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Quote: Originally posted by MikeJ on 27/8/2012

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In theory you actually only have to prove you are a British national to travel freely within the EU. This is easily done with a passport BUT a full UK birth certificate would technically suffice. I say technically because in reality you try and get across any border with checkpoints and you will be refused. You have the right to cross but technically they can stop you passage for the slightest reason.

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  Having a UK birth certificate doesn't make you British.

Anyone born after 1982(when the law changed) can only proove they are British by having a British passport or providing their parents birth certificates.(showing their place of births)

Children born here to parents of other nationalities have British birth certificates (because they have to be registered here) but that doesn't make them British. They would be able to apply to become British Citizens if their parents were applying or met certain immigration rules.

  It's quite complex

I once used my driving licence to cross from Holland into Belgium, because I had stupidly left my passport in a holdall buried in the boot of the car. I think it was because they really didn't want us holding everyone up while we unloaded and reloaded the car to get at it though!

I think confusion arises because so many EU countries have ID cards virtually indistinguishable from the photocard bit of a driving licence. They permit travel anywhere in the EU. I've even had job centre staff try and tell me that they're not valid as proof of ID, because "it's just a driving licence".

Quote: Originally posted by martin2410 on 29/8/2012

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I take on board everything that has been said here. I know when I have driven abroad, I have just crossed boarders and never battered an eyelid. I guess if we didnt have to cross the channel, we probably wouldnt require passports in the way that we do at the moment. 

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That's because, as mentioned above, the UK never signed the Schengen agreement, so even if we didn't have to cross the Channel but we were physically bordering say France, we would still have to show the passport to the French on the way out, and to the British on the way back in. All the other Western European countries (and some of the Eastern ones) signed this agreement, which means that once in the Continent you can cross borders without having to go through customs, unless your are flying between them, due to airlines rules.  

Quote: Originally posted by smashing69 on 31/8/2012

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It would be great if the UK joined the Schengen?

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Not sure... It would be great for a tourist I suppose, but it would also be great for any illegal who for some reason has had enough of Spain/Germany/Italy/France etc and decides to try his/her luck in the UK...

Maybe a National ID would be a better alternative? I'm Italian and use my ID to travel within Europe, including to and from the UK. It costs about 5 euros to renew it every 5 years, so until I'll be in a position to travel further afield in the future, this is saving me lots of money on a passport!

Quote: Originally posted by Xantippe on 28/8/2012

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French law says that you need to carry an identity card or your passport at all times.

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Quote: Originally posted by smashing69 on 31/8/2012

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It would be great if the UK joined the Schengen?

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