TRAVELLING
Travel documents
In principle, you will not need to show any ID document to cross a border between Schengen countries.
Schengen countries are all the countries of the EU apart from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania, plus the four non-EU countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
If you are traveling to or from a non-Schengen EU country, the police will ask you to present a valid ID card or a passport at the border.
Schengen countries can decide to suspend Schengen temporarily or to perform random identity checks at the border for security reasons. In this case, you may also be asked to present an ID card or passport at the border.
Nevertheless, mind that in most EU countries (maybe even yours) you are always supposed to carry a valid ID card or passport with you.
Finally, airlines are obliged to verify the identity of their passengers against an ID card or passport at boarding and luggage drop-off. This applies also to flights within the same country.
documents travel ID ID card passport Schengen countriesYour driving licence is not a valid ID document and it will not be accepted by airlines and at eventual border checks.
ID ID card border checksNo, your residence card, even if called ID card, cannot be used as a travel document. To cross internal EU borders, you need to present either your national ID card or a passport.
EU Member State residence card travelIf your country doesn’t have a diplomatic representation in a third country, as an EU citizen, you have the right to be protected by the diplomatic or consular authorities of any EU Member State, on the same conditions as the nationals of that Member State. This is enshrined in article 46 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Therefore, you can contact a consulate or an embassy of any EU Member State and they should be able to help you.
travel passport non-EU country embassy consulateThe same identification requirements described above (see question 1) apply to children.
Member States may require additional documents, in particular if the child travels alone or without both parents. There are no EU rules on this matter, therefore, you should check with the authorities of the countries of origin, destination and transit. Mind also that airlines may impose additional requirements for the identification and travel authorisation of minors and some have their own forms. Check with your airline before you go to the airport.
child travel document airportAccording to EU rules, non-EU family members can benefit from the same rights as family members who are EU nationals. This means they can travel with you to another EU country. Your non-EU family members must always have a valid passport and may be also requested to show visa and/or residence document. It is however always advisable to contact the consulate or embassy of the country you are planning to go in order to know which documents your non-EU family member will be asked to present at the border.
Please check this EC website to know whether your non-EU family needs to get an entry visa before going with you to another EU Member State: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/entry-exit/non-eu-family/index_en.htm
Please bear in mind: If you have a residence card as an EU national family member and are travelling to another EU country without your EU family member, you must apply for a visa to enter that country.
EU citizen non-EU spouse travel
Passenger rights
In case of flight cancellation, you have the right to reimbursement, re-routing or return. You have also the right to compensation if you were informed about the cancellation less than 14 days prior to the scheduled departure date.
Please bear in mind: Compensation is not due if the airline can prove that the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken (e.g. weather conditions or strikes).
flight cancellation reimbursement CompensationIf your flight is delayed at departure, you have the right to assistance, to reimbursement and a return flight, depending on the duration of the delay and the distance of the flight. If due to the delay you arrived at your final destination at least 3 hours later than expected, you are entitled to compensation.
Please bear in mind: Compensation is not due if the airline can prove that the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken (e.g. weather conditions).
delay flight reimbursementYou should always send your complaint to the airline first. They have 2 months to provide you with their response. If they don’t or if you are not satisfied with the reply, you can make a complaint with the relevant national authority. The list of all national contact authorities is available here. You can also use the Alternative Dispute Resolution entity (ADR) or the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform (if you bought your ticket online). Finally, you can go on a legal action and present a claim for compensation under EU rules using the European Small Claims procedure.
Please bear in mind: You can always contact your local European Consumer Centre for help and advice on problems related to air passenger rights.
If you want to know more on the above options, please check the following EC’s website: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm
delay flight complaint
Travelling with animals
You can freely travel with your dog if it has a European pet passport. Any authorised veterinarian will be able to provide you with such a document. To be able to travel with your pet, the European pet passport must show that the pet has been vaccinated against rabies and, if travelling to Finland, Ireland, Malta or the United Kingdom, also treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus. The passport must also bear the number of your pet’s identification microchip
travel dog pet passportThe EU pet passport is only available for dogs, cats and ferrets. Other animals are covered by national rules which you should check prior to departure in order to make sure you can bring your animal with you. You can find more information on national rules here.
pet passport animal travel
Healthcare and emergencies when traveling
Before you leave, you need to make sure that you have your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It is usually delivered by the social security institution in your home country. If you get sick or have an accident, you need to present your EHIC card to a doctor or a hospital affiliated to the public health sector in order to be covered by the social security in your home country. If you don't have the EHIC card, you can't be refused treatment, but you might have to pay for your treatment upfront and claim reimbursement once you get home.
Please bear in mind: The EHIC will not cover the rescue and repatriation costs. Before you leave, please consider whether you would need an extra insurance for travel risks. In particular, the extra insurance cover would be advisable if you plan to practice action sports, e.g. skiing, scuba diving, mountain biking, parachuting, rafting, etc.
family European Health Insurance Card medical treatmentYou cannot rely on your EHIC if the reason for traveling abroad is to receive a treatment. You need a prior authorisation from a competent institution in your home country to access a specialised treatment abroad.
medical treatment EHIC travel112 is the European emergency number you can use free of charge from fixed and mobile phones in any EU Member State. It will connect you to the emergency services – police, ambulance, fire fighters. Each Member State has also its own national emergency numbers, but it may be troublesome to learn them by heart every time you go to another EU country. Therefore, keep in mind 112 as a number you can use to access the emergency services in all EU countries.
emergency number travel
Bringing goods from another EU country
As a private individual you can bring alcohol or tobacco for your own use. The maximum amounts are as follows:
- 800 cigarettes
- 400 cigarillos
- 200 cigars
- 1 kg of tobacco
- 10 litres of spirits
- 20 litres of fortified wine
- 90 litres of wine (including a maximum of 60 litres of sparkling wines)
- 110 litres of beer
Those are the minimum limits, but each Member State has a right to establish higher limits if it wishes so.
travel wine alcohol
Driving in another EU Member State
If your licence was issued in one of the 28 EU Member States, Iceland, Lichtenstein or Norway, you can use it anywhere in the EU. Once your licence expires, you will have to renew it in the country where you reside (live there for at least 185 days in each calendar year because of personal or work-related ties). Mind that if your driving licence has already expired, the authorities of your host country will not be able to renew it. Get in touch with them within a reasonable period of time before the expiry date to be sure everything goes smoothly.
driving licence EUNo, you cannot, unless you plan to stay in your host country less than six months. For periods above 6 months you are obliged to register your car in the country where you reside.
However, there is an exception for students. If you move to another EU country to study (you are enrolled in an educational establishment and possess a valid enrolment certificate), you can drive your car without having to register it in your host country. Once you start working during your studies, you will have to register your car in that country.
move car drive