My passport is currently off at the Indian embassy in Bern, where they tell me it will take about a week to issue a visa.

In the meantime, can I cross the land border into France using just my B-permit and a photocopy of my passport (stamped by the travel agency and explaining that my visa is at the embassy for processing)? I realise that 99% of the time the border crossings are unmanned, but in the off-chance that I get stopped am I likely to be given a hassle?

ok... I have one question..... how come you have applied for visa but have your B permit with you?
Are you Indian OR applied for Indian Visa.
Just a query as it makes me confusing.

Sorry -- to clarify:

I am an EU national and have a B-permit.

I need to travel to India on business, so my EU passport is with the Indian embassy to have an Indian visa issued.

(As soon as I wrote the original post, I thought about clarifying this exact point! Guess I should have!)

ok now clear.... thanks for clarification.... and the answer is
yes you can travel to any schengen territory.. only with B permit (no need of passport).

Same discusssion:
Is my permit sufficient for border crossing with france?

Now I'm confused! The advice here is that I do not need a passport, but the advice on the other thread is that a passport is required.

My passport is from the UK -- I do not have a national identity card.

hmm confusing answer from 2 different threads.
My passport is still at the chinese embassy and I need to go to Germany by land tomorrow. So I am wondering about the same thing.

Perhaps the status has changed since Schengen. But what is the answer?

@axman: Not sure which country you are a national of, so the answer will vary. If you are the citizen of an EU country that issues a national ID card, you can cross the border with your B-permit and national ID card. Eg, if you're a French citizen, you can cross the border with your French carte d'identité and your Swiss B-permit.

If, like me, you're from a country that does not issue a national ID card, the answer appears to be less straight-forward.

Ok. Can someone then answer the question for the following combinations, assuming the person has a B or C permit (new credit card style):

EU passport with identity card: ID card and B/C permit is sufficient.

EU passport but no identity card: ??

non EU passport: ??


On the other hand, if at the airport they don't even do the checks anymore, why carry anything at all simply because you are crossing by land?

They don't do routine checks any more. However, I have been asked to present my passport crossing between Switzerland and France on occasion. It's very rare, but it does happen.

Recomemdation is to have passport with you .... but its not required

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement
Switzerland joined the bloc’s passport-free travel zone, the Schengen Area, in December 2008. Two EU members (the United Kingdom and Ireland) have opted not to fully participate in the Schengen system (their reasons are outlined here). The main reason that the non-EU states of Iceland and Norway joined was to preserve the Nordic Passport Union.

another one not updated but worth reading it:
http://www.ambottawa.um.dk/en/servic...isextended.htm

To cross the border, you need a national identification document. B-Permit is not a national identification document. It is only a document stating you can live and work in Switzerland, it is an internal document not internationally recognized.

To clarify, You are an Indian National entering on the French territory. In case of problem, it is the Indian Embassy who will take care of you, not the Swiss one.

Officially B permit is called Residence Permit which is only requirement (for EU nationals and I agree with Kaeso for non EU in case of problem), thats why I said Passport is recomended but not required.
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/en/home/...willigung.html

Also the Residence Permit issued by one schengen menber country is Valid in any other member state.

To clarify, I am a UK national, living in Switzerland, entering French territory (while waiting for a visa to enter India).

Everyone confused yet?!?

Ok .... some solid proof:
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/etc/medialib...-liste3b-e.pdf

Hope no more confusions....

An ID is enough if you have one, no passport is required.

Well I was wrong then happy that they finally put an end to this mess.

the link that you provided does not say that B permit is a valid ID. It actually says that besides the permit you also need a "valid and recognised travel document" to travel

Well, One link says all the valid Residence IDs are accepted, and another link says B permit is a valid Residence permit, one more link says schengen area is passport free zone.
Hope I made myself clear.

Where does it say that residence permits are accepted as travel documents?