Passport Queues - a tip

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niemeyjt · #1 Post by **niemeyjt** » Wed May 24, 2023 6:48 pm

Just some feedback from my last few trips in and out of the Schengen Zone - it may save some a few minutes.

Even with a UK passport you can avoid the long non-EU passport queues by using the EU/EEA/CH passport lanes if you have a TdS/CdS - this is as I was officially advised by a passport officer (after I had spent 15 minutes in the long queue).

The only thing you cannot do is use the e-gates - you have to go to the person in the booth.

It has worked for me ever since - apart from with one PAF trainee who seemed to have problems with my Swiss TdS and had to ask a colleague!

Char · #2 Post by **Char** » Wed May 24, 2023 6:58 pm

Long live common sense.

Thanks N

rabbit · #3 Post by **rabbit** » Thu May 25, 2023 11:08 am

I recently returned from U.K. The previous return I offered my CDS with the passport The officer said he didn’t need it. This time I just offered the passport and had an irate officer saying “you must show your CDS or we will stamp your passport “

Char · #4 Post by **Char** » Thu May 25, 2023 11:14 am

Both ways, we had to show our CDS to the French passport contol, the English side weren't interested.

Blaze · #5 Post by **Blaze** » Thu May 25, 2023 12:12 pm

That's a useful tip, J, thank you !

We went to Jersey recently and had to show passports and CDS going out and coming back. The French customs going out looked at my CDS and said "Oh I think we'll keep this one" but I saw the twinkle in his eye (phew !!!) and giggled. They're pretty cool at Saint-Malo, usually pretty chatty too.
We produce both as a matter of routine.

niemeyjt · #6 Post by **niemeyjt** » Thu May 25, 2023 3:03 pm

Char wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 11:14 amBoth ways, we had to show our CDS to the French passport contol, the English side weren't interested.

That is my experience too.

Antonia · #7 Post by **Antonia** » Thu May 25, 2023 4:43 pm

Blaze wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 12:12 pm We went to Jersey recently and had to show passports and CDS going out and coming back.

That's a bit of a relief as I'm off to Jersey next month. Last year I went twice, once by air from Rennes and another time via the ferry from Granville. Despite me showing them my CdeS they insisted on stamping my passport. I'm hoping they will be more with it this year.

Blaze · #8 Post by **Blaze** » Thu May 25, 2023 5:55 pm

Antonia wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 4:43 pm Last year I went twice, once by air from Rennes and another time via the ferry from Granville.

We always take the Condor Fast Cat from Saint-Malo - they seem pretty easy going and there's never been any mention of stamping our passports !
Perhaps they're more used to Brits living in France than Granville ??

Antonia · #9 Post by **Antonia** » Fri May 26, 2023 7:49 am

Blaze wrote: ↑Thu May 25, 2023 5:55 pm Perhaps they're more used to Brits living in France than Granville ??

I think it was a combination of the ferry starting up again after Covid and the new rules round Brexit. Adding a withdrawal agreement CdeS was just a complication too far. Certainly I've flown out from Lyon and used Eurostar since without any trouble. Just in case I've bought a clear plastic cover for my passport which also holds the CdeS. The back pages are tucked away so, if an officer does want to stamp he has to fish them out and that gives me enough time to say something.

Spectrum · #10 Post by **Spectrum** » Fri May 26, 2023 7:51 am

I think I mentioned this last year, we have our CDS lightly stuck on our passport page so they can see straight away you are legal, used the EU lane on both occasions no queues no stamp, there was a group of British biker that tried this, they got escorted to the back of the non EU queue

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