Do we legally have to carry our passports on ourselves?

Just wondering if a photocopy is good enough to carry around on shore, or do we have to have our passports with us all the time?

Thanks in advance

Just wondering if a photocopy is good enough to carry around on shore, or do we have to have our passports with us all the time?

 

Thanks in advance

I can only speak for Spain. Legally in any Spanish port you should carry your passport - or other proof of identity - at all times. However, unless you are unfortunate enough t get a 'Jobs Worth' officer, the Police will generally accept a photocopy from tourists.

This has been discussed many times on here. In many European countries you need to carry official ID and not a photocopy. This includes Spain.

As we don't have ID cards in the U.K. I carry my passport. A few years ago in Spain I was in a hire car and got stopped by the Guardia Civil and fined for not having an ID card or passport.

We go to France about 4 times a year with our car and apart from around Calais, we have often commented that you very rarely see the gendarmerie. Then one Sunday afternoon in France last September got stopped at the roadside and asked for all our papers which we had in the car. I didn't get a fine as I had everything in order.

I think that with a lot of additional security everywhere you are more likely to be asked for ID than before.

This has been discussed many times on here. In many European countries you need to carry official ID and not a photocopy. This includes Spain.

 

As we don't have ID cards in the U.K. I carry my passport. A few years ago in Spain I was in a hire car and got stopped by the Guardia Civil and fined for not having an ID card or passport.

 

We go to France about 4 times a year with our car and apart from around Calais, we have often commented that you very rarely see the gendarmerie. Then one Sunday afternoon in France last September got stopped at the roadside and asked for all our papers which we had in the car. I didn't get a fine as I had everything in order.

 

I think that with a lot of additional security everywhere you are more likely to be asked for ID than before.

Yes - I should have added that if you are hiring a car it is essential to have official ID. I just assumed that the OP would only be ashore for a few hours during a port stop and wouldn't therefore be driving.

Ditto.

Like us locals, it's unlikely you'll be asked to produce your ID while walking in the street. Having said that, you can be caught in an incident: a brawl, an accident you provoked, a Police raid of some sort, etc. and then you'll certainly will be asked. The law indicates "everybody" needs to carry a proper ID at all times. Proper ID means passport, National ID (which you don't have in your country) or European Driving License (sorry, only European!). Anything else it's not a proper ID so, in practice, whatever else you carry is of no use, so you're de-facto undocumented. As a guest in my country, if it's a minor thing, a photocopy can ensure you're escorted to your hotel for a proper ID - obviously here enters in the scene the diligence of the Police officer as well- but if it's not, you'll simply be detained and transported to the Police station until someone can produce a valid ID that identifies you -yes, you can call your embassy, LOL!

Aside from this case, you might be asked for an ID in other scenarios, such to pay with your credit card in certain businesses (ie if a tourist, some major supermarkets only accept valid passports), or to access to a discount in a museum (yet you can sometimes use any ID with your photo AND your DoB, from a library card to a photocopy of your passport, or your drivers license even if it's not European), to rent a vehicle, etc....

So, aside the fact it's the law, it's also convenient to carry a legal ID with you at all times.

As per the fear to loose it (or get it stolen), I would like to reflect two things: (1) this is the 21st century, age of computers, and you are in Western Europe not in a remote uninhabited corner of the world, so having a replacement it's a matter of hours or few days, not weeks -for most nationalities, that is!- and (2) travellers don't seem to think it twice when carrying money, credit cards or expensive cameras or phones, right? and that's because one's aware that one needs to pay attention to these belongings and take care of them... why should the passport be treated differently?

Enjoy!

As for Americans, unlike Europeans we do not have identity cards, the short form of a passport which is NOT similar to a drivers license. In the US a drivers license is considered legal ID because it is issued by our State but it is meaningless overseas as a form of ID. That leaves us with nothing BUT our passports as legal identification when traveling abroad if ever we are asked to produced identification.

How likely are we to be asked to produce ID? If one rents a car, it is always a possibility even for any number of non-problematic reasons but otherwise necessary to be in compliance with official requests.

If passing through a train station or an otherwise beefed up secure location (even a national monument perhaps on higher alert, who knows?) or just any random reason....one might need it.

For this "what if I am ever asked?" I have always carried BOTH of my passports, American and European with me, always - and photocopies left separately (I keep the real ones - no one gets custody of them but me) while I have them, when I travel. I've often traveled solo and even when I have not, I never wanted to be in the position with a member of the police, army or whatever, when I was without papers/sans papiers. Simply because I don't want my holidays slowed down any more than it would have to be to go and make it right getting my papers or any other thing when I could simply have them and keep them safe with me, which they always have been for almost 30 years traveling the world.

However I recognize everyone must do what they are comfortable with but if ID is required on request, I feel I must produce it straightaway if I am in a country that is not my own - and well, even when I am in my own country. Police get kind of miffed here too if one does not have ID. It is what it is. They have jobs to do too. It's up to us to comply, but that doesn't mean we always will be thrilled with it. Rules are rules ;)

When we went on an Iberian cruise a couple of years ago, we were told that we could use photocopies of the photo page of our passports and these would usually be accepted as proof of identity. We were advised NOT to carry our passports around because of the risk of theft, loss, etc.

The only place we had to take our passports with us was Barcelona, the Spanish police absolutely insisted and would not let passengers off the ship if they could not display a passport. I saw people having to return to the ship from the security clearance area to collect passports from their cabins because the Spanish police would not let them through.

I found this attitude to be rather ironic given Barcelona's reputation for pickpockets. We spent several hours on the Metro, at Sagrada Famiglia, walking down La Rambla and in the Boqueria market and felt absolutely safe. The only time we were a bit suspicious was on coming out of the Boqueria - there was a group jostling people at the pedestrian crossing and we saw the locals taking a tighter hold on their handbags and wallets, so we did the same. :)

1.) You got ill advice. Period. I wouldn't risk being caught without a proper ID, it can ruin your scarce time off the ship.

2.) It's an undeserved reputation if one simply checks the stats. In Barcelona, there's about the same level of pickpocketing than in Rome or in Paris. One should understand a big chunk of this sort of crime is carried by gangs that roam European capitals. When the Police pressure is too high in one of them, they just move to the next, and so on.

Thanks all for your replies and info.

Think we will carry our passports with us and be extra vigilant. Very much looking forward to our cruise and visiting Barcelona. Come on July!

Happy cruising all :) x

If you want to have a really bad time, get stopped by the Carabinieri in Italy without your passport. It happened to me several years ago, shortly after a terrorist bombing, and it's an experience I do not wish to repeat. Although it was pretty clear to everyone that I was an American tourist, I was roughed up and shoved against a wall while they interrogated the Italian driver of my car. As we approached their roadblock, the driver shouted to me "Get your hands in the air so they can see them! They shoot first and figure things out later!" I thought he was exaggerating, but I have since been told by Italian friends that even normal Italian cops think the Carabinieri can be thugs.

Just wondering if a photocopy is good enough to carry around on shore, or do we have to have our passports with us all the time?

I have never bothered carrying a passport anywhere in Europe (with the obvious exception of when renting a hire car or checking into a hotel) and I suspect the vast majority of tourists do the same.

I would suggest that the odds on being pickpocketed (although very small) are still significantly greater than the odds of needing to produce a passport to an official.

I would also suggest the hassle and expense of having your passport stolen is significantly greater than the inconvenience of obtaining it from the hotel/ship/etc.

Anyway, it is rather old fashioned to consider carrying a photocopy. Just take a photo of it on your phone.

Insanemagnet

Strange how the European contributors on these forums state that passports need to be carried. Did you not read the previous posts. If you don't live in Europe you may not be aware how security has been stepped up in the past year and not just in capital cities. If you can't see security agents doesn't mean they are not there and you can be asked for official ID at any time.

This is ridiculous. Someone asked and the correct answer is being given. Period.

If anyone wants to be foul of our laws, be my guest. But, first rule of travelling, it's not too wise to disrespect your host, especially if you know -because you've been told- what our laws state. Then, some will come whining about being fined, treated rough or whatever. Your nationality, whatever it is, means nothing if you break the law.

Btw, while LondonTowner is right, these past years security has been stepped up, these laws have been in place for decades, in Spain, in France, in Italy... that's the way "we roll". So, as the say goes: "When in Rome... "

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Insanemagnet

 

Strange how the European contributors on these forums state that passports need to be carried. Did you not read the previous posts. If you don't live in Europe you may not be aware how security has been stepped up in the past year and not just in capital cities. If you can't see security agents doesn't mean they are not there and you can be asked for official ID at any time.

I am perfectly aware how security has changed over the last 10 years as I work in London.

As you will be well aware, in the UK there is no legal requirement to carry ID.

For the rest of Europe, you will note my post did not dispute the legal requirement to carry ID (to be honest I have no idea what the rules are in each of the other 27 member states).

What I do know is in 50 years of traveling to Europe on a regular basis, and even more so over the last 10 years, I have never come across any situation when ID would need to be shown (except to collect a hire car, check into a hotel, or get free access to some museums).

From friends, family, and colleagues I have never heard of anyone being asked for ID.

I have not seen any reports in the press of tourists experiencing problems by not carrying ID.

I suggest if you stopped any of the millions of British tourists on holiday in Spain this year, you would struggle to find anyone carrying their passport.

So I am not suggesting you are wrong, just pointing out that tourists generally don't carry ID, and even in the incredibly unlikely situation they needed it but didn't have a passport, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Insanemagnet

If you are comfortable with breaking the law and getting a €200 fine as I did, then that's OK. In many places, particularly in Spain (e.g. El Corte Ingles and large supermarket chains) I have been asked for my passport when paying by CC.

Whether tourists are carrying their passports are not is another matter, but just pointing out what is the law.

Insanemagnet

 

If you are comfortable with breaking the law and getting a €200 fine as I did, then that's OK. In many places, particularly in Spain (e.g. El Corte Ingles and large supermarket chains) I have been asked for my passport when paying by CC.

I am perfectly comfortable with my approach, and as an aside I have never been asked to produce a passport when paying for goods with a credit card (you seem a bit unlucky).

Whether tourists are carrying their passports are not is another matter, but just pointing out what is the law.

I think it is relevant.

If millions of British tourists consider it unnecessary to routinely carry a passport whilst on holiday in Europe, with no problems being reported in the press (and certain newspapers would make a big deal of it), then it is necessary to distinguish between what may be strictly required and what actually happens in practice.

It is also relevant to question whether if you did want to carry ID whether it needs to be a passport. As you seem to know the Spanish law, what other documents would be acceptable (given places like the UK don't issue ID cards). Would a driving licence be acceptable? Or an NI card? etc.

If you don't want to carry your passport and you live, in Spain or on a long holiday, you can get a copy of your passport authorised by a notary.

BTW I was booking a restaurant in Spain for this coming website and at the bottom of the page says if you are paying by CC you must produce your DNI ( national ID card).

I also must be very unlucky as I am often asked for my passport when paying by credit card in Spain. Perhaps not so much these days in the big cities (chip and pin is widely used), but certainly in the smaller Cities.

DW will testify to the number of Zara and S'fera stores that I have had to idenitify myself at! :D;)

Perhaps visitors who's credit cards do not have chip and 4 digit pin numbers should ensure that they have their passport with them.

As stated, this comes up frequently and the heated debates are almost as interesting as the "what to wear to dinner" threads.

I just cannot conprehend the logic that you should leave your passport onboard in case you get pick-pocketed.

Your passport is the single most important piece of identification with which you travel. There are just too many scenarios to consider. If you are comfortablle that your paper copy is going to serve you well in case of an accident, medical emergency, etc., than go ahead and use that logic. I know of only one person who has had a passpot stolen (FWIW, the Embassy replaced it, without a paper copy, within hours). I do know of three instances when travelers were left ashore due to medical emergencies, as the ship sailed away. They all had their passports and were grateful they had one less worry to deal with in the face of a crisis.

Imagine the reaction of a US police officer if you are stopped for a traffic violation and you hand him/her you nice color photo copy of your license, especially if you are not a citizen!

It is the law in many countries, and if you choose to defy that, that's your choice. FWIW, i do know of ships' officers who have given misinformation to their passengers regarding local laws.

In the end, we all do what is the most comfortable. We personally take measures to protect our belongings when in other countries. Our passports are always on our person, and a color copy in the safe, as well as at home with a relative.

Imagine the reaction of a US police officer if you are stopped for a traffic violation and you hand him/her you nice color photo copy of your license, especially if you are not a citizen!

I think this sums up the cultural difference to carrying ID.

For someone from the US it would be inconceivable not to carry a driving licence when driving.

Living in the UK my driving licence lives in my desk drawer. If (in the hopefully unlikely event) I needed to show it to the police I will at my convenience during the following week.

This isn't rocket science and it's not arguable. Just follow what others do. Pay attention to our European friends in here.

My father lives in Scotland, he carries his ID with him everywhere. DD lives in Belgium, she too carries ID everywhere. When we travel, and when we're visiting ports, we carry our passports with the exception of cruise line private island visits.

Just follow what others do.

If you followed what 99.9% of British tourists do when visiting Spain, you would leave your passport in your hotel safe.