a single credible argument for the usage of EU wide travel ID cards. And in reality, if the effort of getting out a passport is that much that legislation should be introduced and millions spent on implimenting a scheme to make it that bit more effortless so that people can reach into their wallets rather than their back pockets then i think you need reminding about the recession, state of pensions, NHS, Public Transport, Taxes etc etc etc...

And in terms of your unfairness in scanning your passport then i suggest you grow a thicker skin.

jammin_2

sturll wrote: »

Perhaps you should look into things before you attempt to patronise me. Travel from/To the UK is one of the few entry points within the EU where you actually need a passport. I have yet to be asked for my passport upon leaving the UK via Ferry to France.

If you would like to carry around and pay for 2 separate travel documents then go ahead. Me - Ill just buy the one :beer:

Sturll, you're still missing the point mate.

If I know I'll probably travel outside of the EEA, I'll get a passport. If I know I will travel only within the EEA, I'd get a National ID card (if they existed for BCs). If I can afford it, and if I think it'd be convenient for intra-EEA travelling, I may get a National ID and a passport (but carry only the National ID card within the EEA).

Also, please understand that everyone needs to carry a valid passport or EEA National ID card when travelling with the EEA (UK / Irish citizens excepted, when moving among the CTA). You mustn't keep telling yourself that only when travelling from / to the UK must you carry a passport. It's not true.

Please see EU Directive 2004/38/EC on your rights, and the rights of your family members, to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States.