Jeremy

Hi all, this is my first post but I've been reading the board for a while and will become more active as my journey nears.

My question involves the benefits of an EU passport. I'm a born and raised Canadian but have access to a French Passport.

My original plan was to apply for a work visa through SWAP/BUNAC in the UK in fall 2005. But then I started wondering if I would just be better off entering the country as a French citizen.

I'm a little unclear on the benefits of an EU passport. Do I need to apply for a work visa no matter what country I come from? Even if I don't need the visa should I apply for BUNAC/Swap anyways just for convenience sake? Also if I enter as a french citizen do I need to have the same support funds I would need as if I were to enter as a Canadian? (I realize it's not good to enter the country broke but maybe I'd arrive with $2000 rather than $2500)

If you were handed an EU passport and were planning to do a working holiday in the UK, what would you do?

Thanks for all the help and advice in advance.

kingcrazylegs

With an EU passport it is my understanding that you can work in any EU country - so that would be your easiest route

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foofiter

KCL is right. I would almost kill for an EU passport just so I could live there!! You will have much better luck with an EU passport landing better jobs since you won't be using a time limited visa. You could even move there if you wanted...

foofiter

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space virgin

yeah, dude. If you've got an EU passport-- and believe me, those of us without one are extremely jealous and plotting ways to off you and take over your identity, haha, sorta kidding-- just enter the EU with your french passport and carry on as if you belong there. Because goddamn you, you do! haha!

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xanthuos

I hate people like you, I really do.

Just kidding...but as I posted in another thread about traveling with two passports, man, you are lucky!. Not only can you work and travel throughout the European Union with no restrictions (with your EU passport)...but you ALSO have the benefit of being a citizen of a Commonwealth country! That, of course, means you can get a working holiday visa for places like Australia, New Zealand, etc! I'm not even sure if that's what the BUNAC/Swap program operates on. Regardless, you've got a thousand and one opportunities ahead of you - so I say, GET THAT EU PASSPORT SON...and if you move to Europe, you have the obligation to host all of us non-EUer T-Punks who travel through

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Matthew

MeTurk

Your as good as a citizen of every EU country with an EU passport.

I think it even entitles you to free medical care and such. Mine does but that might be just because the Irish government is backing it up because I'm entitled to free care here.

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butterj

Just get your self an E111 form well thats what it's called in the UK, and you will get free medical treatment (oh and you don't have to wait for any insurance calls, that you would need if you did not have a EU pasport), actualy i travaled most of my trip with no insurance because i figured i would get free medical treatment anyway (I would not advise this though if you have money for insurance get some).

As far as work you can just apply for any job you like, if you in the UK the exchange rate is so good that it is probaly best to work here and then spend it round europe.

Jeremy

Wow guys, thanks for the quick replies.

It's nice to know that I can avoid all the paper work of getting a visa for the UK.

I do realize how lucky I am. With only a few weeks left in my high school life and then a quick summer my trip to Europe is coming soon and I can't wait!

travoholic

Hey there! Just wanted to add a couple things.

I'm a lucky Canucky with a British passport and I've spent 2.5 years living in the UK and am heading back to live in a few weeks. Because I have the UK passport it's no worries working in the UK.

However if I wanted to work in France, it is definately possible because of the EU, but it is not just as simple as walking into the country and applying for jobs. There's apparently red-tape galore. SO... one would assume that if it's tricky for me to get set up to work in France, then it might be tricky for you to get set up to work in the UK. Of course it might be easy... just wanted to give you a heds up and suggest you look into it a bit more to see what, exactly, French people have to do upon arriving. It may be nothing at all!

One more thing... as a Canadian citizen you can get a UK Working Holiday Visa by contacting the British high Commission in Ottawa directly. SWAP is a scam... you don't need it for a thing, although I've heard they help in opening a bank account but there's a compnay in London that does that for 25 quid so I don't think SWAP is worth the extra money... unless you're a terrified first-time traveller who wants your hand held at first.

Hope this helps!
Kirsty

http://www.travoholic.com

bellelass

I didnt know any french people working when I lived in london, but I knew Spaniards galore and my best friend was Canadian with an Italian passport. I dont think you have to do a whole lot of anything. Whatever ButterJ tells you is right. That said, I would kill for an EU passport. It became a bit of a joke among my friends, which was I was going to marry to stay in the country. hehe.

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Jeremy

Once again thanks for the great information!

I'm going to contact the British Embassy in Ottawa soon and get them to advise me on how to proceed. Once I do that I'll pass on the info to all you TPunkers.