Can you travel to France on Eurostar without a passport?

To travel on Eurostar you need either a valid passport or a national identity card (EEA citizens and Swiss nationals). Babies and children must have their own valid travel documents.



You generally cannot travel to France on the Eurostar without a valid passport, as both the United Kingdom and France maintain strict border controls and are not part of a common "no-passport" travel zone for non-EU citizens. For British and international travelers, a physical passport is a mandatory requirement for check-in and immigration clearance at St. Pancras International or other Eurostar hubs. While EU citizens can sometimes use a national ID card for travel within the Schengen Area, post-Brexit rules have made the physical passport the primary requirement for almost all travelers crossing the English Channel. There are extremely rare exceptions for "Collective Passports" for certain youth groups, but for the average traveler, the "no passport, no travel" rule is absolute. Even with the new digital gates and the upcoming Entry-Exit System (EES) in 2026, the underlying requirement is a biometric passport that can be scanned to verify your identity and legal right to enter the French Republic.

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ID Documents Regarding passport validity or visa requirements, please always check with your local embassy or consulate before making a booking to ensure you have the correct requirements. To travel on Eurostar you need either a valid passport or a national identity card (EEA citizens and Swiss nationals).

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Eurostar passengers require a valid passport or identity card. You will pass through UK, French, Dutch or Belgian customs depending on the journey you are undertaking.

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Do you need your passport to go from London to Paris? Yes, you need your passport to go from London to Paris or vice versa. You will go through immigration. This goes for EU residents too, as due to Brexit the UK is no longer in the EU.

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This means that when travelling on SNCF, you must have: A valid ID card, passport, or carte de séjour (residence permit), ready to prove your identity.

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All passengers (including any pets that are travelling with you) will need a valid passport.

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Passport checks used to be carried on the international Eurostar train, but all formalities are now carried out before boarding. At some border crossings, the train stops twice. First on one side of the border for checks and then on the other side for a second set of checks.

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Travel by train between London and Paris does not typically involve a passport check at the border. Passport checks are generally conducted when crossing international borders, but there is no border check between the United Kingdom and France as they are both part of the European Union's (EU) Schengen Area.

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Make your journey from St Pancras International that little bit more seamless with our facial verification technology. From July 2023, SmartCheck will allow you to use the dedicated lane without scanning your ticket. You then only need your passport checked once before entering the departure lounge.

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The security check is similar to what happens at an airport with all luggage going through the x-ray machine (so you have to be able to lift it!), and passengers walking through a metal detector.

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Your driving licence is not ID and is of no relevance whatsoever unless you intend to drive a car. It is the law in France that foreign visitors carry with them the document which proves their right to be in the country. For someone from outside the European Union, that can only be a passport.

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Passport control is a totally separate process, and passport control only wants to see passports. On board Eurostar, staff don't check tickets (because you've already scanned yours in to get entry to the departure lounge and platforms), let alone ask names.

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The Schengen area comprises 27 European countries. There is normally no passport control on the borders between these countries. If you have a valid visa or residence permit in one of these countries, you can also visit the other Schengen countries.

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On Eurostar there's no weight limit for your luggage, but you must be able to carry and lift your bags safely on your own, as there is no porter service at the station and our teams are unfortunately unable to help with luggage. Each bag can be up to 85cm long at its widest point and should be clearly labelled.

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Can I take food on board? Absolutely. You can bring your own food on European and London routes. And unlike in the sky, we won't restrict you with stifling rules on liquids.

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How long does the Eurostar check-in take? The check-in procedure for Eurostar train journeys takes roughly 20 minutes from start to finish, and depending on the class you're travelling in, it's recommended that you arrive at least 90 minutes before your Eurostar train leaves.

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Yes. Train journeys are thirsty work, so we have all your food and drink needs covered. Eurostar Café offers a wide range of meals, snacks and drinks. If you are travelling in Premium, a catering service at your seat is included with your booking.

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In its terms and conditions, SNCF makes it clear that “the passenger in whose name the e-ticket is issued must be able to present a valid identity document with a photo: either an identity card, a passport or a carte de séjour (residence permit)”.

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U.S. citizens with valid passports traveling for tourism or business can enter France without a visa for a period of 90 days within each six-month period. For French visa information please see the French Embassy's website .

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