Hello again -
My husband and I heading to London in 3 weeks. We've obtained our ETAs = Yay!
Upon doing so, I suddenly recalled being advised to carry our passports with us at all times when we were in Italy, last year. Now it has me wondering if the same rule applies while visiting the UK.
Would be grateful for clarification.
Thanks!
WL
No, there is no legal requirement to carry your passport in the UK.
However, I always have it in my money belt should it be needed or if something should happen to me and I need to be identified.
I’ve never carried mine on a daily basis while I was there, and don’t think I ever needed it.
There's no requirement (yet) to show any form of ID on request in the UK. You may need it if changing any money in a bank, otherwise just leave it in your hotel safe.
Not UK specifically, but I have often found a photocopy of my passport to be just as useful as the real one for tourism purposes. A hotel desk or a government building might demand the original, but for (example) audioguide security, I actually found that the audioguide desk preferred not being responsible for the actual passport. YMMV.
Thanks, everyone, for sharing your experiences.
Tim - I hadn't considered the part with audioguide desks. Thanks for the heads up!
WL
I always carry mine in case something happens that prevents me from being able to retrieve it from the hotel safe. I keep it in a passport holder, tucked beneath my pants, fastened on my belt.
"A hotel desk or a government building might demand the original"
Just to clarify re the above (although not applicable in the case of US citizens), it's worth noting for future readers that Commonwealth citizens are not required to provide ID on hotel checkin as they are not classed as "aliens" under UK law.
Even non Commonwealth / Irish citizens do not legally have to show their passports at hotels but just provide their numbers and places of issue.
I was checked 3 times this trip, twice in France, the other time in Germany crossing at Passau on the night train. Passau is to be expected since that site is border crossing site.
Each time I was asked if I had the actual passport with me, not a copy. The copy will not show the date and stamp when and where you entered Schengen.
I know your query was on the passport and the UK. In London I usually had it on me.
Just to be clear Fred, it's not a legal requirement in the UK (yet- that could change, but it's still at discussion stage). For that reason I don't take mine with me.
We always keep our passports with us (usually in our money belts) in case something happens to prevent returning to the hotel.
We've experienced an earthquake while out and about and have been on the edge of a couple of sudden political demonstrations. In addition, hotels do have fires now and again, and most hotel safes are pretty easy to open. On one trip a member of the group suffered a bad fall with a serious injury, and had to be taken to the hospital -- without her passport and other documents.
As someone on the forum once stated, "With my passport and credit cards I can handle anything".
Just food for thought.
Just because you were "asked" for a passport doesn't mean there would have been an issue of you didn't have it.
The copy will not show the date and stamp when and where you entered
Schengen.
These days, many border entries no longer stamp passports.
"100% of those who mistake causation with correlation will surely die..."
The original query was whether you're required to carry a passport with you in the UK. The answer is no.
Whether you choose to carry your passport is another question, and depends on your risk tolerance. I am not one of those people who work on worst case scenarios. I always have ID on me (I agree, useful in case your are hospitalised, but you'll get emergency treatment on the NHS anyway), but I can't see myself needing to carry my passport either me in case I need to make a quick departure. If the worst happens, I can get an emergency passport in two business days.
