I am very ignorant I know but -

[starone]

Do I need a passport to go on holiday to France? I haven't got one so I may have to do a quick application.

[factor-fiction]

Yes

[ummmm]

Yes.

[starone]

Thanks factor. That was a quick answer. I hardly had time to look at the latest posts.

[starone]

And ummmm. I had better get a move on then.

[ummmm]

They usually arrive quite promptly. Mine took less than a week.

[B00]

Unless its a first time application- then its a trip to your nearest passport office for an interview.

[ummmm]

Oh yeah. Does everyone have to do that?

[B00]

Think so yeah, least you did when I applied for mine about 11 years ago anyway.

[ummmm]

That makes me feel old.

What about kids? My sons have expired, can they still get renewals?

[EDDIE51]

If it is a renewal you can get it in a week or two,but a new application takes at least 5 weeks. All new applicants have to go to the passport office for an interview , a few months back there was a 4 week wait for an interview.

[EDDIE51]

Ummmm ,If your kids have ever had passports in their names it is only renewal .

[ummmm]

Cheers Eddie. They have got passports, just out of date.

[starone]

I have had passports in the past but let them lapse because I thought I had no further use for them but my son has chosen to live in France and expects me to go and visit now and then. Hopefully, not too often, I am very lazy. Thanks for the answers everyone, I will see what happens when I apply. One further question, - do I get an application form at the Post Office or have I got to send somewhere for one?

[Thatcherite]

Technically you can travel without a passport but believe me it's a lot easier to get one! See here for some info about travelling in the EU on an ID card, may be an option:
http://en.wikipedia.o...vel_without_passports

[ichkeria]

You can (if you're lazy!) apply online and they'll send you a form.

[factor-fiction]

That's true, Thatcherite. It would be very difficult as you say, since the UK is one of the countries that doesn't issue these ID cards though.

[Thatcherite]

yes without getting into the whole ID card argument, I think UK should issue them to those that want them then we could travel in the EU, but for now as you say starbuck needs a passport!

[woofgang]

so how would giving ID cards to those who want them be different from issuing passports?

[aelmpvw]

not if you're an illegal immigrant

[ichkeria]

I can't see how that would help - presumably applying for an ID card would be just as time consuming as applying for a passport. And no doubt every bit as expensive.
I can remember when it was possibly to do a day trip to France with some sort of cheap ID card, but those days I think are long gone.
Without in turn wishing to get into the ID card debate, my objection was always that they were unnecessary as long as we had passports, especially if the later were going "hightech" (and increasingly expensive)