The gap between demand and delivery related to passports is constantly increasing due to shortage of raw materials and huge demand. Now the police are also tightening the requirements for emergency passports.
On the other hand, if you’ve booked a flight to Spain, Greece or Croatia, but don’t have a valid passport for you or your children, you can theoretically board the plane.
But experts say it’s not without risks.
– You can, of course, get lucky and bet you avoid passport control, but if you meet someone on the road who needs valid identification, it can be difficult, says Arne Voll, director of communications at Gjensidige.
extreme sports
In all countries of the Schengen area, there is usually no passport control. You may still be asked to identify yourself, after which you should ensure that you have a valid ID in place.
If you will be traveling outside the Nordic region, you must have a valid passport or ID. Does not hold a valid driver’s license or visa card with a photo if you meet the wrong people. Faul says that even if you don’t always need a passport in the Schengen areas, passport checks can still be done.
Voll understands that you cannot expect to return to insurance if there are problems down the road.
Warning: Gjensidige’s Director of Communications, Arne Voll, encourages people to think twice before traveling on holiday without a valid passport. Photo: Mats Stordahl
We receive many inquiries regarding what we cover in case of problems related to passports. Obtaining valid identification is a personal responsibility. Although in some cases it will be possible to travel to some countries without a passport, the insurance does not cover anything if you have to show a valid ID and you do not have it.
– Then there will be an issue between you and the country you are traveling to, says Voll.
This is the Schengen area
The Schengen area consists of 26 European countries. Usually there is no passport control between these countries.
If you have a valid visa or residence permit in one of these countries, you can also visit other countries.
These countries are parties to the Schengen Agreement:
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Iceland
- Italia
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Holland
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Czech Republic
- Germany
- Hungary
- Austria
Also applies in Nordic countries
According to Roar Hanssen of the Norwegian Police Directorate, the passport and national identity card are the only valid identifiers when traveling.
According to the police website, the waiting period for a national ID is four weeks and seven weeks for a traditional passport. However, it can take months to get an appointment to get a passport. Waiting time is expected to increase with the onset of summer.
– Even if you are only traveling in the Nordic countries, checks can be taken. Then we recommend that you have a valid passport, national ID or driver’s license. Children traveling with their parents do not need their own identification card. This applies as long as parents can show their identity, Hansen says.
Are you thinking of traveling without a valid passport? Then, we want to hear from you.
– Search outside the city
Bjørn Vandvik, director of the Police Directorate, also advises against booking travel if the documents are not correct – but also recommends using an ID if the passport queue becomes too long.
– We have too many people applying for passports in terms of the number of passports produced, so there is a longer and longer waiting time. “We think July is close to 10 weeks,” Vandevik says.
A clear message: The head of the department at the Norwegian Police Directorate, Bjorn Vandevik, encourages people to wait to book a holiday abroad before arranging their travel documents. Photo: Ingvild Gjerdsjø/TV 2
He points to the backlog caused by the pandemic as the main reason behind the long queues, as the passport was hidden in the drawer.
– Now many people want two passports at once, after which we cannot submit the corresponding application. He says the war in Ukraine may also have affected the delivery of passport components.
But for those who have not given up hope of getting a new passport or ID for the holiday, Vandevik advises applying out of town.
– We see there is a different hourly waiting time in police departments, so you can still do that. It’s a pity you have to search, but here we are.
– It’s too early to say
But despite the warnings and long waiting times for passports, travel agencies have noticed an increasing number of reservations, especially for the summer holidays.
Right now, people don’t seem to have a cold foot.
– It’s too early to say whether we will notice a greater number of cancellations related to not having valid passports, says TUI’s Director of Communications, Nora Espengren.
Options: Ving Manager points out that ID cards can work just like passports, if you’re not prepared for the trip. Photo: Feng
Marie-Ann Zachcherson, director of Ving in Norway, says they are concerned about the permit submitted to the Police Directorate to avoid booking holidays abroad without valid passports.
– It is good that the police gradually indicated that she had a valid ID. We have many trips to countries where that definition is good enough, says Zachrisson.
– We are following the situation closely. Many have waited during the two long years of the pandemic to be able to travel abroad on their summer vacation, and we advise those without a valid passport to book a flight to Schengen where you do not need a valid passport, but an ID card.
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