Can I travel from UK to France with an expired passport?

[VanessaBt]

Two days ago a family member died and the funeral is in France tomorrow. I've booked tickets and just packed my passport and I realised it expired 2 years ago! Is there anything I can do? I'm a British citizen, I had a full UK passport that ran out in 2008.

Do they have strict passport control in Paris, or returning to London? Will my old passport prove that I'm a UK citizen, and will that be enough? I don't have any other ID.

[lotsafun]

i think they will do it if its a couple of days out but 2 years is a a awful long time. Your best bet would be to contact your passport office and see what they suggest. good luck

[mollykins]

i doubt it. Even though we know you haven't, it might be difficult to persuade customs you haven't fished an expired passport from a bin and somehow got the photo to match you're face and now you're using it. or something along those lines.

[mollykins]

i'm using an expired explore card but they never closely examine them, plus the school said 'we don't deal with those anymore' perhaps because i'm 16, so i had to get a form and send away for one which i havent got back yet.

[dzug]

You can't travel to France with an expired passport. Whilst there's a faint chance they won't notice (the airline, security in the UK and French passport control would all have to miss it) the chances are they will.

If you can get to a passport office first thing there is a same day (expensive) renewal service.

If you did get to France, getting back would be less of a problem - you might not be alllowed on the flight, but if you were you would be let in by the UK authorities - maybe given a hard time, but they can't turn you away.

[VanessaBt]

Thanks everyone for the answers. The passport office will issue an emergency passport for £130, but the earliest they can see me is 9:45 tomorrow morning and the funeral is at midday in France, so I couldn't make it in time. This is probably why it's sensible to keep your passport up to date, although maybe more important for people with family members living abroad, in case you suddenly need to travel.

Three days seems very quick to arrange a funeral though.

[coccinelle]

I agree Vanessa, 3 days for a funeral is very quick especially for France!

[Kit-]

How or what passport company/office/agency did you use? I need an emergency passport QUICK