Passports?

[freak_unique]

I have heard some rumours about not needing a passport to travel from uk to anywhere in Europe since they all joined the EU. Is this correct? cheers

[ugly_bob]

in theory, yes
in practice, no

[aristotle]

You don't need a passport to visit another EU country providing you have a national identity card. As we don't have them in the UK, there is no alternative to a passport.

[freak_unique]

Oh right i see... cheers for that :)

[Buenchico]

There are various parts of EU laws and procedures which the UK currently opts out of. The most obvious, of course, is the single currency agreement. Additionally, the UK has not yet signed up to the Schengen agreement. Under this agreement, no documentation of any kind (not even ID cards) is necessary to move between those countries which are signatories to the agreement. So there are no border controls at all restricting movements between Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. (Iceland and Norway, which are not EU member states, are also signatories to the Schengen agreement). The only two countries from the 'old' EU (before the inclusion of some former eastern-block countries) which are not Schengen members are the UK and Ireland. Ireland wants to join Schengen but it would only be able to do so if passport controls were introduced between Northern Ireland and the republic. As usual, it's the UK which is out of step with the rest of the EU.

Chris

[buzztrev]

In theory - YES you always need a passport to exit the UK as the Uk is not signed up for the Schengen Agreement - we will always need a passport to get out of the UK - but who wants to leave the UK - such a lovely island - the diversity, the climate, the scenery, the people, the language, the money - get my drift - some of my best holidays have been to the Highlands of Scotland and Inverness in Particular along with Gaicloch, Dornoch and Strathpeffer which should be your touring base!