Travel from the UK to Spain with an Italian ID
This question is somewhat related to this one, but not quite the same.
I'm an Italian citizen currently living in the UK, and I'll be traveling to Spain in about a week (from Heathrow). My passport (which I always fly with, no matter where I go) is in the process of getting a visa, so I won't have access to it for this trip. My only option is to use my Italian ID card (which looks like this, and I have already used to enter the UK from Italy); will I have any problem going to Spain and / or back to the UK?
Best Answer
Today I had a bad episode. I am an Italian citizen with an Italian ID and I was travelling from Edinburgh, UK (where I live) to Alicante, Spain, and the police (at the spot where passports are checked) would not let me in! They asked to see another document, so I showed my driving license, the only other thing I had, but it still was not enough. The policeman went on shouting that I needed a passport to get in and finally exclaimed "I am doing you a favour for this time, go get a passport!".
I was speechless but glad I could get in. I have travelled all over Europe with my Italian ID card.
When asking the airport info point later, the guy first said that I should not have had problems with it, then he checked something and said that since the UK is not part of the Schengen I needed a passport. However, when I checked online later, it said that to enter Spain you need either a passport or a ID card as a EU national. I believe it is the police that does not even know facts, but I will do more research.
Pictures about "Travel from the UK to Spain with an Italian ID"
Can I travel to Spain with Italian ID card?
European Union citizens do not need a visa to travel to Spain, and in fact, it is also possible for these citizens to travel within the region with a valid ID card. All other foreign nationals must always have a valid passport when traveling to Spain.Can I travel with Italian ID card to UK?
You cannot use an EU , EEA or Swiss national ID card to enter the UK unless you: have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man's settlement schemes.Can I travel from UK to Spain with ID?
Yes. However, the ID document must be accepted for entry at the country of destination. Therefore, if you wish to leave the UK using a national ID card you must check that the country you are travelling to will allow you to enter using a national ID card rather than a passport.Can I travel to Spain with ID?
Entry requirements\u200b\u200bPresent proof of identity and a valid travel document. Present the corresponding visa if required, according to nationality. Provide evidence of meeting the conditions for the proposed stay and of possessing sufficient financial resources. Not be subject to a ban on entering Spain.Uk visit visa from Italy | Italy to Uk visa |
More answers regarding travel from the UK to Spain with an Italian ID
Answer 2
In the interests of completeness, it's worth mentioning that there are signs when entering the UK which warn that processing Italian ID cards is slower than passports or other EU ID cards. They don't have any modern electronic reader or digital signature technology, so the border official probably has to consult an online database to check that it's not a fake. So you may need to allow more margin for connections when travelling without your passport.
Answer 3
I've had friends with the old style carta d'identità get into the UK and I constantly see it when coming back into Schengen, although I only used the new CIE, I have had no problem using mine. I don't think you'll have a problem either.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Maria Orlova, Matteo Basile, ArtHouse Studio, ArtHouse Studio