What do you do if the embassy asks for original ID of the EU family member?

[Caravel88]

Hello all.
This question was asked to me elsewhere and I do not know how to reply so I thought it would be best to ask it here.

Apparently some EU member states' representatives ask for the original ID/Passport of the EU family-member to issue travel visas under directive 2004/38 and do not accept a copy alone.

In some cases the EU citizen might be away or not present in the country of the family member.

AFAIK, it should be enough to provide a copy together with another document proving the relationship (such as a marriage certificate).

What should one do if the family member is asked to submit the original ID/Passport?

Thank you!

[vinny]

AFAIK, copies may be more easier to edit. Hence, their value for id purposes is questionable.

[secret.simon]

AFAIK, with the exception of the United Kingdom, every other EEA country issues an ID card as well as passports to their citizens. You could get the EEA citizen spouse to submit the ID Card with the application, thus leaving the passport with him/her for travelling.

[Omi00007]

In the absence of an ID card and if the EU/EEA citizen is not present in the country where the application is being lodged, I suggest a legally attested (e.g. Solicitor) copy of the EU/EEA citizen's passport should be submitted with a covering letter stating the reason why original ID/Passport wasn't submitted.

[Caravel88]

Hi Omi00007! Thank you for your answer. Given your experience I really appreciate hearing from you.

So if you are in the UK, how do you do this?
Get a photocopy of your Passport then go to a sols office and have it stamped?
Then send it to be legalised / notorised or something?

Thanks again.

In the absence of an ID card and if the EU/EEA citizen is not present in the country where the application is being lodged, I suggest a legally attested (e.g. Solicitor) copy of the EU/EEA citizen's passport should be submitted with a covering letter stating the reason why original ID/Passport wasn't submitted.

[ALKB]

Hi Omi00007! Thank you for your answer. Given your experience I really appreciate hearing from you.

So if you are in the UK, how do you do this?
Get a photocopy of your Passport then go to a sols office and have it stamped?
Then send it to be legalised / notorised or something?

Thanks again.

In the absence of an ID card and if the EU/EEA citizen is not present in the country where the application is being lodged, I suggest a legally attested (e.g. Solicitor) copy of the EU/EEA citizen's passport should be submitted with a covering letter stating the reason why original ID/Passport wasn't submitted.

Some post offices (check online which ones in your area) offer to certify copies. I have used them several times to certify copies of my passport for visa/immigration purposes for both EEA family permit for my husband and UK standard visitor visa for my parents-in-law. Never had a problem.

[Omi00007]

Hi Omi00007! Thank you for your answer. Given your experience I really appreciate hearing from you.

So if you are in the UK, how do you do this?
Get a photocopy of your Passport then go to a sols office and have it stamped?
Then send it to be legalised / notorised or something?

Thanks again.

In the absence of an ID card and if the EU/EEA citizen is not present in the country where the application is being lodged, I suggest a legally attested (e.g. Solicitor) copy of the EU/EEA citizen's passport should be submitted with a covering letter stating the reason why original ID/Passport wasn't submitted.

In the past I have taken my original passport and a coloured copy to the solicitors office, got it certified/stamped and paid £50 for this service.

I don't think you need to get it further legalised/notorised.

As ALKB has advised, post office certification works as well and is probably much cheaper, however, I have never used this service. IMHO if the application is being lodged in a third world country then I personally would be more confident with a solicitor certified copy compared to a post office one.