PASSPORT EXPIRED? get an Identity card for £30 instead!

[Jo Wissett]

I have just found out that you can get an identity card for £30 which you can use instead of a passport in Europe.  I really dont want to start a debate about the pro's and con's of identity cards but what do you all think for purely financial reasons? I have 4 (deep joy) to renew before August.  Do I pay the passports fee's of £224 or £116 for the cards??

I just think I would be nervous incase they didnt accept them!!

[justphil]

It's a no-brainer with a young family to pay for. Just get your airline to confirm that it will be OK. Have a great time Jo

Phil

[riggers]

Well now you got me thinking ?  ours run out next year.

[riggers]

Rethink..... I am against them.....

[Jo Wissett]

You got summit to hide riggers?! heh heh

[riggers]

Meeeeee..... something to hide.    only my stock in the shed ha ha

[Jo Wissett]

hey that was our little secret! Just found out that you need to be 16 or over to get one so thats just me (only just - mind you).

[Eileen]

Thanks Jo for posting this information   It'll come in handy for my nephews & nieces. x

[kes]

Just a word of caution on Id  cards,,,
Passport replacement

Phil Booth from campaign group NO2ID said the government's claim that an ID card was a "handy alternative" to a passport was "bogus".

"You have to have one already so you will pay another £30 and set yourself up for a lifetime of fees, penalties and compliance," he said.

"Once you are on the database you will be obliged to update Whitehall's register on you for the rest of your life."

Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have said they would abolish ID cards if they win the next election. (GOD FORBID)

I rest my case....

[Eileen]

Thanks Kes for this valuable information.  Drats, why is nothing ever easy or straightforward

Eileenx

[Janis]

..and it was all sounding so good as well!   With a family to cater for, like Jo, it must be a nightmare having to pay out so much for passports

[Sandy x]

Particularly now children have to have their own and can't be included on the family passport like we used to do.

[Janis]

I still remember the passports you could get that covered you for one year only!!

AND a day trip to France could be had, without a passport, by organising a similar document that cost about ten bob ??

Janis x

[martin-w]

I remember those too Janis!
I think you will find that the U.K. Passport is one of the most expensive in Europe, and takes the longest to get. I.D. cards I think are a good idea, but not as the present ones are issued. Most of the 'continental' countries issue I.D. cards to their citizens. I have friends in France, The Netherlands and Bavaria who all carry I.D. cards, and it is used as a way of identification if stopped by the police etc, or used instead of a passport at borders. My French friends tried to use theirs to visit me last year, but had to obtain 'full' documents for entry to the U.K. Thought we were all in the E.U.? When in Bavaria, I found out it was necessary to carry my passport wherever I went, as if stopped by police checks, it was an offence not to be able to produce identification.
We have to be different in Britain.
Off the 'soap box' now, just my opinion!
Martin.

[kes]

Well put ...Martin...and just another point of interest although on a different subject ..The new UK driving license (credit card type)...If anyone has one of these then dont throw away your old paper licence...The police will not accept the new ones if you are stopped for any minor infringment of the Law....This happened to my Son who was pulled for having only one rear light showing..he had to produce his old paper licence at the police station although he had his new one on him at the time....
Stupid or what?...