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?

[Nibble]

Speaking as a European FULL Time truck driver, you'll have absolutely no chance of exiting UK without passport checks, hence expired passport=no travel. There are approx 60 people per day turned away from Dover with same problem.

[Postdog]

Bigfellah was sort of right. At a push you can use a utility bill and a blockbuster memebership card

[pusskin]

On a day trip to Ypre belgium last year by eurotunnel, we didnt get asked for our passport on the way out or return journey --that shocked me!

[JoolsTwo]

Hubbys cousin and his wife traveled with us into France on an expired Joint passport and back without any trouble. But that was before 9/11and I think they have tightened up quite a bit these days. I hope you make it. Good luck.

[gollysailor]

Bognor's nice this time of year.

[Zeuhl]

No you're not - apparently!

[RAV1D]

I went by car all the way across the ferry at dover then all the way through to Switzerland and the MontBlonk tunnel and halfway across Italy to Rome stayed 2weeks then came all the way back again and not once did anyone ask to see if we had a passport nevermind look at it. That's why all these illegal immigrants get in our country. So much for all the red alert and everything,it's a joke!!!

[piggynose]

cant you still get those cardboard temporary passports anymore?

[B00]

Am I the only one who sincerely hopes you can't get another country without a valid passport?

I'd be horrified to learn that in this day of supposedly tightened security that someone was able to enter by either not being asked for a passport or by simply turning on the waterworks!!!

No offense kit.

[Calibax]

Have you tried calling the IPS Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000.

The Adviceline is open:
- 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Monday to Friday
- 9.00 am to 5.30 pm weekends and public holidays

[pusskin]

Spot on Ravid --it makes for scary reading not having all them inportant stop checks

[VHG]

About 10 years ago I went from UK to Belgium on business by car and went via the Channel Tunnel.

Took the "chunnel" train in the middle of the night both ways and was not asked for my passport going out or coming back.

Of course that was before 7/7 and 9/11. I hope they are stricter now.

[JMR27]

Last October a murderer managed to fly from Glasgow without a passport. Frightening.
http://www.dailyrecor...sport-86908-23298043/

[jamesnan]

About 25 years ago my husband and I went to Paris for the weekend on a coach trip going over on the ferry. We had a full coach load, and there were two very elderly ladies amongst the passengers. When we landed in France, and were asked for our passports, these confused ladies looked at the driver and said "passports? We have only got our bus pass"
They hadn't realised that Paris was in another country and didn't own a passport. The passengers thought that they deserved a treat, and shuffled around them to go through en-masse , and we got away with it. They did not leave the hotel area, and everyone did the same thing coming back in again. The two ladies had a lovely weekend!!!

[dzug2]

If you turn up at a passport office early (like 8am) and are prepared to wait you can often get an (expensive) passport the same day.

[dzug2]

<<
All these stories of I got onto a ferry and across 3 countries before coming back and never got asked - can I ask when this was? and when you checked in for your ferry what ID did you show?>>

2006 I think. Didn't show any ID. Passports waved at the dock security staff in Bilbao but they didn't look at them, just waved us through. First time passport was needed and looked at was back in Portsmouth.