Do you carry your passport when out and about when on holidays?

[kyle]

So I've been in Switzerland and Spain in the last few days. While I was carrying a backpack with my passport, water, etc, I see other (mainly younger) holidaymakers from nearby countries virtually carrying nothing around and I so wanted to be like them so I don't sweat my a*** off with my backpack, but I'm worried about getting challenged for not carrying appropriate ID.

What are your thoughts?

 

[bam71]

Have never carried my passport around whilst wandering. Have never seen a need, and I’d be worried I’d lose it somewhere.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

agree with bam71, I’d rarely carry my passport. In some places like China it was - in theory - compulsory for ‘aliens’, I carried a photocopy if i was concerned about being questioned (like around big event days or whatever).

 

[JohnK]

I have a credit card size laminated copy of my passport in my wallet at all times.

Off topic but I notice someone mention they remembered to take their drivers licence to the airport for domestic flight. Do people not carry their drivers licence with them at all times?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The other thing is that many european countries have an ID card or something, so don’t need to carry a passport around. But I can’t imagine it’s ever going to be an issue!

 

[Lynda2475]

I carry it if I think I will need ID i.e. If I shopping in London and plan to claim the VAT back at the airport they have to sight your passport to issue the correct receipt type, or if the US some bars ID check everyone even if you look well over 21. But if I was going to the beach I leave locked in the room safe.

Photocopies, or Australian Proof of Age cards or Licenses aren't always accepted.

So it depends.

 

[dajop]

Never.

Have been asked for it once in China - in Beijing Financial District . I did have another form of government issued ID ( my Singapore ID card) and whilst I can’t say they were exactly happy they didn’t take any further action after I showed the ID to them.

I don’t carry a copy, but I I do now have image of my passport on my phone.

 

[blackcat20]

I carry it in the US because you need it for ID for alcoholic drinks. They often won't accept a foreign license.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I have a credit card size laminated copy of my passport in my wallet at all times.

Off topic but I notice someone mention they remembered to take their drivers licence to the airport for domestic flight. Do people not carry their drivers licence with them at all times?

I don’t as it’s on my Service NSW App.
Often I just have car key and my phone.

Back on topic, I only carry my passport if it will be needed for a specific purpose that day. Otherwise it’s left in the hotel.

 

[auriga]

No, I do not carry my passport around if I can help it.

 

[Antoallison]

No, too much risk of it being damaged, lost, stolen if taken out with me every day.

I leave it in the safe in the hotel room.

 

[justinbrett]

Generally never, but depends on country.

Most western countries will accept Australian drivers licences as ID. Even when "carded" in clubs in Vegas, I've never had a problem with a NSW licence. I think generally the strict states are the ones that get a lot of Aussie tourists, so as long as you look of age it's probably OK (and the non-strict ones aren't checking in the first place). Technically speaking though, it's not valid ID.

I can't recall ever having to go back to my hotel to get my passport in the US.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Never unless in China where you must if you intend buy a train ticket or board a train which you now cannot do without hard copy Passport - the days of laminated colour copies of data page are way gone now

 

[kpc]

I have a scanned copy of my passport on my phone....needed it a few years back when we got stopped by police for catching an Uber which was illegal in Macau! Too scared I will lose it! Had to carry it when we walked from Zimbabwe to Zambia at Victoria Falls and we kept it in a plastic bag....heard too many stories about passports getting ruined from the spray from Victoria Falls!!

Post automatically merged: Jul 27, 2022

Never unless in China where you must - you cannot board a train without Passport - the days of laminated colour copies of data page are way gone now

Yes we learnt about this the hard way...had to race back to hotel to retrieve passports!

 

[Scarlett]

Never.

These days there is an image of my passport info page (and visa) on my phone.

 

[AisleSeat]

I carry it if I think I will need ID i.e. If I shopping in London and plan to claim the VAT back at the airport they have to sight your passport to issue the correct receipt type, or if the US some bars ID check everyone even if you look well over 21. But if I was going to the beach I leave locked in the room safe.

Photocopies, or Australian Proof of Age cards or Licenses aren't always accepted.

So it depends.

Although sadly, VAT free shopping is no longer available (unless its being sent directly from the store to an address outside the UK)

 

[dajop]

I carry it in the US because you need it for ID for alcoholic drinks. They often won't accept a foreign license.

Except for the places that strictly enforce ID upon entry for all customers (regardless of apparent age), for many of us the days of needing ID to purchase alcoholic drinks in the US are long since gone.

 

[Lynda2475]

VAT free shopping is no longer available (unless its being sent directly from the store to an address outside the UK)

Well that sux, probably means will spend less at Radley this trip, unless they now have cheap shipping to Australian PO boxes.

for many of us the days of needing ID to purchase alcoholic drinks in the US are long since gone.

Ive seen 80 year old grandma asked to show photo ID to enter a bar in NY. I do not look under 21 but often have to show my passport in NY also. Maybe its an east coast thing.

I also needed to show my passport to do the FBI tour in Washington DC way back when.

 

[Hvr]

Except for the places that strictly enforce ID upon entry for all customers (regardless of apparent age), for many of us the days of needing ID to purchase alcoholic drinks in the US are long since gone.

Although if they're checking for Senior's discount eligibility I'll soon be eligible.


The US is where I've most needed my passport for ID, entry to the Capitol building, and then to enter the Senate and House of Reps viewing areas, Basically to prove I wasn't a US citizen and didn't need to go through another process.

 

[Black Duck]

Mostly I don't carry the actual passport but have a photocopy in my purse for ID. However I believe Japan is one place that the law says you must carry your passport and people have been in bother when asked by police. They haven't been doing anything bad so it's just been a check.