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Yes....I have used my passport card extensively on the Camino and whilst travelling throughout Europe. You will have no issues.When renewing my Irish passport recently I requested the card version in addition to the booklet version. The passport card would obviously be much more convenient to carry on Camino, being smaller, lighter, easier to conceal and water (sweat) proof. It is of equal diplomatic value and our Foreign Affairs department confirm that it is accepted for entry into Spain as in all EU and EEA countries . However, I wonder if it is understood and accepted on the Camino.
Has anybody used one? I would be interested to hear their experience.
I should have added that when booking flights with Aer Lingus I have to use the regular passport. For some odd reason there online check-in doesn't accept the passport card. Ryanair is no problem.Yes....I have used my passport card extensively on the Camino and whilst travelling throughout Europe. You will have no issues.
Yes I have one too and no issues in ‘Camino land’ 100% effective across Spain/France/PortugalYes....I have used my passport card extensively on the Camino and whilst travelling throughout Europe. You will have no issues.
Hello Loman,When renewing my Irish passport recently I requested the card version in addition to the booklet version. The passport card would obviously be much more convenient to carry on Camino, being smaller, lighter, easier to conceal and water (sweat) proof. It is of equal diplomatic value and our Foreign Affairs department confirm that it is accepted for entry into Spain as in all EU and EEA countries . However, I wonder if it is understood and accepted on the Camino.
Has anybody used one? I would be interested to hear their experience.
Thanks Ultreya,Mmmh … in Germany we are using passport and id-card for identification.
The passport comes in a small booklet with several blank pages.
The id-card looks like a mini-passport with all the necessary personal data, but has no booklet for e.g. visa or stamps.
My id-card is valid for identification or border-crossings in all Schengen- and EU-countries and a few non-EU countries like e.g. Norway.
I‘m using my passport only in case of travelling beyond europe.
Possibly the irish government has introduced an id-card.
Ultreya
I have the card. It’s works 100%. I don’t carry the book with me in Spain Portugal and France. It saves a load of hassle!Thanks Ultreya,
According to the official website of our Dept Foreign Affairs, the card is valid for travel within EU and EEA. It does not claim to be a full passport. So my original post was wrong in that respect.
There has been strong opposition to the introduction of a universal ID card in Ireland (on personal privacy and data security grounds). So I am certain it is not merely an ID card.
I am pleased to hear that it is so widely accepted and not only at national borders.
I don’t want to carry the passport booklet if I can avoid it. The card is just so much better for our purposes- as long as you don’t encounter a vital service that doesn't yet understand it’s meaning.
All the time! No problem at all.When renewing my Irish passport recently I requested the card version in addition to the booklet version. The passport card would obviously be much more convenient to carry on Camino, being smaller, lighter, easier to conceal and water (sweat) proof. It is of equal diplomatic value and our Foreign Affairs department confirm that it is accepted for entry into Spain as in all EU and EEA countries . However, I wonder if it is understood and accepted on the Camino.
Has anybody used one? I would be interested to hear their experience.
It is merely an ID card but not Irish. It is in fact an EU id card.Thanks Ultreya,
According to the official website of our Dept Foreign Affairs, the card is valid for travel within EU and EEA. It does not claim to be a full passport. So my original post was wrong in that respect.
There has been strong opposition to the introduction of a universal ID card in Ireland (on personal privacy and data security grounds). So I am certain it is not merely an ID card.
I am pleased to hear that it is so widely accepted and not only at national borders.
I don’t want to carry the passport booklet if I can avoid it. The card is just so much better for our purposes- as long as you don’t encounter a vital service that doesn't yet understand it’s meaning.
It’s an Irish passport card.It is merely an ID card but not Irish. It is in fact an EU id card.
I recently arrived at Gatwick, from Spain, with just my Irish passport card (it says on it that it's a pasport, so that's good enough for me) and was waved through immigration.I guess only caveat is that you can’t use it to fly to UK of for any unforeseen reason you had to fly back via there!!
That’s interesting!!’ I assumed it wouldn’t be valid in UK. I know its a passport card but I assume UK would just see it as just ID! I should have checked!I recently arrived at Gatwick, from Spain, with just my Irish passport card (it says on it that it's a pasport, so that's good enough for me) and was waved through immigration.
Absolutely true, So if you travel on Aer Lingus (which will accept at photo DL for identity) you do not need a passport with you. Ryanair though will ONLY accept a passport as ID for travel though.You don't need a passport to travel between the UK and Ireland. When my sister came for my husband's funeral she was able to use her driving licence as ID with AER Lingus. The common travel area predates the EU by some decades.
Yes I know that. That’s totally different to the discussion here. The thing that I was pleasantly suprised about was that you can use the Irish passport card to leave or enter UK to /from EU. I.e Spain to UK. I had incorrectly assumed you couldn’t!Absolutely true, So if you travel on Aer Lingus (which will accept at photo DL for identity) you do not need a passport with you. Ryanair though will ONLY accept a passport as ID for travel though.
And flying into UK from Ireland to (say) Liverpool you do not pass (wo)manned border control. So you can (legally) enter without a passport. Returning back to Dublin from (say) Liverpool, you DO pass border control in Ireland. I have never summoned up the courage to say I have not got a passport with me at this point - and they would know if you came in on Ryanair that you must have had.
I recently flew AerLingus from Liverpool into Dublin, when I could have travelled without a passport. I still passed through immigration though and had to show the passport.
Generally if you travel by ferry between Ireland and UK there was never a check of passports. And clearly the law is that Irish and UK nationals do NOT need a passport to travel to one another's countries.
The first time I travelled by boat to Ireland from UK after formal Brexit I was asked my nationality at the booth. But I didn't show passport.
Can you show me where that is written? I am not in any way doubting what you say, and I think it should be true.Yes I know that. That’s totally different t the discussion here. The thing that I was pleasantly suprised about was that you can use the Irish passport card to leave or enter UK to /from EU. Ie. Spain to UK.
Does this do it. I am in a smokey bar so head in a spin! So I am happy they the card works throughout the EU but I was stupid to think UK would not take it. Very surprised re Albania!This is the kind of thread I tend to shy away from, where there is a lot of personal experience and history, and rather less fact.But like others I have found the true facts hard to come by, and I will contribute my experience as well, as I am interested in other's experience.
I got my first Irish Passport Card almost the day they came out. You can order them directly off your phone and take the photo on your phone. I was living in Ireland at the time. It is separate from the book passport, with a completely different number. You require to have a book passport to get one and its validity is 5 years of the validity of your book passport whichever is shorter.
I used it many, many, many times to travel to Europe (which then included UK). At the very beginning a few people said they could not recognise it including Easyjet and Port Control at Dover, but I stood firm. I never brought my passport with me on these travels - that seems to me a huge advantage. If you lose your passport card, it doesn't invalidate your book passport and vice versa, so at least within Europe you have a 'spare' safely at home.
I was getting the plane back from Brinidisi to UK last autumn, having walked in Italy for a month or so. I had come in on my passport card with no problem. As I was leaving the officer raised a query and told me it was not valid for my return to UK from the EU. Brindisi is a small, friendly, provincial airport and I asked him was he sure. He said he thought he was sure! He asked another officer who told him it was alright. I realised only then that I myself was not at all sure. When UK was in Europe it clearly was OK. Is it still?
Can you show me where that is written? I am not in any way doubting what you say, and I think it should be true.
When I walked the Via Egnatia on from Brindisi to Thessaloniki I was surprised to find, before I went, that I COULD use the passport card for entrance to Albania, and I did, but on that occasion I had to bring my passport as well as North Macedonia does not accept it. The information for Albania is documented here. And yes I know it says that a passport is 'preferable' but I used the card. I didn't come through Tirana airport though, I came through the port of Dürres.
Thanks!!Does this do it. I am in a smokey bar so head in a spin! So I am happy they the card works throughout the EU but I was stupid to not think UK would not take it.
I am flying into LHR from
Germany on either Monday or Wednesday so will try and use it in Germany and Uk and report back.
Absolutely 100% with you. I won’t be carrying the card only as you say who knows. If you saw my previous note the immigration folks who boarded the train on the Bulgarian/Romania border wouldn’t accept it! Currently in Germany on the move a lot and staying in cheap accommodation and I carry my passport book in my pocket every day!Thanks!!
The big attraction for me when I first got it, and I was living in Ireland, was that for EU travel it was a spare and I could leave the other one at home.
Now that I am living in UK, even though what you have sent above from DFA is definitive, I do not feel as secure not taking a passport along as well - which sort of defeats the object for me.
I can imagine getting the last Ryanair from somewhere delayed till after midnights and not having the linguistic capability to argue my point with a lone officer who was uncertain........
The fact that the card cannot be used for e-booths at entry is potentially a problem in high summer in busier UK airports.
But to return (against the run of play) to the OPs question - yes it is very useful indeed.
@timr, are you looking for confirmation by the UK government that an Irish passport card is a valid travel document for crossing the UK border in those cases where an Irish citizen is obliged to show such a document? It's difficult to find their actual law but they have made statements on their official website .gov.uk.Can you show me where that is written? I am not in any way doubting what you say, and I think it should be true.
Examples:Travel document, national ID card issued by an EU country, and official document for identification are three different things.
@Camineiro, as already mentioned by others, the Irish "passport card" is a travel document. It does not serve for identification purposes in Ireland. This may come as a surprise to people like you and me who would not want to miss our national ID cards and think that they are a great idea - certainly better than say using your electricity bills for identification purposes - but that's the way it is. National ID cards, especially when they are obligatory and not voluntary, can be a thorny topic.Possibly the irish government has introduced an id-card.
@Kathar1na Thanks so much - that is exactly what I wanted. Good to have the gov.uk complement to what the DFA says in Ireland.@timr, are you looking for confirmation by the UK government that an Irish passport card is a valid travel document for crossing the UK border in those cases where an Irish citizen is obliged to show such a document? It's difficult to find their actual law but they have made statements on their official website .gov.uk.
For example here:
Visiting the UK as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen: Irish citizens can continue to use a passport card to travel to the UK.
Or here:
You can enter the UK with one of the following identity documents:
- a passport
- an Irish passport card
- a national identity card issued by an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, if you’re eligible to use one
Note that there is no restriction placed on holders of Irish passport cards while there are restrictions placed on holders of national identity cards issued by EU countries - national identity cards can only be used by EU nationals who have settlement status in the UK, the rest of us must now (post Brexit) use a passport.
What about fingerprints. US has mine and so has Tanzania. I hear the EU intends to have the same checks at some point so why need a passport at all? Just give them your fingers.
Firstly thank you to you both for an excellent exchange of information, both real world and factual. I’ve learnt something important on the use of the Irish card passport.@Kathar1na Thanks so much - that is exactly what I wanted. Good to have the gov.uk complement to what the DFA says in Ireland.
So the first guy I met in Brindisi was incorrect, but his friend did correctly correct him!
I might revert to using the (really useful) passport card then for all European travel, as I am mostly returning these days to UK, though I really don't want to have to be arguing my case at borders!
Yes I was suprised too! Furthermore the official took all the passports away for ‘processing’ so it was all rather bizarre! They were returned about 30 mins later. It was reminiscent of a border crossing in other parts of the world. I offered the card but was told it needed to be a book which I had on me. I didn’t press it, it wasn’t that sort of moment. I am sure they would have assumed it to be an ID card (presumably valid) as English was not spoken and they probably wouldn’t have recognised the nationality not that I guess that’s relevant!I am surprised about your issue on a train crossing Bulgaria/Romania where they wouldn’t accept an Irish passport card. Of course, these countries are far away from Ireland and from Spain ...
The EU maintains a huge database - Prado - which contains information, including photos, of next to every travel and/or ID document on earth. It is meant for both the general public and for EU/Schengen border officials and other officials.
It clearly states that, for crossing into the EU and/or crossing into Schengen, the following conditions apply (btw, note the difference in the title; as someone pointed out already, it says "Passport" on the Irish card, unlike the USA card which says "Passport Card" - see also the photos on Prado):
For Ireland's passport card:
Title: Pas/Passport/PasseportLegal status / main purpose: Travel document issued to nationals of IRL - Ireland • ÉIRE_IRELAND The passport card is available to all Irish citizens who hold a valid Irish passport booklet; it can be used for travel within the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.For the USA's passport card:
Title: Passport CardLegal status / main purpose: Travel document issued to nationals of USA - United States • United States of America USA passport card. Can only be used to enter the United States from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land or sea border crossing points. It cannot be used for international air travel.
A lot of Europeans use their DNI card so a card-style passport shouldn´t be a problem.When renewing my Irish passport recently I requested the card version in addition to the booklet version. The passport card would obviously be much more convenient to carry on Camino, being smaller, lighter, easier to conceal and water (sweat) proof. It is of equal diplomatic value and our Foreign Affairs department confirm that it is accepted for entry into Spain as in all EU and EEA countries . However, I wonder if it is understood and accepted on the Camino.
Has anybody used one? I would be interested to hear their experience.
I had to give mine for my residence permits in 3 different colours but only the index fingers.What about fingerprints. US has mine and so has Tanzania. I hear the EU intends to have the same checks at some point so why need a passport at all? Just give them your fingers.
I'm very surprised as well, considering I've crossed that border multiple times with just my Portuguese ID card.I am surprised about your issue on a train crossing Bulgaria/Romania where they wouldn’t accept an Irish passport card. Of course, these countries are far away from Ireland and from Spain ...
I've had my passport taken away in Hungary but only for a few minutes while I dealt with the customs official.Yes I was suprised too! Furthermore the official took all the passports away for ‘processing’ so it was all rather bizarre! They were returned about 30 mins later. It was reminiscent of a border crossing in other parts of the world. I offered the card but was told it needed to be a book which I had on me. I didn’t press it, it wasn’t that sort of moment. I am sure they would have assumed it to be an ID card (presumably valid) as English was not spoken and they probably wouldn’t have recognised the nationality not that I guess that’s relevant!
I used mine on Camino with no problem. I did have an issue in Bilbao on my way home when the receptionist in the hostel got confused as she had just booked in an Irish couple with books and then I presented the card. If any issues just point out the word passport and they get it. Your biggest problem is getting back into Ireland. The machines at Dublin airport don't recognise them, books only. You have to go thru the channel for non EU. Could only happen in Ireland. First country in EU to introduce them and their own technology doesn't recognise them. Had a problem getting out back in the early days of the card when the airline's technology didn't recognise the number cause it started with a C. You guessed it, it was our national carrier, Aer Lingus. But in little albergues, I had no problems. They are used to national id cards so our passport is not unusual to themWhen renewing my Irish passport recently I requested the card version in addition to the booklet version. The passport card would obviously be much more convenient to carry on Camino, being smaller, lighter, easier to conceal and water (sweat) proof. It is of equal diplomatic value and our Foreign Affairs department confirm that it is accepted for entry into Spain as in all EU and EEA countries . However, I wonder if it is understood and accepted on the Camino.
Has anybody used one? I would be interested to hear their experience.
Never had any problems. Most hospitaleros are used to national id cards so have no problems with our cards. Where you will have a problem is getting back into Ireland. The scanners at Dublin airport only recognise books so you have to go thru the manual channel and present it to an immigration official. First country in EU to introduce these passports then they install scanners that can't read them. Could only happen in Ireland. Of course that was 2018 so maybe they have now sorted it out. When I came thru Dublin last year, I produced my book. You know of course the card only valid for 5 years, not the 10 the book is. But it is so handy. How did I manage to answer this twice lolWhen renewing my Irish passport recently I requested the card version in addition to the booklet version. The passport card would obviously be much more convenient to carry on Camino, being smaller, lighter, easier to conceal and water (sweat) proof. It is of equal diplomatic value and our Foreign Affairs department confirm that it is accepted for entry into Spain as in all EU and EEA countries . However, I wonder if it is understood and accepted on the Camino.
Has anybody used one? I would be interested to hear their experience.
Mine was accepted at Stansted when I flew back in there after BrexitI have the card. It’s works 100%. I don’t carry the book with me in Spain Portugal and France. It saves a load of hassle!
I guess only caveat is that you can’t use it to fly to UK of for any unforeseen reason you had to fly back via there!!
Indeed. It was just one agent on one day. I didn’t challenge it so all was good. You come across people who are unclear on rules even in positions of authority.I'm very surprised as well, considering I've crossed that border multiple times with just my Portuguese ID card.
Sometimes border agents are not aware of all the documents that exist / are accepted.
I went to Moldova and Turkey using just my Portuguese ID card (both countries allow that; but not all national ID cards are accepted)
Leaving Moldova, the Moldovan border agent looked surprised, and asked me if I had any other form of ID. I said I did not, and that my card was enough; I had entered the country the day before with it. Again, she was surprised, but took my ID and everything went smoothly.
Something similar happened when I returned from Türkiye, entering Romania.
I showed my ID to the Romanian border agent at the airport. He asked me where I was coming from and I said "Türkiye"; he didn't believe me and said "They wouldn't let you in with that ID". I informed him they did, and then showed him the little paper with the stamps from the Turkish authorities. Once again, he was surprised, as he had never seen it, but I entered Romania again with no problem.
Try entering the US with itIt’s an Irish passport card.
It is merely an ID card but not Irish. It is in fact an EU id card.
It’s an Irish passport card.
Try entering the US with it
Thanks @Kathar1na - what a wonderful and very nostalgic document!The EU maintains a huge database - Prado - which contains information, including photos, of next to every travel and/or ID document on earth. It is meant for both the general public and for EU/Schengen border officials and other officials.
It is a valid Irish passport for use within the EU. As Ireland is not in Schengen, we still need passports to enter and exit Spain and other Schengen countries.Try entering the US with it
Not important for the OP's post but a little bit for Americans. Here is what the US State Department says:The passport card is not accepted for international travel though
Oh, I seeThanks @Kathar1na - what a wonderful and very nostalgic document!
Yes a great collection of UK driving licences. Sadly not the ancient “British Visitor’s Passport” which was available from the post office, filled in by hand and was a tri-fold piece of cardboard with a photo glued on!Oh, I see. I did not understand your comment at first. I now see that they added some really old driving licences to the database and labelled them as "Latest documents" on the first page.
Ah remember those well. Seemed to be no control over them. Everyone I know got a least a couple in case they got errrr….’too carried away’ in Ibiza or Tenerife!Yes a great collection of UK driving licences. Sadly not the ancient “British Visitor’s Passport” which was available from the post office, filed in by hand and was a tri-fold piece of cardboard with a photo glued on!
This thread appears to have acquired a life of its own!So you didn’t use egate you went to a desk?
Yes, the thing which will always catch us out is the unexpected! The person (of good will) who has never seen one before......This thread appears to have acquired a life of its own!
Yes, I had to speak to an immigration officer and show him my Irish passport card. I did actually have the passport book with me when I left the UK, but at the end of my trip I had absentmindedly put it in my rucksack which I then checked in at Santiago de Compostela. As you probably know, at Gatwick you have to go through immigration before you get to baggage reclaim!.
I had purposely taken my passport book with me so as to be able to use the e gates on my return. D'oh!
I first used the passport card at Toulouse where the nice French police lady looked a bit bemused until she discovered that it was machine-readable. The only time I had a problem was while boarding a Ryanair flight at Bergamo where the staff member who was checking passengers had obviously never seen one before. I am sure I could have persuaded her to accept it but I was just about the last person to board so I produced my passport book and that kept her happy.
Unfortunately, Pennsylvania has gone to a Real ID driver’s license. As far as I am concerned it is a way for states to ID non citizens so I refuse to get one!I have a US passport card. When I renewed my passport I paid a bit extra for the card. In the US we will soon have to have what they are calling Real ID for domestic flights. This can be in the form of a Real ID compliant driver's license (at an extra cost), a standard passport, a passport card, or a Real ID compliant state ID card. I didn't want to have to get a new driver's license right away, so it made sense for me to buy the passport card.
The passport card is not accepted for international travel though, so I do have to bring my passport book with me to the Camino. I had thought that I might use my passport card when checking in at albergues and hotels, but since I keep my passport with me at all times in my crossbody bag it has been just as easy to pull it out (it's in a pouch with my credential), and there's no chance that a hospitalero will not accept it, as could happen with a passport card from the US.
It has, hasn’t it (life of its own) On the upside I slept through an EU border crossing on a bus a couple of hours back… Germany to Poland. No one woke me up. Guess no need to!This thread appears to have acquired a life of its own!
Yes, I had to speak to an immigration officer and show him my Irish passport card. I did actually have the passport book with me when I left the UK, but at the end of my trip I had absentmindedly put it in my rucksack which I then checked in at Santiago de Compostela. As you probably know, at Gatwick you have to go through immigration before you get to baggage reclaim!.
I had purposely taken my passport book with me so as to be able to use the e gates on my return. D'oh!
I first used the passport card at Toulouse where the nice French police lady looked a bit bemused until she discovered that it was machine-readable. The only time I had a problem was while boarding a Ryanair flight at Bergamo where the staff member who was checking passengers had obviously never seen one before. I am sure I could have persuaded her to accept it but I was just about the last person to board so I produced my passport book and that kept her happy.
[Note: At some point in 2025 you will need certain approved documentation in the US to enter a nuclear power plant, certain federal facilities or to board domestic flights. Passport books and cards, military IDs and other documents may allow you to do these things. The feds passed on some of the documentation process to the states who issue IDs anyway and if requirements are met then the state ID is certified as Real ID approved and allows you access also. ]Unfortunately, Pennsylvania has gone to a Real ID driver’s license. As far as I am concerned it is a way for states to ID non citizens so I refuse to get one!
Did I read that right? You can get a drivers licence in the USA even if you don’t drive?We are moving away a bit from the Irish passport card and its uses and usability. It might be useful to explain for readers on this (my) side of the pond that in the USA one can get a driver's licence even when one cannot drive a car. Such a system is unknown in Europe. While our driving licences can be used for other identification purposes than just confirming who we are and that we are allowed to drive motor vehicles, in a legal sense this is only possible in the country where the driving licence has been issued and not in another EU country.
This is why Spanish pilgrims can use their driver's licence when they register at a hotel or albergue in Spain but foreign pilgrims cannot do that. At least that is what the law about the libro-registro de viajeros says. With thanks to Prado - photos of Irish passport card, Irish driving licence, and East German driving licence (they are valid until 2033 at the latest):
So this is ok View attachment 154793 but not this View attachment 154794 and not thisView attachment 154795
Actually no. You can get a state ID which is issued by the same agency as the driver's licenses.Did I read that right? You can get a drivers licence in the USA even if you don’t drive?
Ah thank you!Actually no. You can get a state ID which is issued by the same agency as the driver's licenses.
State ID vs. Driver’s License: Key Differences Explained – All The Differences
allthedifferences.com
That's news to me and sounds crazy but the states are responsible for drivers licenses and so there may be differing rules. I know that in Massachusetts the Registry of Motor Vehicles issues (1) drivers licenses which can be used also for identification (2) identification cards for residents without a drivers license and (3) a liquor purchasing license for residents 21 years or older without a drivers license or for residents of other states 21 years or older with or without a drivers license issued by their state. They all look similar but their purpose is noted on each ID.It might be useful to explain for readers on this (my) side of the pond that in the USA one can get a driver's licence even when one cannot drive a car.
I note that there is a need to explain the differenceActually no. You can get a state ID which is issued by the same agency as the driver's licenses.
I should have been more careful with my choice of words and should have written something like "fake driver's licence" but that did not sound right either. My point is that this whole ID document business, and its implications for voting in elections for example, is a little strange to us and at least some 35 years ago (yikes) this was how one European who had lived in California explained their system to another European.That's news to me and sounds crazy
No doubt the article was written for Europeans who are confused about the two.I note that there is a need to explain the differencebecause the website's title is "What’s The Difference Between A State ID And A Drivers’ License? (Differentiate Among The Two!)".
Well fake IDs, press passes, driving licenses are available on Khoasan Road, Bangkok, for a good pice!Needless to say, my post was not meant to be criticising in any way, merely providing useful background information to understand context.
Isn't it wonderful that we have so many different ways for managing life in our complex societies? Some have not only passports but also passport cards while others don't even know what that is.
As far as on the Camino goes...We made color copy of our passport info/photo page and had it laminated. We used this exclusively when checking into albergues and our real/actual passport stayed safely tucked away in the backpack. Never once did they request the real passport.When renewing my Irish passport recently I requested the card version in addition to the booklet version. The passport card would obviously be much more convenient to carry on Camino, being smaller, lighter, easier to conceal and water (sweat) proof. It is of equal diplomatic value and our Foreign Affairs department confirm that it is accepted for entry into Spain as in all EU and EEA countries . However, I wonder if it is understood and accepted on the Camino.
Has anybody used one? I would be interested to hear their experience.
Was just reminded of this old thread by another thread but yes they took my Irish passport card this morning, as I crossed a Romania / Bulgaria check point! Different check point to last time. Quite time consuming - the train schedule allows 20I'm very surprised as well, considering I've crossed that border multiple times with just my Portuguese ID card.
Sometimes border agents are not aware of all the documents that exist / are accepted.
I went to Moldova and Turkey using just my Portuguese ID card (both countries allow that; but not all national ID cards are accepted)
Leaving Moldova, the Moldovan border agent looked surprised, and asked me if I had any other form of ID. I said I did not, and that my card was enough; I had entered the country the day before with it. Again, she was surprised, but took my ID and everything went smoothly.
Something similar happened when I returned from Türkiye, entering Romania.
I showed my ID to the Romanian border agent at the airport. He asked me where I was coming from and I said "Türkiye"; he didn't believe me and said "They wouldn't let you in with that ID". I informed him they did, and then showed him the little paper with the stamps from the Turkish authorities. Once again, he was surprised, as he had never seen it, but I entered Romania again with no problem.
Oh well I was slightly premature in my update. I assumed that the staff at the Romania exit point would ‘double up’ as covering the entry into Bulgaria, but no, as we got off train in Bulgaria, the border police were at the door taking everyones passports. I offered my passport card and it was accepted. They were all taken away and brought back about 15 mins and all was fine!Was just reminded of this old thread by another thread but yes they took my Irish passport card this morning, as I crossed a Romania / Bulgaria check point! Different check point to last time. Quite time consuming - the train schedule allows 20
Mins - but it took maybe 40 mins for a 2 carriage train with maybe 80 people on board, which made the smokers happy, but all good!
Thanks for reviving for a moment a most enjoyable and civilised thread......Was just reminded of this old thread by another thread but yes they took my Irish passport card this morning, as I crossed a Romania / Bulgaria check point! Different check point to last time. Quite time consuming - the train schedule allows 20
Mins - but it took maybe 40 mins for a 2 carriage train with maybe 80 people on board, which made the smokers happy, but all good!
I concur, I've just read the entire thread as I hadn't seen it previously.Thanks for reviving for a moment a most enjoyable and civilised thread......
I did the same back in '94, it was quite a surprise to me as well. Even more so when the first thing I knew about it was the bus stopping and a bunch of heavily armed soldiers climbed on board! To be fair there was a war on at the time, although it was winding down by that point. They were most perplexed to find a Kiwi onboard sitting in amongst all of the locals - they had to get their sergeant to clear me through.Memory is sketchy but a few years back (poss 2020), caught a bus from Split to Dubrovnik. Unbeknown to me in those days the bus had to cross into and out of Bosnia (non-EU) for a short period of time as that was the way the road went. I can’t remember what I showed, whether it was stamped or not!!! It was a ‘proper border’ .
I've occasionally been seriously tempted to give immigration the finger, but there's no way I'll ever give them my fingers!Just give them your fingers.
Oh, I knew before I took the bus. My husband was asked if he was working in the country, but when we told them we were tourists it was OK.I did the same back in '94, it was quite a surprise to me as well.
We have it in the US but as far as I know it's only good for Canada and Mexico. When I tried presenting it for entry into Europe, they didn't know what it was and wanted the book.When renewing my Irish passport recently I requested the card version in addition to the booklet version. The passport card would obviously be much more convenient to carry on Camino, being smaller, lighter, easier to conceal and water (sweat) proof. It is of equal diplomatic value and our Foreign Affairs department confirm that it is accepted for entry into Spain as in all EU and EEA countries . However, I wonder if it is understood and accepted on the Camino.
Has anybody used one? I would be interested to hear their experience.
I was surprised you could enter Turkey on a Portuguese ID card! Did they stamp anything . Not doubting you, just shows the variance of different checkpoints, esp. land!I'm very surprised as well, considering I've crossed that border multiple times with just my Portuguese ID card.
Sometimes border agents are not aware of all the documents that exist / are accepted.
I went to Moldova and Turkey using just my Portuguese ID card (both countries allow that; but not all national ID cards are accepted)
Leaving Moldova, the Moldovan border agent looked surprised, and asked me if I had any other form of ID. I said I did not, and that my card was enough; I had entered the country the day before with it. Again, she was surprised, but took my ID and everything went smoothly.
Something similar happened when I returned from Türkiye, entering Romania.
I showed my ID to the Romanian border agent at the airport. He asked me where I was coming from and I said "Türkiye"; he didn't believe me and said "They wouldn't let you in with that ID". I informed him they did, and then showed him the little paper with the stamps from the Turkish authorities. Once again, he was surprised, as he had never seen it, but I entered Romania again with no problem.
Yes, they did:I was surprised you could enter Turkey on a Portuguese ID card! Did they stamp anything . Not doubting you, just shows the variance of different checkpoints, esp. land!
Something similar happened when I returned from Türkiye, entering Romania.
I showed my ID to the Romanian border agent at the airport. He asked me where I was coming from and I said "Türkiye"; he didn't believe me and said "They wouldn't let you in with that ID". I informed him they did, and then showed him the little paper with the stamps from the Turkish authorities. Once again, he was surprised, as he had never seen it, but I entered Romania again with no problem.
Yes, they did:
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