Hi folks--

I have a question about the *fine print* of the Eurail passes. I live in
the USA and am a US citizen. I also hold a Republic of Ireland passport due
to applying for it a few years ago (my grandfather was born there and I was
able to apply for Irish citizenship based on that. So, technically I
suppose that makes me a *dual national*--however, my main residence is the
USA and I have never lived in Ireland

When I go to Europe next spring I'd like to travel on my Irish passport. Am
I able to use a Eurail pass while using an EU passport? I'm not really sure
how long I'll be in Europe, but would be 2 to 3 months, maybe more--but
perhaps not enough time to be in Europe long enough to establish residency
anywhere there. Im asking this question because I havent seen it addresed
anywhere else.

Thanks,

Jean in VA

In message <BrIue.6277$up5.3610@lakeread02>, Jean S. Barto
<[email protected]> writes
    >Hi folks--
    >I have a question about the *fine print* of the Eurail passes. I live in
    >the USA and am a US citizen. I also hold a Republic of Ireland passport due
    >to applying for it a few years ago (my grandfather was born there and I was
    >able to apply for Irish citizenship based on that. So, technically I
    >suppose that makes me a *dual national*--however, my main residence is the
    >USA and I have never lived in Ireland
    >When I go to Europe next spring I'd like to travel on my Irish passport. Am
    >I able to use a Eurail pass while using an EU passport? I'm not really sure
    >how long I'll be in Europe, but would be 2 to 3 months, maybe more--but
    >perhaps not enough time to be in Europe long enough to establish residency
    >anywhere there. Im asking this question because I havent seen it addresed
    >anywhere else.

Technically yes, but you have to be able to prove that you're resident
outside Europe, but really why not simply take your US passport with you
and use that to validate your Eurail pass? If you show a US passport and
don't mention the Irish one no-one's going to be any the wiser - "what
they eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over".

--
Arwel Parry
http://www.cartref.demon.co.uk/

    > Am I able to use a Eurail pass while using an EU passport?

"Anyone is eligible to purchase a pass, except for residents in the
countries of Europe, the Russian Federation, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria,
or Tunisia."

http://eurail.lwb-online.info/index.php?view=cms_268

    >>>>> http://eurail.lwb-online.info/index.php?view=cms_268

If you don't choose to link the pass with your U.S. passport (which would
work even if you are using the Irish pass for immigration and general
purposes), then bring along things like the electric bill from your U.S.
home or a paycheck stub from your U.S. employer or your 2004 tax return or
the like just in case somebody gets picky, which I imagine would probably
only happen at the point of validation, and probably won't.

Jean S. Barto wrote:
    > Hi folks--
    >
    > I have a question about the *fine print* of the Eurail passes. I live in
    > the USA and am a US citizen. I also hold a Republic of Ireland passport due
    > to applying for it a few years ago (my grandfather was born there and I was
    > able to apply for Irish citizenship based on that. So, technically I
    > suppose that makes me a *dual national*--however, my main residence is the
    > USA and I have never lived in Ireland
    >
    > When I go to Europe next spring I'd like to travel on my Irish passport. Am
    > I able to use a Eurail pass while using an EU passport? I'm not really sure
    > how long I'll be in Europe, but would be 2 to 3 months, maybe more--but
    > perhaps not enough time to be in Europe long enough to establish residency
    > anywhere there. Im asking this question because I havent seen it addresed
    > anywhere else.
    >
    > Thanks,
    >
    > Jean in VA
    >
    >

All of the rail passes I have purchased have had my passport number on
them. It is written in by the agency selling the pass. Conductors may
request to see your passport to verify that you are the person entitled
to the rail pass. Showing an Irish passport would probably result in
having your rail pass confiscated.

See more about riding the rails in Europe on my page at
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/rail.htm

John Bermont
--
------------------------------------------------------
* * * Mastering Independent Budget Travel * * *
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
------------------------------------------------------

Jean S. Barto <[email protected]> wrote:
    > I have a question about the *fine print* of the Eurail passes. I live in
    > the USA and am a US citizen. I also hold a Republic of Ireland passport due
    > to applying for it a few years ago (my grandfather was born there and I was
    > able to apply for Irish citizenship based on that. So, technically I
    > suppose that makes me a *dual national*--however, my main residence is the
    > USA and I have never lived in Ireland
    > When I go to Europe next spring I'd like to travel on my Irish passport. Am
    > I able to use a Eurail pass while using an EU passport? I'm not really sure
    > how long I'll be in Europe, but would be 2 to 3 months, maybe more--but
    > perhaps not enough time to be in Europe long enough to establish residency
    > anywhere there. Im asking this question because I havent seen it addresed
    > anywhere else.

The train conductors have no way of knowing which passport you show to
immigration. Obviously you will have your US passport with you, since it's a
legal requirement to use it when you return to the USA, so the fact that you
also have an Irish passport and may have recently shown it to someone else
is irrelevant. But in any case, the train conductors don't care. Once you
have the pass it's yours.

Do make sure that the Eurailpass is in fact cost-effective for your travel
plans. For most people it's not.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 36 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Queens Day in Amsterdam; the Grand Canyon; Amman, Jordan

John Bermont <[email protected]> wrote:
    > All of the rail passes I have purchased have had my passport number on
    > them. It is written in by the agency selling the pass. Conductors may
    > request to see your passport to verify that you are the person entitled
    > to the rail pass.

And have you ever seen them look for more than 1/4 of a second?

    > Showing an Irish passport would probably result in having your rail pass
    > confiscated.

You really think so? Really? When about when you turn around and produce a
US passport, in this highly fantastical scenario? Or will they already have
burned the pass in the aisle by then?

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 36 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Queens Day in Amsterdam; the Grand Canyon; Amman, Jordan

Miguel Cruz wrote:
    > John Bermont <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    >>All of the rail passes I have purchased have had my passport number on
    >>them. It is written in by the agency selling the pass. Conductors may
    >>request to see your passport to verify that you are the person entitled
    >>to the rail pass.
    >
    >
    > And have you ever seen them look for more than 1/4 of a second?
    >
    >
    >>Showing an Irish passport would probably result in having your rail pass
    >>confiscated.
    >
    >
    > You really think so? Really? When about when you turn around and produce a
    > US passport, in this highly fantastical scenario? Or will they already have
    > burned the pass in the aisle by then?
    >
    > miguel


Well, Miguel is back!
--
------------------------------------------------------
* * * Mastering Independent Budget Travel * * *
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
------------------------------------------------------

    > I have a question about the *fine print* of the Eurail passes. I live in
    > the USA and am a US citizen. I also hold a Republic of Ireland passport due
    > to applying for it a few years ago (my grandfather was born there and I was
    > able to apply for Irish citizenship based on that. So, technically I
    > suppose that makes me a *dual national*--however, my main residence is the
    > USA and I have never lived in Ireland
    > When I go to Europe next spring I'd like to travel on my Irish passport. Am
    > I able to use a Eurail pass while using an EU passport?

Eurail eligibility is based on residency, not citizenship. A citizen
of a European country who does not live in Europe should be eligible to
use one by presenting additional evidence that he does not live there.

On 24 Jun 2005 06:55:01 -0700, [email protected] wrote:


    >Eurail eligibility is based on residency, not citizenship. A citizen
    >of a European country who does not live in Europe should be eligible to
    >use one by presenting additional evidence that he does not live there.

How do you prove you don't live somewhere?
--
Martin

Martin wrote:
    >
    > On 24 Jun 2005 06:55:01 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
    >
    > >Eurail eligibility is based on residency, not citizenship. A citizen
    > >of a European country who does not live in Europe should be eligible to
    > >use one by presenting additional evidence that he does not live there.
    >
    > How do you prove you don't live somewhere?
By showing that you DO live elsewhere?

Sheila

Thanks for the advice, everyone--guess I'll have to carry both passports
with me during my trip, and be prepared to present my US passport on the
train as required--and use the Irish passport at passport control (whichever
ones are left) as required.

Jean in VA

"Miguel Cruz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Jean S. Barto <[email protected]> wrote:
    > > I have a question about the *fine print* of the Eurail passes. I live
in
    > > the USA and am a US citizen. I also hold a Republic of Ireland passport
due
    > > to applying for it a few years ago (my grandfather was born there and I
was
    > > able to apply for Irish citizenship based on that. So, technically I
    > > suppose that makes me a *dual national*--however, my main residence is
the
    > > USA and I have never lived in Ireland
    > >
    > > When I go to Europe next spring I'd like to travel on my Irish passport.
Am
    > > I able to use a Eurail pass while using an EU passport? I'm not really
sure
    > > how long I'll be in Europe, but would be 2 to 3 months, maybe more--but
    > > perhaps not enough time to be in Europe long enough to establish
residency
    > > anywhere there. Im asking this question because I havent seen it
addresed
    > > anywhere else.
    > The train conductors have no way of knowing which passport you show to
    > immigration. Obviously you will have your US passport with you, since it's
a
    > legal requirement to use it when you return to the USA, so the fact that
you
    > also have an Irish passport and may have recently shown it to someone else
    > is irrelevant. But in any case, the train conductors don't care. Once you
    > have the pass it's yours.
    > Do make sure that the Eurailpass is in fact cost-effective for your travel
    > plans. For most people it's not.
    > miguel
    > --
    > Hit The Road! Photos from 36 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
    > Latest photos: Queens Day in Amsterdam; the Grand Canyon; Amman, Jordan

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 11:07:37 -0400, S Viemeister
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >Martin wrote:
    >>
    >> On 24 Jun 2005 06:55:01 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
    >>
    >> >Eurail eligibility is based on residency, not citizenship. A citizen
    >> >of a European country who does not live in Europe should be eligible to
    >> >use one by presenting additional evidence that he does not live there.
    >>
    >> How do you prove you don't live somewhere?
    >By showing that you DO live elsewhere?

Not really, it's possible live in more than one place.
--
Martin

Martin wrote:
    >
    > On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 11:07:37 -0400, S Viemeister
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > >Martin wrote:
    > >>
    > >> On 24 Jun 2005 06:55:01 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
    > >>
    > >> >Eurail eligibility is based on residency, not citizenship. A citizen
    > >> >of a European country who does not live in Europe should be eligible to
    > >> >use one by presenting additional evidence that he does not live there.
    > >>
    > >> How do you prove you don't live somewhere?
    > >>
    > >By showing that you DO live elsewhere?
    >
    > Not really, it's possible live in more than one place.
    >
I know. That's what I do. But for various legal purposes, one is somewhat
more official than the other.

"S Viemeister" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
    > Martin wrote:
    >> On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 11:07:37 -0400, S Viemeister
    >> <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> >Martin wrote:
    >> >>
    >> >> On 24 Jun 2005 06:55:01 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
    >> >>
    >> >> >Eurail eligibility is based on residency, not citizenship. A citizen
    >> >> >of a European country who does not live in Europe should be eligible
    >> >> >to
    >> >> >use one by presenting additional evidence that he does not live
    >> >> >there.
    >> >>
    >> >> How do you prove you don't live somewhere?
    >> >>
    >> >By showing that you DO live elsewhere?
    >> Not really, it's possible live in more than one place.
    > I know. That's what I do. But for various legal purposes, one is
    > somewhat
    > more official than the other.
------------------
Indeed , for taxation as an example you're usually considered to reside at
one place.
But here we're talking about rules for rail passes. The rules for Eurail
as well as Interrail and EuroDomino is what's counting is where you're
residing and that's in turn counting for the last 6 months. So if you can
proof that you're residing, not necessarily being a citizen , outside Europe
for that period you're eligible for Eurail, if not for Interrail.
Possibly you can find out how to cheat the rules but that doesn't matter so
much as the railways usually are more than happy if you've paid for the
ticket :-)