Passport needed for France day trip???

AliBanjo

Years ago we used to occasionally pop over to France for a day trip using a temporary passport.

We got passports 11 years ago, but never actually ended up needing them due to health issues culminating in disability so they were never used and have now expired.

Whilst we now live the other side of the country, we thought it might be nice to holiday in Kent and pop over to France for a day trip. It now seems however that if we wanted to go over for a day trip we would have to shell out almost £150 for two passports which we probably would never use again. We do holiday in the UK but holidaying abroad would be difficult.

Is there any way around this, or does the Government have it all sewn up?

InsideInsurance

As the UK is not part of the Schengen agreement then any EU national, including british, must show their passport or national ID card to enter France from the UK. "Unfortunately" the UK doesnt issue ID cards so Passport is the only option.

As an EU national once in France you'd be free to travel to any other Schengen country without having to show any documents because of the free movement rules but that doesnt help.

In practice passports arent always checked, I have been through both Eurotunnel and Eurostar in recent years where the immigration desks were unmanned and so you just walked/ drove through but this clearly wouldnt be a sensible gamble to make.

DTDfanBoy

It's relatively easy to get out of the UK without a passport, but getting back in will be more of a problem, unless you don't mind hanging underneath a lorry for a few hours obtaining a passport is probably your best option.

runningben16

The French now seem to check inbound travellers more often than they used to.. I haven't saild past an empty passport booth for a while, though it used to happen all the time. And you won't get back on the boat/train, the UKBA check passports on the French side and are very thorough for obvious reasons. I don't know what happens if you claim to have lost your passport, they're certainly not just going to wave you on to the ferry though.

Voyager2002

runningben16 wrote: »

The French now seem to check inbound travellers more often than they used to.. I haven't saild past an empty passport booth for a while, though it used to happen all the time. And you won't get back on the boat/train, the UKBA check passports on the French side and are very thorough for obvious reasons. I don't know what happens if you claim to have lost your passport, they're certainly not just going to wave you on to the ferry though.

UK Immigration might simply question you thoroughly; examine whatever documentation you had with you; eventually conclude that you are indeed British and allow you to return home. However, they might send you to the nearest British diplomatic mission: and that could mean a trip all the way to Paris! Once there, you would have to explain yourselves to the duty officer who could then issue you with emergency passports: these can be issued in a few hours and allow you to get home (but nothing else), and of course are not free.

All in all, getting valid passports would probably cost a good deal less.

benjus

I don't think I've ever had my passport checked when entering France by ferry. As for going back, on one recent trip (via Eurotunnel) I think the car in front of me had at least one expired passport (I overheard some words from the immigration officer) and were let through - but it would be something of a gamble.

InsideInsurance

Coming back is different, as a British citizen you have a statutory right to enter the country (this was why it was questioned when they said they'd deny entry to those returning from Syria). They can make it difficult though if they so desire.

You have no statutory right to enter France as a person without french nationality coming from the UK.

peachyprice

benjus wrote: »

I don't think I've ever had my passport checked when entering France by ferry. As for going back, on one recent trip (via Eurotunnel) I think the car in front of me had at least one expired passport (I overheard some words from the immigration officer) and were let through - but it would be something of a gamble.

I've had to show mine to the check-in desk before even getting on the ferry/Eurotunnel for the last 5 years at least.

Voyager2002

InsideInsurance wrote: »

You have no statutory right to enter France as a person without french nationality coming from the UK.

Under EU law a British Citizen does have the right to enter France, including living and working there -- however you need a passport or national identity card in order to exercise this right.

InsideInsurance

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Under EU law a British Citizen does have the right to enter France, including living and working there -- however you need a passport or national identity card in order to exercise this right.

You have a right to enter with your passport or ID card, not just to enter. If you had some other way to prove you were british without either passport or british national ID (that doesnt exist) then you'd have no statutory right of entry.

When the Mrs became British it would appear that her previous EU family member rights to enter the UK ceased but we had to travel before there was time to get her a British Passport. For getting back into the UK she was told notes would be put on the system but to take her non-EU passport (obv) plus her naturalisation certificate as proof of her now being british. She couldnt have used the same to demand entry into the EU.

Obviously_the_best

I believe going into France you're allowed to use passports expired up to 5 years, although you might want to research that a little yourselves.