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[kronos]

I'm thinking of taking a train or bus from Switzerland to France and then France to Spain. I was wondering if anyone has experience with this and can tell me whether they do passport checks when you cross the borders?

Thanks!

[spiral78]

Yes, many of us have experience crossing borders

There may be a check on the Swiss border, but it's unlikely between Spain and France.

Remember, though, that even if passport checks aren't mandatory, it's still entirely legal for police to check passports if there is anything suspicious. There are often police with sniffer dogs checking public transportation...

Why are you concerned about passport checks? Do you want a stamp, or are you hoping not to encounter the border patrol for some reason?

[kronos]

Thanks, spiral78! I did actually take a train from Spain to France about six years ago, and I don't recall them checking passports, but I was also dead tired at the time so can't really remember...

I was asking on behalf of a friend who may travel with me and doesn't want to go through passport control! We thought train/bus might be a better option than planes for that reason...

[spiral78]

I was fuzzy on whether Switzerland is yet a full Schengen zone member, so I've googled it and it seems to still be outside - meaning that you may well encounter a border check there.

Spain and France are established Schengen zone countries, so it's far less likely, though not impossible, that you will be checked.

As for which type of transportation is best - well, airports now have passport-free entry for people traveling inside the zone. Meaning that, for instance, if you fly from the Czech Rep to Netherlands, no passport check is performed. Ditto Spain-France.

Due to the sheer numbers of people flying, it might actually be the best way to avoid border cops. I don't know for certain about Spain and France, but there are very often cops and dogs doing random checks on trains in Germany. And busses are sometimes targeted, I know, because it's the cheapest way for illegal immigrants to travel in many cases...

[Takahiwai]

I have taken the train between Spain and France many times, and what they do insist on, at least on the night train, is taking ID from you, whether it be your passport, your ID card or whatever. It's a formality and I don't think it's now checked when you pass through Irun/Hendaye. What you could do is get off the train at Irun and get a taxi, or walk, to Hendaye. The actual frontier is at one end of a bridge, and simply consists of a marker stone. Sorry, can't advise re Switzerland as I've never had the pleasure!

[mdk]

Most people in Spain would accept a California Drivers License in lieu of a DNI or a passport while I have traveled there. They only checked my passport when I got on the chunnel train to get into France.

It's a wise precaution to make a xerox of the face page of your passport. Hide the passport in a trouser stash and carry the xerox separately. If you have the xerox in the event of a lost passport, you are ahead of the game in getting it replaced.

[Moore]

(Ill-advisedly) took a bus from Paris to Madrid: they did check our passports, including that of the way-overstayed American next to me- no problem at all for him.

I think that the authorities are currently looking for immigrants from poorer countries and not clean-cut people from prosperous countries.

The only time I heard of anyone getting refused entry was an American girl coming back from a weekend in the UK and made some daft sarcastic comment to an English immigration official and found herself with a fat "Entry Refused" stamp in her passport.

I have heard a couple of other stories about people being heavily questioned by UK immigration about their visa: possibly best to avoid a visit once your tourist visa has expired?


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[spiral78]

I think that the authorities are currently looking for immigrants from poorer countries and not clean-cut people from prosperous countries

That's why I think it might actually be safer to fly than travel by bus, if you've got some reason to avoid the border check.

[sheikh radlinrol]

[Moore]

It was when she was leaving the UK and the (I don't know, is it immigration on the way out? ...customs?), anyway, the person was looking at her passport as she was leaving the UK and on her way back to Spain. I assume it was the bit where you go past a booth and present your ticket and passport before they x-ray your stuff and you go through into the departure lounge.


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[Marcoregano]

[spiral78]

The UK is a member. Have you flown recently? I am not sure whether the UK specifically has eliminated passport checks from within the EU (I try to avoid London connections when travelling for obvious reasons).

I can personally vouch for Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, and Prague. No checks from inside EU.

[Marcoregano]

Flew HK-Spain earlier this year (Feb) and last year - passport checks both directions at Gatwick, Granada and Malaga.

[kronos]

I flew to the UK around Christmas 2007, and there were passport checks on both ends. The UK's not part of the Schengen agreement, but it is part of the EU, so they do keep an eye out for people who have overstayed their welcome in Europe. I know of a few people over the years who have been caught when flying to the UK from Spain after overstaying their time in Spain. I also know people who've been caught in Italy and Norway. But so far I don't know anyone (personally) who's been turned away in Spain!

[jonniboy]