Help.. passport expired.. need to travel sunday?

Rainbow_Butterfly

I have been bought a break to brussels as xmas present, leaving on sunday, but have just checked any my passport expired in October. I have rang the passport office but they do not reopen until tuesday. I have seen online that it is sometimes possible to travel with other forms of ID within the EU?? Flight leaves from heathrow, outbound with united, back with american airlines. Im a normal UK citizen in the forces and have lots of other forms of ID if any of these might be accepted??



Thanks.

phatbear

Hi,

In theory you can travel EU to EU state without any need for a passport you just need a govermentally approved form of photo ID, therefore, again in theory, taking your old passport and other photo id would suffice, the only slight issue with this is you may be delayed both sides, ie in and out, running some checks on you.

However, often a lot of these airlines will not carry people without a valid passport, for instance, even though you dont need a passport for a domestic flight the likes of ryanair, and i think easyjet, will not accept any passengers without one.

So first port of call would be ensure the airline is willing to carry you without a valid passport.

KonkyWonky

There is such a thing as an emergency/temporary passport for genuine cases of emergency. I would imagine they would be reluctant to provide an emergency passport on the basis that you got given a vacation as a present though. Its not like you can claim a lost or stolen passport as they can easily check that your passport was invalid.

The only other alternative to a passport (emergency or otherwise) is a national ID card and our government doesn't supply them.

stclair

KonkyWonky wrote: »

There is such a thing as an emergency/temporary passport for genuine cases of emergency. I would imagine they would be reluctant to provide an emergency passport on the basis that you got given a vacation as a present though. Its not like you can claim a lost or stolen passport as they can easily check that your passport was invalid.

The only other alternative to a passport (emergency or otherwise) is a national ID card and our government doesn't supply them.

National ID cards are available now if you live or work the North West.

Rainbow_Butterfly

I have spoken to the Foreign and commonwealth office, they are fine with the idea as far as re-entering the country goes, but apparently I need the agreement of the belgian embassy and having rung them it seems they are closed until monday. Not sure what else to do. I have been given the following numbers for the airlines concerned in belgium (un 3227133600 am 3227119969) , but they just goto overseas (not belgium!!) call centres that have no idea what im talking about or why on earth I would want to travel without a passport.
Any ideas on anyone else I could try to contact? xx

hikiko

You'll need a passport (or id card) to travel to Europe by air
I don't know if they'll be open tomorrow but the passport service does do a 4 hour service at their regional centres. Best of luck.
Their number is 0300 222 0000, unfortunately I can't post the link for their website.

pennylane99

if you are in the UK armed forces, do you not have anyone there that can help or suggest

Errata

outbound with united, back with american airlines.

You need to check with the airlines. Could be very dicey as both these are USA ones and they've been very, very twitchy since 9/11.

dblue75

Hi....I'm an immigration officer....to cut a long story short. It's up to the airline whether they carry you or not i'm afraid.

And most likely they will NOT carry you. I'm sorry and i know thats not the answer you want to hear.

Reason...as they would be liable for Carriers Liabilty Action...costing them £2K fine for carrying an incorrectly documented pax.

Contact who you are flying with, explain your predicament. You are not the 1st person this has happened to. as for coming back to the UK. You can in theory travel without a passport....as long as you can satisfy an Immigration Officer you are a Brit Cit and have other forms of ID etc... and we will do checks on you. It's up to the Belgians and airline to decide your fate. Sorry....

adouglasmhor

Rainbow_Butterfly wrote: »

I have been bought a break to brussels as xmas present, leaving on sunday, but have just checked any my passport expired in October. I have rang the passport office but they do not reopen until tuesday. I have seen online that it is sometimes possible to travel with other forms of ID within the EU?? Flight leaves from heathrow, outbound with united, back with american airlines. Im a normal UK citizen in the forces and have lots of other forms of ID if any of these might be accepted??



Thanks.

Can your duty clerk not sort you out a NATO travel order any more? That does you for the Belgian authorities. The airline is another kettle of fish.

If he does bring him back some Belgian beer for his trouble.

woody01

Im a normal UK citizen in the forces and have lots of other forms of ID if any of these might be accepted??

Passports are automatically renewed if you are in the amred forces.