Expired EU passport, travelling tomorrow within EU
August 9, 2020 1:21 AM Subscribe
Hi, I just realized that my son's (6) EU passport expired a few months ago. We live in Germany and are travelling tomorrow morning to Greece. No chance of an emergency passport. We both have Greek passports (mine's not expired) and valid US passports. I'm wondering if this will be a problem and getting anxious right now. I will bring both his passports and our registration (Anmeldung), birth certificate ... should I worry? Flying with Condor.
Thanks!
Most COVID-19 travel restrictions in the EU are based on residence, not citizenship. (I am an American with only an American passport who lives permanently in the EU.)
Greece allows entry for EU *residents*. https://travel.gov.gr/#/faq_travelqa
For re-entry, Germany allows entry from EU / Schengen / UK. This is based on your country of departure - not your country of citizenship.
Even if you were coming from a restricted country, Germany will allow residents of Germany to re-enter the country with a valid residence permit.
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/coronavirus
Your plan to bring both passports and the Anmeldung for your son seems sound, especially since you’re travelling within the Schengen zone as EU citizens. I’d recommend calling the airline for peace of mind though. :)
posted by louxloux at 2:16 AM on August 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
Greece allows entry for EU *residents*. https://travel.gov.gr/#/faq_travelqa
For re-entry, Germany allows entry from EU / Schengen / UK. This is based on your country of departure - not your country of citizenship.
Even if you were coming from a restricted country, Germany will allow residents of Germany to re-enter the country with a valid residence permit.
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/coronavirus
Your plan to bring both passports and the Anmeldung for your son seems sound, especially since you’re travelling within the Schengen zone as EU citizens. I’d recommend calling the airline for peace of mind though. :)
posted by louxloux at 2:16 AM on August 9, 2020 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you both. Unfortunately, I think it will be almost impossible to get a new passport. New passports have to be applied for where registered (we will be there for a week) but they are processed in Athens, and after a week will be on the other end of the country. I don't even know if they would have it ready by the time we leave the country (17 days later). It's August after all. I'm trying to reach Condor and I will think about other documents I can bring (school enrollment, salary statements, etc.)
In the meantime, more optimistic comments are welcome :)
posted by melamakarona at 2:48 AM on August 9, 2020
In the meantime, more optimistic comments are welcome :)
posted by melamakarona at 2:48 AM on August 9, 2020
Response by poster: Just to add: no problem for the airline.
posted by melamakarona at 3:07 AM on August 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by melamakarona at 3:07 AM on August 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
That’s great! I really think you have no reason to worry then, especially since you’re travelling in the Schengen zone as EU citizens. I hope that you and your son have a lovely trip. :)
posted by louxloux at 3:44 AM on August 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by louxloux at 3:44 AM on August 9, 2020 [1 favorite]
Best answer: you have no reason to worry then, especially since you’re travelling in the Schengen zone as EU citizens.
That is making a lot of assumptions not borne out by recent experiences.
OP, if Condor tell you they are happy to let you board that’s great, enjoy your trip. Absolutely make sure you take your Anmeldung though. You want to be able to prove you live in Germany for your return journey if things change.
Anybody else reading - one of the most remarkable things about the pandemic response was that borders within Schengen were closed at the discretion of each government, often with only a day or two notice. My French colleagues who live in Switzerland were not allowed to visit their families in France. I was not allowed to visit my family in Germany. We could have travelled to our home countries to stay there for good, but not for visits, even with valid passports. The problem was not that Switzerland wasn’t playing nice with EU neighbours, none of the countries wanted people to travel.
Even once family visits were allowed again I had to go through a border check between Germany and Austria (en route to Switzerland). There had been no meaningful border checks at that border in years. The AT government basically had to requisition a petrol station forecourt and turned it into a border checkpoint. And I had to demonstrate that I was just driving through Austria to get back to Switzerland.
At this point travel within EU countries is again possible. But it is common sense to only travel with valid ID and able to prove residency (if you live somewhere where you are not a national). The situation remains fluid and you don’t want to get stuck abroad.
posted by koahiatamadl at 4:28 AM on August 9, 2020 [5 favorites]
That is making a lot of assumptions not borne out by recent experiences.
OP, if Condor tell you they are happy to let you board that’s great, enjoy your trip. Absolutely make sure you take your Anmeldung though. You want to be able to prove you live in Germany for your return journey if things change.
Anybody else reading - one of the most remarkable things about the pandemic response was that borders within Schengen were closed at the discretion of each government, often with only a day or two notice. My French colleagues who live in Switzerland were not allowed to visit their families in France. I was not allowed to visit my family in Germany. We could have travelled to our home countries to stay there for good, but not for visits, even with valid passports. The problem was not that Switzerland wasn’t playing nice with EU neighbours, none of the countries wanted people to travel.
Even once family visits were allowed again I had to go through a border check between Germany and Austria (en route to Switzerland). There had been no meaningful border checks at that border in years. The AT government basically had to requisition a petrol station forecourt and turned it into a border checkpoint. And I had to demonstrate that I was just driving through Austria to get back to Switzerland.
At this point travel within EU countries is again possible. But it is common sense to only travel with valid ID and able to prove residency (if you live somewhere where you are not a national). The situation remains fluid and you don’t want to get stuck abroad.
posted by koahiatamadl at 4:28 AM on August 9, 2020 [5 favorites]
I apologise if I was flippant there. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge. I’m aware (first-hand) that there were restrictions within the Schengen zone and that the situation may change again. My assumption was that the OP was aware of the “baseline” level of uncertainty and friction as an EU resident, but I should have contextualised more.
Specifically speaking to OP’s post about travelling tomorrow: given the documents they are providing (including a valid US passport, expired Greek passport, and German proof of residence), the confirmation from the airline, and current Greek / German / Schengen entry policies, there is no attested reason for worry specifically about the expired passport, beyond the baseline worries for travel at this time. I would advise anyone planning on travelling (especially as a non-national!) to read your advice carefully, over-document their residence, and check the most up-to-date country-specific policies
posted by louxloux at 6:04 AM on August 9, 2020
Specifically speaking to OP’s post about travelling tomorrow: given the documents they are providing (including a valid US passport, expired Greek passport, and German proof of residence), the confirmation from the airline, and current Greek / German / Schengen entry policies, there is no attested reason for worry specifically about the expired passport, beyond the baseline worries for travel at this time. I would advise anyone planning on travelling (especially as a non-national!) to read your advice carefully, over-document their residence, and check the most up-to-date country-specific policies
posted by louxloux at 6:04 AM on August 9, 2020
Response by poster: Hi, just to add: no problem getting into Greece (passports were not even checked!) QR-codes for the required pre-travel registration were checked, but we were not tested for the virus; not sure if anyone else was. It was a flight to a regional Greek airport. Will update regarding the return to Germany in some days.
posted by melamakarona at 11:12 AM on August 15, 2020
posted by melamakarona at 11:12 AM on August 15, 2020
Response by poster: happy to be safely back ... no passport check in germany either. i guess we got lucky this time.
posted by melamakarona at 2:23 AM on August 28, 2020
posted by melamakarona at 2:23 AM on August 28, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
Then you should seriously get a Greek passport for him while you are there. IME, your country of nationality will always let you in, after all, you are a citizen, it's their job to house and protect you. It's getting back to Germany without a EU passport that might be challenging (depending on wether Germany will let U.S. citizens in at that point).
Someone in my family struggled with traveling overland through several Northern European countries recently because of the COVID-19 rules. They have different citizenships, and the COVID-19 rules are administered by citizenship, not residence.
posted by mumimor at 1:44 AM on August 9, 2020