Quote from: EtchedPixels on July 16, 2026, 10:00:57 PMThey were lucky - there are people currently stuck outside the UK who can't get back in and have been trapped for six weeks by passport issues caused by recent rule changes, or misinterpretations of them.

That is very true. It never used to be this complicated. It just seems to suck all the enjoyment out of what should be an adventure. I haven't had a passport myself for quite a few years and the way things are I can't ever see myself going abroad again.

Cheers,

Chris

Join the club. I've got passport problems that have been the scourge of my life.

My passport (British) expired earlier this year, and I'm in no rush to jump through the stupid hoops.

Like you I don't feel an urgent need to do so, except phone call from NZ the other day   implies I should make one last trip there.

Ah well.

I totally agree. When I retired 12 years ago I let my passport lapse as everyone seemed to work for the TPD (Tourism Prevention Department). There's plenty of fun to be had getting to know some of the crooks and nannies of these isles

For similar reasons I let my passport expire, I've no desire to go abroad again, too much like hard work when there is so much of the UK I've yet to visit.

However, I still had a perfectly legal paper driving license but in the eyes of the world I no longer existed if I ever needed to prove who I was for the most trivial of things.

I've now had to pay to get a photo driving license which I'll have to pay to renew every few years.

and i thought i was the only British person with no current passport! My last one lapsed over a year ago: NEVER used.

I paid twice for that last damn passport--i got conned by an online checking service--and ive heard of others too.

Quote from: thebrighton on July 17, 2026, 10:16:09 AMI've now had to pay to get a photo driving license which I'll have to pay to renew every few years.

It's even more fun when you don't have a driving licence for medical reasons. Although offering to sue people for disability discrimination does sometimes remind them there are other documents they should accept. Pathetic it gets to that level really.

These days I basically have a passport to buy and sell property not to actually go anywhere, although leaving the UK for somewhere like Albania gets ever more tempting.

We have done lot of foreign travelling over the years particularly after I semi-retired in 2014 and fully retired in 2017.

However, since moving to South Devon we no longer feel the need or have the urge to tear around the world.

We have retained our passports "just in case" we change our minds but I doubt we'll do that.

As Mick @Newportnobby says, there is still plenty to see over here.
 

Quote from: thebrighton on July 17, 2026, 10:16:09 AMFor similar reasons I let my passport expire, I've no desire to go abroad again, too much like hard work when there is so much of the UK I've yet to visit.

However, I still had a perfectly legal paper driving license but in the eyes of the world I no longer existed if I ever needed to prove who I was for the most trivial of things.

I've now had to pay to get a photo driving license which I'll have to pay to renew every few years.

My wife surrendered her driving licence due to the potential of an hereditary sight defect. No big deal, I don't mind doing the driving, but as she didn't have an active passport, she had to buy an 'Over25' photo ID to be able to vote.
The only problem with that photo ID is, she can't use it as ID for internal flights, so we need to get her a passport for a trip to Edinburgh later in the year. The whole 'do it digitally' thing is all well and good but she's changed her name since her last one was issued in 2006, and had no need to replace it in the intervening years. It's all a bit of a pain.

You need a passport to go to Scotland? I've never heard of anything so ridiculous!

Quote from: Bealman on Yesterday at 12:19:34 PMYou need a passport to go to Scotland? I've never heard so ridiculous!

George ... you must have been stopped at the customs posts located at the gates in the Milecastles on The Wall. The ones where the  procuratores collect the customs duty. Probably also need to make sure your vaccines are up to date for travel over the border - especially if on checking your papers they realise you hail from Sunderland...

    

That's the problem with Hadrian's Wall. I was never fit enough to climb up onto it.

Quote from: Bealman on Yesterday at 12:19:34 PMYou need a passport to go to Scotland? I've never heard of anything so ridiculous!

You don't. Not yet anyway although the Scots are working on it  and hopefully Wales too one day 

The problem is that airlines should accept other documents for internal flights but that requires training their minimum wage staff so they often don't bother. There are other options but the photo ID has to be government issued.

I just get the train.

And I'll get me coat 

Quote from: EtchedPixels on Yesterday at 02:09:39 PM

Quote from: Bealman on Yesterday at 12:19:34 PMYou need a passport to go to Scotland? I've never heard of anything so ridiculous!

You don't. Not yet anyway although the Scots are working on it  and hopefully Wales too one day 

The problem is that airlines should accept other documents for internal flights but that requires training their minimum wage staff so they often don't bother. There are other options but the photo ID has to be government issued.

I just get the train.

Sadly, flying is both quicker and cheaper from our neck of the woods (even using a TwoFor railcard), even if it does entail a drive to Exeter and waiting around for ages because of ridiculous check-in rules.