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It might be helpful if you list your passport issuing country.

Otherwise, unless you go to an office staffed and designated for issuing passports you probably have to pay the extra rush fee.

For example, for my US passport, when in the US, I can either mail in my passport for re-newel (takes a few weeks), I can pay more to have it done for me (within a few days), or I can walk into a US government office that issues passports (there are not many of those in the US and I would have to travel to one).

Getting a US passport renewed in the US is expensive or time consuming. So I wonder if it might be the same for many European nationals in Europe? Either wait, pay more, or travel?

But, ironically, here in Hungary I can easily go to the US Embassy in Budapest, which can issue passports, and get it renewed in less than an hour. I wonder if it might be easier to get your passport renewed abroad from Europe?

I have never heard of a "European Passport". I recently had great expense and delays renewing my UK one whilst living in Hungary. I assumed that I could not get a passport in Hungary as I'm not Hungarian.

fidobsa wrote:

I have never heard of a "European Passport".

Usually a layperson term. Used to describe a passport issued by any country in Europe without being specific about which country.

Similar to "EU Passport", which does not exist either, but means someone with a passport from an EU member county, which would exclude, for example, Switzerland.

klsallee wrote:

....But, ironically, here in Hungary I can easily go to the US Embassy in Budapest, which can issue passports, and get it renewed in less than an hour. I wonder if it might be easier to get your passport renewed abroad from Europe?

US citizens have it easy. It used to be like that for UK citizens and it was always quicker to get a passport at an Embassy.

Now the FCO have lost their marbles and UK citizens have to apply via a regional processing centre in Duesseldorf, Germany. It's worse if you live in say, Paraguay. It's now an absurdly expensive and inconvenient system. UK has one of the most expensive passports in the world. If you factor in all the costs, getting on for EUR 250+ and if you are a family of say, 4, it's getting on for EUR 1000+ for everyone. Hungarian passports are much cheaper (assuming one is entitled). Best thing is to do it when you are actually there, in person (make an appointment) and pay for same day service. It wastes all your day while HMG messes you about but it's guaranteed (in theory) that you will receive it the same day.

Another way around it is to have two passports but you need to plead your case for that (e.g. visiting Middle East countries and also Israel and therefore need two passports to avoid the Israeli stamp). Before it's anyone says it's not possible to have two passports, it's perfectly possible and quite a number of countries allow it.

How do you qualify for a Hungarian passport?

When we bought our flat we obtained a right to reside in Hungary even though we had already rights as an EU member.

Is this enough or is their some sort of citizenship test?

sg2 wrote:

How do you qualify for a Hungarian passport?

When we bought our flat we obtained a right to reside in Hungary even though we had already rights as an EU member.

Is this enough or is their some sort of citizenship test?

Owning property is not enough. The rights you obtain via the EU membership are known as "treaty" rights and are not all encompassing. One can still be deported, unlike a citizen of that country.

Nationality is governed here on "Jus sanguinis" ("right of blood nationality") rather than "jus soli" ("right of soil nationality"), i.e. in the former, your parentage etc and in the latter the physical place you were born.

If you are of ethnic Hungarian heritage and can prove it, then you have a chance to apply. One of the tests is knowledge of the Hungarian language.

If you are already an EU citizen, then it's hard to know what benefits it would bring - perhaps the right to vote in elections, cheaper passports, perhaps cheaper visas and the ability to pass on nationality to children.

fluffy2560 wrote:

One can still be deported, unlike a citizen of that country.

While true, the issue varies depending on how long one has lived in another EU country.

For example, if an EU national has "permanent residence" in another EU host country the expulsion becomes more difficult by the host country, has narrower allowed reasons for that expulsion, and requires a stronger burden of proof. And you can appeal.

From

"In exceptional cases, the country where you live can decide to expel you on grounds of public policy or public security but only if it can prove you represent a very serious threat.

The expulsion decision must be given to you in writing. It must state all the grounds and specify how you can appeal and by when."

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

One can still be deported, unlike a citizen of that country.

klsallee wrote:

While true, the issue varies depending on how long one has lived in another EU country.

For example, if an EU national has "permanent residence" in another EU host country the expulsion becomes more difficult by the host country, has narrower allowed reasons for that expulsion, and requires a stronger burden of proof. And you can appeal.

Yes, sure. Many people might think they have the same rights as a native citizen in another EU country, which is not at all true.

It is also possible to be refused entry into another EC country for all sorts of reasons - criminal records, history of drug use, extremist political, religious or other undesirable views.

Doing such things are extreme but as noted, the EU laws allow for it.

The UK regularly refuses to admit some people but mostly from 3rd countries, not EC ones.  I am not sure how this would work in the Schengen environment where inter-Schengen checks are non-existent or negligible. Presumably one could not enter the Schengen area in the first place.

UK has it's own mini version of Schengen with the Irish Republic, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. These are considered internal UK journeys for passport purposes even if they are not actually part of the UK or the EU (except the Irish Republic).

Presumably someone could get into the Irish Republic and then simply go to Northern Ireland and enter the UK by ferry thereby bypassing UK border controls. 

Oh, and yes, there's infamous  Eurostar Lille loophole to enter the UK from France.

Undesirables in UK might not be undesirables in Ireland or France.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Many people might think they have the same rights as a native citizen in another EU country, which is not at all true.

According to the EU official site I listed above it states for registered permanent residents:

Equal treatment

During your permanent stay in another country, you should enjoy the same rights, benefits and advantages as nationals.

fluffy2560 wrote:

It is also possible to be refused entry into another EC country for all sorts of reasons

Sure. But again note I did mention my comment was for a certain sub-case: registered permanent residents who have already gotten beyond the entry exclusion rules.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Many people might think they have the same rights as a native citizen in another EU country, which is not at all true.

According to the EU official site I listed above it states for registered permanent residents:

Equal treatment

During your permanent stay in another country, you should enjoy the same rights, benefits and advantages as nationals.

Might say that but it's not entirely true. It's not possible to vote in national elections (although local elections and EU parliament elections can be voted in). There are some other things here and there which are only extended to nationals (e.g. subsidised government mortgages, being in the military etc).

I don't know how they exempt some things from the EU treaty rights but it seems they can and do.

klsallee wrote:

Sure. But again note I did mention my comment was for a certain sub-case: registered permanent residents who have already gotten beyond the entry exclusion rules.

Yes indeed. Getting permanent residence is not so easy for 3rd country nationals but it's most reciprocal. It's extremely hard to get permanent residence anywhere (without treaty etc rights).

One way to get residence in the UK is to serve in the British military (which allows Commonwealth citizens to serve). Not sure how that works elsewhere.