Passport needed for France day trip???

Heliflyguy

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

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.

For France needs to be valid on arrival, Spain can be expired up to 1 year but the airlines might think differently.

totallybored

I've done several trips a year for the last 8-9 years and not had my passport checked once at Dover using the ferry. I did once stop at the French immigration box at Dover as there was a man in it but he didn't even open his window, gave me a look as though I was mad and waved me through.

Coming back is different though, passports are always checked. Although when I was a student i had a friend who got back by showing his blockbuster card and student ID. I also know someone who got back into the country after somehow losing their passport on a flight from New York (had it to get on the plane but then lost it!).

I have however been stopped and had my car searched loads of times. (well more of a quick look in the boot as opposed to being a potential drug smuggler search). I have no idea why I get picked on for this, I drive an average car, have an average hubby with me and don't even over load it with stuff. I even get checked leaving Dover!! I also get chosen for the weird scanner you stand in at airport security and often have to empty my hand luggage out to be checked. This only ever happens to me in the UK, nowhere else in the world!

FBaby

I travelled once with a family member whose passport had expired. They had assumed it was fine. Got a telling off, don't do it again, but manage to get through. It had only expired by a couple of months though.

It would be a risk.

Voyager2002

FBaby wrote: »

It would be a risk.

This is the bottom line...

A British person with an expired or no passport might or might not be able to complete a journey to France by surface transport (no chance at all of getting on to an aeroplane). At the end of their trip they would probably be able to get back to the UK with a bit of trouble and a telling-off, but there is the risk that they might have to go to Paris for an emergency passport.

If an emergency arose and it was desperately important to make such a journey it might well be possible, but taking the risk for a day-trip would be insane.

(FWIW I once talked my way into Switzerland using nothing but a Youth Hostel membership card, but I would not advise anyone else to attempt that.)