Does my friend need a passport to travel to england from germany?

Question

Hi
my friend is visiting me from germany and he doesn't have a passport.. but apparently you can use a photo ID
i have looked on the airline website but i cant find the information

so if anyone has come here from germany without a passport or if u know anyone please can u let me know

thanks
-x-

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Since you've asked for personal experience, let me answer although the question has been asked some time ago.

I am German; the first time I have travelled to London was in 1975, after becoming an adult, [yes, you needed to be 21 years to travel on your own by that time] and all I had with me was my "Bundespersonalausweis" [Federal ID Card].
By that time it was a booklet, half of the size of a passport, which fitted into the wallet. The picture was glued, rivetted and stamped. Nothing has changed from then, citizens of the EU/EEA still can travel within the EU on their national ID cards, however nowadays they are laminated cards with digital photographs, still in wallet size. It is planned to issue a new type by the end of 2010 which will be credit-card size and will include a microchip.

Some British people here think because they need a passport to travel to the continent everybody else needs one to travel to the U.K. but that's no true. Brits need passports simply because they do not have national ID cards at present.

Let me still add another link of your government.
http://bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/travellingt…
If you check "What documents are accepted at the border" you can read:
"We also accept national identity cards for EEA citizens."
And also a link from passport service on the new U.K. ID cards which are hated by most people.
http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/rde/xchg/ips_l… ..

If you check the document requirements of Ryanair [which requires British people to have a passport on all flights] you can read:

The only forms of travel documents accepted on Ryanair flights are:
• a valid passport
• a valid National Identity Card issued by the government of a European Economic Area (EEA) country. (Only the following EEA countries issue National Identity Cards acceptable for carriage on Ryanair flights: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland)
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?… ..

I wish some people like "Ian M" or "froggeque" would take the time and read through the answers and links other users are providing instead of repeatedly providing the same wrong statements!

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

thanks this is really helpful :D <3

Answer 2

Unlike the UK, Germany has ID cards which can be used for all European travel.
UK citizens can not travel with just an ID card, as the country does not have them yet, but in the rest of Europe they are common.

I have traveled to England many times using my Dutch ID card.


And most European people who just travel within Europe do not bother to get a passport but just use their ID card.

By the way, this has nothing to do with Schengen. Within the Schengen zone I can travel without showing my passport or ID card, although in most European countries all foreigners have to carry their passport or ID card at all times.

Added:
As at this time it seems a Yes and No game, here a few links:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/euciti…
http://www.skyteam.com/about/travelhelp/… (I did fill out the page as if I came from Germany and this is the information I got.
Quote: "Passport required.
- Passports and/or passport replacing documents issued to
nationals of Germany must be valid on arrival.
Passport Exemptions:
- Holders of National ID Cards issued to nationals of Germany."

I think it is because the UK does not have these cards that the UK users are confused.
Believe the continental Europeans, and yes, you can travel with just a national ID card.

Source(s):

Personal experience.

Answer 3

No one here know the right answer,
If you want to know what he really needs, you have to contact The Immigration Department of England and ask them.
Call the London Office on [phone] for a consultation or an appointment.
They probably changed a law yesterday or two weeks ago, or will be changed tomorrow and no US Citizen, Mexican, Canadian, or any other american knows, Europe is too far from here.

Answer 4

Your friend, I assume is German, definitely needs a passport to enter the UK. remember that the UK is NOT a signatory to the Schengen Agreement.

Ian M

Answer 5

No, you always need a passport,
unless he wants to go in a box
sorry about the sad joke, I couldn't resist

Answer 6

You need a passport for travel to ANY international designation, period.

Answer 7

YES, HE CAN. THEY HAVE A SPECIAL ID CARDS OVER THERE WHICH ARE ACCEPTED IN ALL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, AND BECAUSE GERMANY AND UK ARE PART OF EU HE CAN TRAVEL WITH NO PROBLEM. AS I DO...................

Answer 8

Yes