Traveling in Europe / Passport question

[Agent]

Do i need a passport to travel in Europe ?
I have one that expired on 16th of June - i take it, i cant use this AT ALL ? (im pretty sure i know the answer, just clutching at straws )

[Tumble]

when I went to Prague by coach... the only time I got asked for me passport was on the czech border, in and out. We travelled through France, belgium and Germany - so i think you're ok there. We didn't need em to go to Dublin with either....

[Agent]

I am planning on going to Belgium...humm...

[Zathras]

Officially you do need a passport for most EU countries to act as your personal ID card, and as such by law you are supposed to have it on you at all times in places like Germany. You will def need a passport to leave the UK if heading to the continent.

[Tumble]

hehe I got this choccy bar in Belgium:



Made my trip tbh...

[Agent]

Thanks Zathras, looks like its a no go then

Dammmit... i have to go if its just for one of those bars !

[Kimo]

Take it you are aware of the express service they can do on passports. If you go down to the place they do them they can be done same day, be it at a very premium price for it. Depends how much you need it I suppose

[Howard]

Yes you need a passport.

[MD]

For example, Spain requires three months validity on all UK passport from the date of departure from the country.

m@

[Elmo]

yeah you need a passport. I needed a passport travelling between gibraltar and spain and that was every blumin day i wanted to go from the house i was staying in to meet my mate from work then back over again to meet my other mate, then back into gib for a night out then again going home. so yeah you do need one. Kimo's right tho, you can get the express passport renewal in the passport office, but i think there's usually huge queues.

good luck

[Gordy]

You dont technically need a passport to travel

It just makes life difficult.

What you need is some id IE driving license , take ure expired passport as well.

And also take a letter from someone like your doctor to say who you are and why you havent got an in date passport.

I know people who have travelled to europe using this technique

[Gordy]

Officially you do need a passport for most EU countries to act as your personal ID card, and as such by law you are supposed to have it on you at all times in places like Germany. You will def need a passport to leave the UK if heading to the continent.

Thats technically incorrect

This is why the government can refuse/remove peoples passports , they can still travel just its very difficult to do so. It would be illegal otherwise for them to do this

[ACiD303]

The express passport is £75 if I remember correctly - you kinda have to phone up and tell them you're doing it tho.

Tho on the occasions where me and a few others I know have used the normal service, we've received it within 7 working days - depends on when you're leaving and what kinda security you need.

As mentioned before, Spain as well as other countries require 3 month validity left on them - not so mucch a problem when you get a new one tho

[Zathras]

Well, it's extremely difficult to travel abroad without a passport, put it like that. The number of hoops you have to jump through makes it almost impossible, and not something you can do just because you've let your current passport expire.

[spazman]

I went to italy and holland using only my driving licence. Its accepted as valid id in any EU country no problems.

[Agent]

Well i was planning on going this weekend. Its really a last minuite thing of a friend asking me to visit.
The fast track thing is not really an option due to the cost. Im trying to get there for as cheaply as i can. The cost of this on top i couldnt pay for a 3-4 day trip.

As for the drivers licence : I dont drive

Oh well, thanks for all the input guys !