Passport/vaccine cases

I generally carried my passport and my vax card when I was in France recently. I usually have my passport on me anyway - generally secured in my money belt under my clothes BUT this time I thought I might be asked for it (never was) so I just had it in a wallet in my purse. I had it zipped up in the interior zipper pocket and had the pocket secured with a carabiner. I intended to sew a ring onto the bottom corner and attach it to the inside of my purse with a small DryDoc coil but ran out of time. I have done this with my small toiletries pouch for international travel.

I picked this up at an Eddie Bauer Outlet and used the bigger one for my passport and vax card.

https://www.travelonbags.com/shop/packables-and-packing/wte-collection/world-travel-essentials-set-of-2-currency-and-passport-organizers/43370.html?catid=Womens-Wallets

I had the Pass Sanitaire on my phone and somehow managed to get a shortcut on my watch face so just used that for the month I was in France.

Depending on how old the kids are, I'd probably opt to carry the passports securely in a money belt but I'm of the school of thought that the passport is the only way you can prove you are in a country legally. There are various schools of thought on carrying your passport vs not carrying it.

Unless you are talking about children everyone should carry their own important documents. I wear a money belt (actually a pouch that hangs off my bra ) for passport and spare cards. I only ever go into it in private so its not for use if you need to show your passport at every museum etc. I had to do that in China pre Covid - so I used a zipped concealed pocket in my skirt . My partner hsa similar in his trouses - we were standing face to face in a packed Paris subway - when he asked if that was my hand in his pocket - nope it wasnt! They got nothing because of the security pocket

There are 3 requirements for those on the street:

1. proof you are legally in France

2. proof of identification

3. proof of vaccination.

The only thing that proves you are legally in France is your passport in its entirety with the current immigration stamp. Anyone wanting to see this should be invited back to your hotel, where it should be kept under lock and key. You do not want to lose a passport when traveling.

Anyone with government ID, a driver´s license is good, can vouch for the ID of those in his immediate group.

Proof of vaccination requires an Attestation de vaccination/CDC card/TousAntiCovid app and corresponding ID (as verification that the information belongs to you).

Personally, I would not carry anything more than what is absolutely required.

I had the Pass Sanitaire and was never asked for my passport when showing it.

But I always carry my passport anyway.

a driver´s license is good

A driver's license is good for proving that you are qualified to drive a car. Don't expect it to be accepted as a general ID in Europe. They may accept it at hotels or other tourist places when they just sort of want to know you are the person you claim to be. But it does not have the official status of an ID it has in the United States.

We spent 3 weeks in France recently, most of our time was outside Paris (Provence, Dordogne, Bordeaux, Loire Valley). We had our pass sanitaire on our phones and were asked to see them at restaurants/cafes about 3/4’s of the time. We were never asked to see any identification along with the health pass. We have a copy of our passport on our phones and keep the passport itself locked In Hotel safe. Thuis has never been a problem

Just to clarify about needing ID with the TousAntiCovid app, the police occasionally check ID to confirm that vaccination information matches a photo ID. Restaurants, cafés, or museums will very unlikely ask for more than your CDC card, Attestation de vaccination, or TousAntiCovid app.

Part of last weeks protocol upgrades announced by the government included a comment about stepped up pass sanitaire verification by police officers.

Not only is the government increasing checks, they specified that they are tripling the visits, sometimes raids, on cafés and restaurants to be sure the establishments and patrons are in compliance. The police are checking ID with the Pass.

I was in Paris the last week of October, had the Passe Sanitaire on my phone, was never asked for my passport.

I did carry a COPY of my passport but the actual passport was in my room.

We just spent 6 weeks in Paris and were never asked for ID beyond our pass sanitaires (which we had to show for every cafe, restaurant, museum or event. I carry a copy of the passport, my passport card and my driver's license. So far never been asked for any of them.

Thank you everyone! So I have the TousAntiCovid app that I will download, will make copies of my passport, and a printout of my passe sanitaire (for each family member). I do have a government issued veteran id that should be useful if needed.

I am contemplating bringing a large passport wallet for air travel (holds all passports and documents) and then use either an anti theft bag or money belt (or a neck wallet) for every day activities.

It is so much easier traveling sans kids!

Pam- thanks for that link! I love those crossbody bags! I might just get a new one🙂