Can you go to a european country with just a photocard driving licence, or do you need a passport?

Question

my partner says that you only need a photocard driving licence to visit a european county, however, I think he needs a passport now...can anyone help!!

Answer 1

In the Schengen zone you will not be asked for your passport or European ID when crossing a border but you still need to carry one with you, in several countries you need to carry one at all times.

The UK and Ireland are not part of the Schengen zone, and therefor everybody has to show his/her passport when crossing to those countries, both ways.

For that you need a passport or an official European ID, a photocard driving license is not enough, although it might be enough between the UK and Ireland.

People from outside Europe will need to show their passport when first arriving in Europe and have to carry it with them (officially at all times) because it has the stamps and if needed visa.

So I think you are right, not your husband.

He better make sure, it will be embarrassing to be at the airport or ferry port and be send back home to get the passport.

Answer 2

Hi

If you are from outside of the EU, you definitely need a passport.

But if you from the EU (except for the UK, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus) or Norway or Iceland, you are a member of a so called Schengen zone within which you can travel without any passport. You just need some kind of ID proving your identity the same way you need it at home (driving license would do). But nobody would stop you at the boarders when passing them within this zone even if you are  a non-Schengen citizen because there are no boarders (it is like traveling between states in the US). It is slightly different when flying. You do not need a passport but you need to prove your identity when check-in-ing or boarding within the zone.

Answer 3

It would help if you told us what nationality you are.

I think though that you need a passport regardless.

Answer 4

For domestic flights within the UK a photo driving licence is ok but if you're flying over to the mainland Europe, Willeke is right. Driving licence is not a valid travel document for Europe. Even within the Schengen countries where there are no border controls, you're meant to have a national ID card (which we don't have in the UK) or a passport.