jdr

With all the money the UK gov make on passports I can`t see them allowing people to use this card in the same way as a passport, it would cost them millions if everyone dumped the passport in favour of a 30 squid card.
You will def need both or just a passport.

lynnxa

but if you're here & you can get the ID card - & it's accepted as legal ID by the Spanish govt. - & you don't leave the country - then you wouldn't need to fork out the 100+ quid for a new passport when it expires

bil

If the government want the scheme to get off the ground, then they need to make it easy, efficient and of real advantage to the person carrying it. ie it could replace a driving licence, passport etc and be a lot cheaper than the old forms.

So. No hope there then.

Fred James

Not according to the IPS. You do not necessarily need a valid passport to get one and it is a valid travel document within the EU/EEA.

A Spanish national can enter the UK with a DNI - a passport is not required.

The effect of the fact that the UK is not a Schengen member applies to border controls - ie you need an ID document to pass through the borders - it is not a requirement that it be a passport - a national identity card is acceptable and remember that 21 of the 25 countries already have ID cards.

Lenox

I don't think a British ID card would be much use - barring having photographic ID to back up a credit card at the shop. I use a Spanish driving licence for this.
For proper ID, you need a Spanish ID card, called a DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) which is very useful - only of course you need to be a Spaniard to get one. Non-Europeans (those that are allowed to stay here) have a similar looking card called a 'tarjeta de residencia no-comunitaria' - a sort of non EU ID card. Very useful, it has the bearer's photo and thumbprint plus his ID number which is also his tax number.
Unfortunately, some idiots came up with an idea to create (much needed) extra work for Spain's four million strong army of bureaucrats in the shape of a new non-residence paper for Europeans - an A4 sheet (unfoldable if you want it to last) which must be carried with a passport - theoretically at all times. I've certainly had to go home a couple of times to fetch the damn thing. This piece of s*** legislation means that we Europeans no longer have a Spanish ID card or 'residencia' but are now merely 'registered with the foreign police department'. After almost 40 years, I'm no longer a resident here.
We do, of course, continue to have a tax number which is on the aforementioned A4.
It has been said that the Spanish Ministry of the Interior - which doesn't as a rule take any notice of what foreigners might think - was quite taken with this A4 wheeze: it could have left things alone, or gone with a French-style 'Carte de Séjour'. But, you know, foreigners hey?

BTW - you won't get into Gibraltar with a British ID card - or a Spanish one either.

jdr

Maybe right, I have seen Spaniards going into Gib with their ID cards, but everyone I have seen going into and out of the UK have held a passport out.
Maybe that was just the airline rules though ?

Fred James

You're right about Gib - the Spanish use their DNI cards but the Brits must use passports - a residencia card is not accepted.

You can definitely enter the UK with a Spanish DNI card - I have been with Spaniards who have done this.

For flying within the Schengen EU, airlines insist on proof of identity - a photo ID card - that could be a driving licence.

lynnxa

yes - I know a Spanish guy who has travelled into the UK several times with his ID card

johncar61

One of the problems with using a Spanish DL (I believe with a UK DL too) as a a very unofficial ID, is that it does not show your address.

The ID issued to non EU residents, like the old Residencia Card does show the address, but it will nor get a holder into Gib.

As for the new UK ID card, I am sure it will be legally acceptable in the whole of the EU just like a Spanish DNI.

Some few years ago a friend of mine flew from Spain the Italic. He produced his valid Residencia on arrival and it was accepted without question (he did have his passport with him just in case).

lynnxa

problem is, we can't get one

Madridboy

Pretty much what I was thinking.

I can´t see there being a need for both, the UK gov may charge a lot for these passports but I would also imagine they cost a lot of money to produce compared to a single plastic card.
Funnily enough I work at a printers in Madrid and we do a lot of security printing and special products printing for banks and the government and guess what we´re in the middle of printing 3 000 000 copies of at the moment.............the forms and paperwork for the new id cards.......anyone interested in a DIY job?







In the highly unlikely event of anyone from work reading this I´m joking about taking copies!

johncar61

IF the cost of the materials is the reason for the high price of a UK passport, it must be that paper in UK is a lot more expensive than in Spain. A Spanish 10 year Passport costs €20

Madridboy

Paper prices in the UK are horrific but you also need to take into account the costs of administation as well. Just think about wages in the UK compared to those in Spain.

jackytoo

And those Civil Service pensions

johncar61

Yes, and non-contributory too, I bet we all wish ours had been like that too.