Lost Passport abroad

[ImpetuousVrouw]

expat Wrote:

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> >EU nationals can cross all borders using any form

> of official photo ID, e.g. drving licence or

> national ID.

> >They don't need a passport.

>

> Only if the country is a member of Schengen and

> the UK is not:

> All EU countries are full Schengen members except

> for Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, omania and the

> United Kingdom. You will therefore need to present

> a valid passport or ID card to travel to those

> five countries

It has nothing to do with Schengen. Schengen is a visa area for non-EEA Nationals. The Free Movement Directive governs the movement of EEA Nationals and the bit that gives you the right to cross all EEA borders with an ID card is:

Article 5

Right of entry

1. Without prejudice to the provisions on travel documents

applicable to national border controls, Member States shall

grant Union citizens leave to enter their territory with a valid

identity card or passport and shall grant family members who

are not nationals of a Member State leave to enter their territory

with a valid passport.

Click this for access to the full directive

[ImpetuousVrouw]

Loz Wrote:

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> The rules used to be that provided UKBA agreed,

> the airline would fly you back and the Borders

> staff would check your identity on arrival. Some

> - in fact most - consulates could issue an

> emergency passport (which was an A4 sheet of

> paper) if needed. Some countries didn't accept

> this document for transit people, so they are

> changing.

>

> They are rolling out a new system that will issue

> an emergency travel document (like an 8 page mini

> passport) that is valid to complete your trip and

> get you home. The ability to fly back without any

> documentation will be removed. All embassies and

> consulates will have the ability to issue this

> document.

>

>

> EU nationals can cross all borders using any form

> of official photo ID, e.g. drving licence or

> national ID. They don't need a passport.

>

> That's not true. You need a valid passport or

> national ID Card. A driving licence won't be

> accepted.

I've had my full driving licence accepted for travel to and from Paris when my passport had expired, but I think you are right in that this would at the discretion of the immigration officer rather than a right which travel with and ID card is.

[Loz]

ImpetuousVrouw Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> I've had my full driving licence accepted for

> travel to and from Paris when my passport had

> expired, but I think you are right in that this

> would at the discretion of the immigration officer

> rather than a right which travel with and ID card

> is.

That must have been a while ago. I doubt you'd get away with it these days - an airline especially would refuse to fly you.

[louisiana]

Loz Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The rules used to be that provided UKBA agreed,

> the airline would fly you back and the Borders

> staff would check your identity on arrival. Some

> - in fact most - consulates could issue an

> emergency passport (which was an A4 sheet of

> paper) if needed. Some countries didn't accept

> this document for transit people, so they are

> changing.

>

> They are rolling out a new system that will issue

> an emergency travel document (like an 8 page mini

> passport) that is valid to complete your trip and

> get you home. The ability to fly back without any

> documentation will be removed. All embassies and

> consulates will have the ability to issue this

> document.

>

>

> EU nationals can cross all borders using any form

> of official photo ID, e.g. drving licence or

> national ID. They don't need a passport.

>

> That's not true. You need a valid passport or

> national ID Card. A driving licence won't be

> accepted.

I've been told by airline check-in staff and border security people that they will even accept an employee photo ID card. In other words anything with your name and your photo that is vaguely official looking. In order to get people back home. "Have you got *anything* with your photo on it?" they say. But this is applied inconsistently and cannot be relied on.

The best option is often a visit to the consulate and the issue of an emergency travel document (something I went through as a student and wish never to repeat). Plus photocopies of everything kept separately.

[Loz]

Louisiana,

As I said, the Emergency Travel Document system has just been overhauled - once it is all rolled out then you normally will be able to get one within an hour, provided you have the documentation in order. Oh, and 90 quid.

It is all new. There used to be an 'emergency passport' (a one page a4 sheet valid for a single journey) and an temporary passport (only issued by a small number of embassies/consulates and valid for a year). Both are being phased out in favour of the new ETD introduced last year. All the other informal arrangements are going as well.

[ImpetuousVrouw]

Loz Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ImpetuousVrouw Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> >

> > I've had my full driving licence accepted for

> > travel to and from Paris when my passport had

> > expired, but I think you are right in that this

> > would at the discretion of the immigration

> officer

> > rather than a right which travel with and ID

> card

> > is.

>

> That must have been a while ago. I doubt you'd

> get away with it these days - an airline

> especially would refuse to fly you.

It was on the Eurostar about 18 months ago.