Cannot get through to DVLA - they have my daughter's passport!

[Ceci03]

So I helped dd apply for a provisional licence back in June, but they asked me to send in her passport - the original. We couldn't then, as she was going away and needed it. So we sent it in October, with the original application number etc, as I did manage to speak to them in about August about it.
So now DD is booked to go away after xmas, but they still have her passport. I've emailed, and phoned, and tried to do webchat, but cannot get through to anyone. I don't even care about the licence at this stage, we just need the passport back :( Does anyone have any tips as to how you can speak to someone.

I paid for flights (different ones in August), and we couldnt go due to testing positive for covid. If I lose these flights at xmas as well because of that I'm going to lose my S.

Anyone know anyone who works there, or anyone managed to get through?
I looked up applying for a new passport, but the wait times are 8 weeks, so that's too late now as well.

@Ceci03

gordongrumpy - thanks for they sympathy lol! As someone who has grown up with an Irish father and an English mother I think I'm well versed in the rules of travel between UK and Rep of Ireland!

It's correct that you do not "need" a passport to travel between the countries as it's part of the common travel area. However, have you ever tried to travel on an airline or a ferry without a passport? You will be turned away.

She has just turned 18 which complicates things more. If I try and get her a renewal Irish passport - does it count as a renewal I wonder or as a 1st passport. I'm going to trawl through their website now.

However, have you ever tried to travel on an airline or a ferry without a passport? You will be turned away.

Quite a few of us have done this without any bother. I even managed it on Ryanair once although I got told off and they have prevented it via the online checkin now.

I've certainly regularly travelled by ferry using only driving licence - admittedly Cairnryan to Belfast - but from there I've crossed the border countless times.

@daimbarsatemydogsbone - well I have lots of friends who have had to do last minute dashes to the passport office as they cannot travel to UK without a passport - people who have suddenly noticed expiry dates, or couldnt find passport.

Plus my daughter doesnt have a driving licence :)

Sorry - I haven't read the whole thread so this may have already been mentioned.

The DVLA currently has my sons birth certificate for his provisional licence and I use their website to work out roughly when his application will be processed.
www.gov.uk/guidance/dvla-coronavirus-covid-19-update#wheres-my-application

It's updated every Monday and it is giving me hope he will have his licence by his 17th birthday.

Good luck, I hope its back before you go away

Yeah obviously you can cross the border in ireland without a passport I know that. But I've already booked and paid for flights.

In an emergency I could drive up to Scotland I guess and cross to Belfast. But with no ID I don't know if it would be worth the risk of someone asking her for some kind of ID.

Thanks @chocolateoranges33

I've looked it up but they havent logged receipt of the passport yet. It says 'awaiting documentation'. So I guess they havent opened it yet....

Of course you can travel Scotland to NI by ferry without a passport, many of us have.

Your daughter has time to sort out some form of photo ID, in case of emergency.

I lose sympathy when someone is being given solutions, and they play "yes, but"

Can you not get the ferry to Northern Ireland and drive? There is no requirement for a passport for this, just a form of identity including a birth certificate for under 18s will suffice www.stenaline.co.uk/faqs/passports-and-visas/im-a-british-irish-citizen-do-i-need-a-passport-to-travel

Just looked at that link @chocolateoranges33

The date they are processing in my daughter's category is 29 September 2021... So a long way to go yet. God I wish I had looked at that before I sent off the passport. I allowed about 8 weeks for processing but assumed they would send the original back sooner even if they couldnt do the license

@Ceci03

I cant get her a new passport as she needs the current one as proof of ID.

Am I missing something here?

@Ceci03

Yeah obviously you can cross the border in ireland without a passport I know that. But I've already booked and paid for flights.

In an emergency I could drive up to Scotland I guess and cross to Belfast. But with no ID I don't know if it would be worth the risk of someone asking her for some kind of ID.

She would be asked for photo ID - it's mentioned in that link I posted from Irish Ferries - but it doesn't have to be a passport - there is a list of what they will accept.

Oh what a nightmare! No advice but I really hope you manage to get this sorted

We went on the ferry earlier this year, nobody checked anything.

You legally don’t need a passport to travel between the uk and Ireland, just ID and proof of nationality which can be done with a birth certificate. My DU dosnt have a passport and refused to get one just to get into “his own country” he used his drivers licence and birth certificate when he flew a couple of years ago.

Speak to the airline. If there are any issues you may need to book a ferry just for yourself and your dd.

However, have you ever tried to travel on an airline or a ferry without a passport? You will be turned away

you won't, you just need photo ID in the Common Travel Area. My DH and I recently travelled to Guernsey with our driving licences.

@claymodels one passport is Irish, one British

Have sent you a PM @Ceci03

@Ceci03

Apologies if someone has said this, I haven't RTFT, but could she not just apply for a new passport, and say she lost her other one?

Seems like the obvious answer.

FWIW, I expect the holiday will be cancelled anyway,) because of Covid...)

[quote KirkstallAbbess]@claymodels one passport is Irish, one British [/quote]

I did t even know there were 2. OP was advised to report it as lost and get a replacement and she said she could not be due she needed it for ID. She does not have it for ID. The passport office don't ask for a lost passport as ID when replacing said lost passport?

So why could OPDD not report it lost and gets replaced

This is the list of acceptable ID for Irish Ferries:

Valid passport
Photographic Driving License
International Student Card
Government issued photographic ID cards
Health insurance/social security photographic ID cards
Photographic bus/train pass
Place of work photographic ID
Birth certificates (for under 18’s with no photo ID)

The DVLA have been dreadful since covid began.
I sent off for my 3 year medically restricted drivers licence renewal in February 2020 and it’s still not back
By the time it comes back - if it ever does it’ll be time to apply again
OP look on Twitter there’s lots of stuff on there re DVLA someone might have advice

well I have lots of friends who have had to do last minute dashes to the passport office as they cannot travel to UK without a passport - people who have suddenly noticed expiry dates, or couldnt find passport

The UK doesn't have border controls for CTA arrivals, you walk straight in. You just need photo ID for the plane or ferry (and if Ireland has controls for people leaving - the UK doesn't).

You don't have to declare her dual nationality when you apply for a British passport, so you could still do that without the Irish one. By which I mean that, technically you are supposed to declare it and send in the other passport when you apply for a British one, but we never do and they don't chase it up. All my family are dual nationals, and while I don't generally like lying, I have no intention of posting all our passports off just to get a British one. It has never been raised as an issue, even though you would think that if an actual human had read the form, it would be obvious that people who weren't born in the UK and now live here must at some point have had another nationality to get here.

@girlsyearapart

The DVLA have been dreadful since covid began. I sent off for my 3 year medically restricted drivers licence renewal in February 2020 and it’s still not back By the time it comes back - if it ever does it’ll be time to apply again OP look on Twitter there’s lots of stuff on there re DVLA someone might have advice

I have a feeling it's probably lost.

Why did you need to send her passport?
I've just ordered dd provisional via her passport and it says we need to send supporting documents (havent told us what yet) but just wondering if they gave you a reason.

Dd, Ds, myself and Dh sent all of our driving licences off in September because of a change of address.

[quote elbea]Can you not get the ferry to Northern Ireland and drive? There is no requirement for a passport for this, just a form of identity including a birth certificate for under 18s will suffice www.stenaline.co.uk/faqs/passports-and-visas/im-a-british-irish-citizen-do-i-need-a-passport-to-travel[/quote]
yes we can do that thanks. But I've already paid for flights, so I guess I just write that off. Plus driving at this time of year well I'm not that confident in snow.

Sorry I'm annoying you all with my "yes but"!!!!!

If I had to say the hardest thing about moving from Ireland to UK it would be the paperwork. It has been very very very frustrating and difficult. I wont bore you...