Help!!! I'm traveling to France with an expired passport?!

[Kit-]

Tomorrow I'm traveling to France (by car and ferry) and we have just realised my passport has expired!

I have tried to get an emergency one but the waiting list for an appointment is like a week long, so I will miss the holiday!

I am traveling with my two young cousins and my auntie and uncle. Luckily they speak french so discussing the situation will be easy but WILL THEY LET ME IN TO FRANCE?! and if so WILL I GET LET BACK FLYING HOME?

Any solutions?

[MarkRae]

No chance, other than by some miracle i.e. they forget to check or don't notice - both highly unlikely. It always used to be an offence to attempt to do this, though how strongly it's enforced these days I couldn't say...

[bednobs]

Not only will you not be able to get into france, you will probably not be able to leave the uk. Speaking french wont help as you wont get that far. If you can't get an appointment for a passport, you will not be able to go, and it will be pointless going with them in the car, as you'll then either be stranded at the ferryport, or they will forfeit the holiday too.

[Bigfellah]

Is it possible to use a driver's licence with photo ID?

[MarkRae]

^^ What do you think...?

[bednobs]

no it is not, you need a passport to travel to a foriegn country. Would you expect to get into (say) Japan with a driving licence?

[MarkRae]

Bednobs, what if you wrote PASSPORT on it in your best writing...?

[Kit-]

I'm 16 so no drivers licence.
I can get a train home from the ferry if I can't get through.
I have my birth certificate national insurance card and NHS health card so i can plead for entry etc.
It expired last month and they aren't all that strict.
Argggh...
I'm going to try and pull the "what, it's expired?!" "please let me in" maybe some waterworks..
Fingers crossed :/

[snags]

What is PASSPORT in Japanese?

[bednobs]

you will be wasting your time i#m afraid, but hey, as you know so much about them being "not all that strict", go for it!

[craft1948]

Banzai.........

[snags]

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5aPvCrxOvc

[dzug2]

You will be able to get back into the UK with an expired passport - assuming you can get here in the first place. You are a citizen and cannot be refused entry - though you may face a hard time.

Your problems will be with the carrier who may be reluctant to take you. They shouldn't be (you have the right of entry and proof of it) but may well be.

[Zeuhl]

Have you considered getting into france by hiding on a lorry?

They won't expect anyone to be trying that.

[boxtops]

Other than going to the passport office, with renewal documentation correctly filled out, pictures signed, etc..., then waiting vvvvv patiently in a queue for all day, then NO chance. All passports are checked prior to ticket sales by ferry companies, and passenger manifest sent to UKBA & french Authorities (as required by Maritime Safety acts), so no chance of being boarded with driving licence. Sorry!

[ethandron]

they are extremely strict these days, we saw a number of people stopped this year at the ferry port, and in my opinion you will not be allowed to leave britain, let alone enter france, with an expired passport. they're not interested in any other document just an up to date passport.

[boxtops]

Zeuhl, only prob.... Checks on lorries leaving UK by UKBA, they've caught illegal immegrants doing what you suggest,with 6 months jail sentence for would-be emigrant!

[emmie]

Kit i wouldn't do it, you need a passport and i am positive that you won't get through passport control. Is there any way to delay the trip for a few days even, and get down to the passport office, it might be a long wait, but if you try and blag your way through it will be all the worse. Or could you let them go on ahead, stay home, get your emergency passport and go onto France afterwards.

[Khandro]

No you can't go with them; you must contact your local passport office, and see if they will give you an appointment to attend and collect a new passport on the day, maybe even tomorrow, this is possible, but the passport is more expensive. With luck you can fly/train and join them in France late. Tomorrow being Friday doesn't help either. Bad luck, sorry for you.

[craft1948]

A guy I used to work with got into Belgium on his BT ID card............