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(This question is sparked by this recent one where the immigration officer asked an EU citizen where his flight departed which ultimately resulted in a two hour delay.)

I am an EU citizen of a Schengen country. I have both a passport and my country’s national ID card on me and I am allowed to legally enter the Schengen area on either. I have read in the corresponding legislation that upon entry the document may be inspected but it must be rapid. I was under the impression that there is no need for questions (indeed, I can’t remember being asked much, only a ‘welcome back’).

I wonder which questions the immigration officer is actually allowed to ask me if he has no reason to suspect my documents aren’t in order. Considering this is Europe, there should be legislation highlighting at least the general boundaries.

Clarification sparked by comments: this is specifically about arriving by air at an airport where customs and immigration are obviously separated and only about the immigration part.

Jan
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1 Answers1

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Once they are convinced that you are an EU citizen, they have to let you in unless a few very special cases apply (you would have to be on a list of people who pose a threat against public safety, health, and order).

Before they are convinced that you are an EU citizen, they can ask all sorts of questions and gauge your reaction. They have to form a professional judgement if your documents are genuine and if you are the genuine holder of the document.

  • That starts with asking you for the date and place of birth, when your passport or ID card is right before them. Normal people do not hesitate when they recite it.
  • They can ask where you have been and how you traveled. They can compare that with your appearance -- if you claim to be a business traveler and do not look that way, there might be more questions.
o.m.
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