Travel documents for EU nationals
Documents you need for travel in the EU and Schengen countries
As an EU national, you have the right to travel freely in the 27 EU member countries as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (non-EU countries but members of the Schengen area) carrying either a valid passport or a national identity card (ID card). Your travel document must be valid on the day of travel. Children and minors must have their own passport or ID card - read more about travelling with minors. If you are travelling with your non-EU family members check the specific rules that apply to them.
When do I need to show a passport or ID card?
You don't normally need to show your passport or ID when crossing the internal borders of the Schengen area. However, all Schengen area countries (see below) are allowed to reintroduce temporary border controls in extraordinary circumstances, for example, in case of a threat to public policy or national security. Find more detailed and up-to-date information about temporary border controls. When a Schengen area country applies temporary border controls you must show a valid passport or ID card.
You must also show a valid passport or ID card if you travel between a Schengen country and Cyprus or Ireland. You must also show a valid passport or ID card when a country applies temporary border controls.
| Schengen area | Non-Schengen area | |
|---|---|---|
| EU countries | non-EU countries | EU countries |
| Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria*, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania*, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden | Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland | Cyprus, Ireland |
Warning
* No border checks for air or sea-based travel between Bulgaria, Romania and Schengen area countries. However, border checks remain in place for land-based travel.
Travel documents to prove you are an EU citizen
If you do not have the necessary travel documents in the situations mentioned above, the authorities can refuse entry, but first they must give you every reasonable opportunity to obtain the necessary documents, or let you prove by other means that you are an EU citizen, within a reasonable period of time. Should you find yourself in this situation, it is your responsibility to prove you are an EU citizen and thus have the right to travel freely in the 27 EU member countries as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Other controls in the EU and in Schengen countries
You may also be subject to on-the-spot police checks especially at internal border and in border areas (including ports, airports and railway stations) in EU and Schengen countries. These checks could include an identity check. In some of these countries, you may be obliged to have or carry identity papers and documents while on their territory. Driving licences, post, bank or tax cards are not travel documents and consequently may be refused as proof of identity. It is therefore always highly recommended to have the correct travel documents (passport or ID card) in your possession so you can prove your identity if required. If you don't have the necessary documents to prove your identity during on-the-spot police checks, you may be subject to penalties.
Entry refusal
In very rare cases, an EU or Schengen country can refuse entry to you or your family members for reasons of " public policy, public security or public health". This means the authorities must prove you or your family members pose a " genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat". You are entitled to receive this decision in writing, stating all the grounds, and specifying how you can appeal and by when.
Documents you need for travel to / from a country outside the EU and the Schengen area
As an EU national, if you are travelling to a non-EU country, you will need a valid passport and for some countries a visa. Check the list of non-EU/non-Schengen countries where a visa waiver applies to EU nationals.
Before you travel, check the entry requirements (for example, passport validity) and any other restrictions that might apply in the country you are travelling to as well as when re-entering your home country. Note that children and minors need their own travel document and where necessary a visa. Check the latest travel advice (provided by national authorities) for the country you are travelling to.
Warning
If you re-enter an EU or Schengen country from abroad, your travel document must be valid on the day you are travelling.
Consular protection
Should you find yourself in need of consular protection and assistance while travelling in a country outside the EU, you have the right to seek help from the embassy or consulate of any EU country if your home country is not represented. They can, for example, help in case of a serious accident or illness, provide an emergency travel document if your passport is lost or stolen. Read more about consular protection outside the EU and how to find an embassy or consulate.