out of date Passport

[Brummie 22]

I would like to know why we need a passport to go over to EURO - land when we are all surppose to be in Euro now. I went to see about Booking my Coach Holiday for June 2008, the brochure said that we would be going over to Bruge for the Day as part of the Holiday, and we would need a Passport , so I looked at mine to find out that it runs out in December, so I contacted the Passport Office to find out if I could Extend it for Twelve Months and I was told I would have to get one for Ten years, and when I explained that I would only want it for one day , and at the Age of 74 I did not think I would need one at 84. Why can they not issue one on a three year basis for people aged 70 and over.

[Panic Button]

What's wrong with you man!

Of course you'll be needing one at 84.

What else are you going to spend your lottery jackpot on?

[Buenchico]

If the UK would sign up to the Schengen agreement, you'd have no problems at all.

Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Italy Austria, Greece,Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden already have a 'no borders' policy. (i.e. anyone who's already in one country, irrespective of their own nationality, is free to move to any other country without any passport controls). During the coming year, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia will also 'join the club'.

Switzerland, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are already committed to joining the Schengen territories at a later date.

The only EU member state which refuses to join the Schengen group is the UK. (The Republic of Ireland wishes to join but is prevented from doing so because of the existing 'open borders' policy with the UK). Regrettably, our Europhobic media prevent our politicians from being brave enough to sign up to Schengen (or, indeed, to replace the pound with the euro).

Similarly, the fluctuating views of the media prevent many MPs from backing national identity cards. While I'm one of those who think that the costs of such cards probably outweigh the benefits, it has to admitted that one such benefit is that any EU citizen who holds a nationality identity card can use it, instead of a passport, to visit any EU country.

So it's not EU law which prevents you from travelling without a passport. It's our politicians (and our media) who're out of step with the rest of Europe.

Chris

[dzug]

They could issue a short term passport - but the cost of issuing it (and therefore the charge to you) would be exactly the same as a full one. So they don't.

At some stage you may get a free one - currently people born in 1929 or earlier qualify. I don't know if this is a fixed date or whether it changes each year.

[funnygirl]

Brummie, why don't you organise a goverment petition.
Apparently they are easy to set up on the website.
See here

[Brummie 22]

I would like to thank you all for your replys.

Brummie 22

[HomeBody]

Do you have an up to date photocard driving licence? If so, then you can use that for the EU countries.

If not, you will have to buy a ten year passport.

When I go to Europe I definitely use my photocard driving licence and do not bother even taking the passport with me.