I flew back to the UK last night and my photo page of my passport has fallen out. I already have an appointment for a new passport, but thats only at the end of may.
I have the requested letter (required by the german consulate) from my employer stating that I cant be without my passport due to my employment and need to travel at a moments notice.
I have been on hold with the german consulate, but as it reaches 59min it the cuts out. Have tried this twice. I have sent emails etc too, but no response as yet. I have to fly on thursday again...... Can I use tape to stick the page back in place? Talk about stressful.....
Has anyone had any experience with this sort of issue?
Im not sure if I get you right: Do you have a German passport? And the photo page broke, at the binding? I had the same, there was a generation of passports with a terrible binding. The new ones are much better. I managed to get through some trips with a photo page losely hanging on to some few threads... at some point did a Croatian border guard rip it out completely and I got myself a new one. There is countries where I would not travel to with a broken passport, but returning from the UK should not be a problem. I'd not glue it, because I believe tampering with the document might make things worse... but just hand it over as it is or ideally use the passport machines instead of a manual operator.
You can definitely travel from UK to CH with your German ID card. You probably can travel with your Damaged German Passport. Permit not necessary but may be helpful.
Your challenge wonāt be with the Swiss authorities but with the airline.
I'd imagine your first challenge is to get the airline to accept you damaged passport. There are serious financial consequences for them if you are refused entry on arrival in Zurich.
Your B permit is not an accepted form of Identification, so it's toss up, it will depend on who is checking it. Hopefully it will work out for you.
To answer that question: Any German living in CH who does not have a residency in Germany (in Germany, unlike Switzerland, can you have several residences)... has to go through the German embassy in Bern. I know because been there, done that. Getting a new passport through a German embassy takes a LOT longer than through your local city hall back home. After making that experience did I keep a secondary residency in Germany and used it for all the official paper work without any issues.
But a German ID card which the OP likely has is an accepted form. The UK requires since Brexit a passport to enter, but not to leave. Switzerland will be fine with either passport or photo ID. Even some non-EU countries like Turkey dont require passports but are happy with the national ID card.
He says though that he is a resident of CH & UK. If I recall correctly ( haven't renewed my german documents in over 10 years) , you can only have a german ID card if you are a resident in Germany.
Nope, can't fly on my SA passport as I don't have the correct visas etc. I think I shall just take my entire file with me to the airport.... and hope for the best
Severe financial consequences would apply to the airline bringing in an inadmissible passenger. This is why the airlines are so careful.
Likely you will be asked to present your papers at check-in, unless you arenāt going to check a bag. You will also be asked to present your papers at the gate. In both cases present your passport and your Permit telling them you live in Switzerland. If they ask about your passport just tell them the truth, it just happened and because of the long weekend you havenāt managed to get it sorted out.
And cross your fingers.
Oh, and according to Wiki, any German citizen can get a German ID card, regardless of where you live. Check with the Embassy on your return.