I see that lots of museums and Versailles is free for kids under 18. I am travelling with 16 & 13 year old and wondering what form of ID I need to carry for them ? I know passport would be the best option but with worry about theft, is there any other form the muesums or Versailles security would accept for ids ?
What have people used in the past ?
Passport is the "proper" ID, and the only one you can guarantee will be accepted. You could try with something else, but you may be unlucky.
EU citizens can use their national ID cards, which are also good for crossing borders in the EU, but I am guessing your kids are not EU citizens and so won't have EU national ID cards.
I would not be too worried about carrying your passports. According to French law you should be carrying them as ID anyway. The French are carrying their ID cards every day without getting worried about loosing them.
When I traveled with my kids, I made each one carry their own neck wallet with their passport and some money - in case they got separated from us.
Was that a good idea? Sort of. One day we got out of the car and walked about six blocks before the 12 year old said he didn't have his wallet, and didn't know if he'd left it in the car. We retraced our steps carefully to the car, then found it in his seat in the car. Other than that, we didn't have problems but also never lost our kids and were never asked for passports until we got back to the US.
My husband and I had the paris museum pass and we were never asked to show id for our children. (10 & 13).. That said I did carry everyones passport in my crossbody purse... I had talked about pickpockets so much before we left..that when I asked my oldest what she most wanted to see she said a "pickpocket" in a lovely 13yr old way ;-)
I know they exist..but we didn't have any issues.. We did encounter the ring drop scam though.. she wasn't very good at it..
The misery of replacing a passport would mean I would never have kids carrying them. I'd carry copies and perhaps have the real deal in a money belt worn under Mom or Dad's clothes in case the copies are not accepted (we have had copies accepted for every use we have needed including Detax in stores. There are a few situations where you have to have the real deal: banking, phone sim card purchase, immigration control on arrival and departure. We managed to use a copy once for phone sim card and I used a copy for admission to the ER and hospital and many times for detax at the store (you need the real deal at the airport). They are unlikely to have to prove their age unless they look 18 but of course you want to be prepared.
Does your 16 year old have a DL? If so that will work. Just use their school picture IDs for museum entry. When my daughter was under 18, they would just wave her in with me and she is very tall. Even the year that she turned 18 in December, we had no problem at the Musee d'Orsay in August. The woman asked me how old she was and I said 17 and she said ok and sent her in -- meanwhile we had an ID document (passport card) just in case but we did not have to show it. Children under 18 even when they are tall generally look under 18 and when it is not even close I have not seen any request for ID.
I'd carry copies of your passports and leave the real ones locked in the hotel safe. The originals are a royal pain to replace.
Instruct your children to carry the copies in a secure place, like a neck wallet underneath their clothes.
In addition, I'd carry as little as possible when going to Versailles, because the place can be a pickpocket heaven.
If you get separated from your children, and have kept all their original passports with you, that won't help identify them, if they are lost.
I really doubt that you will have to show your childrens' ID at Versailles.
No one will is the 13 yr old . I've taken mine and unless your 13 yr really looks 18 they won't even look at him/her twice .
The 16 yr old should carry picture Id . I would never carry passports around , I always leave them in safe , bring a copy , or a DL or school photo ID card
Does your 16 year old have a DL? If so that will work.
NO NO NO! That may work, if you are lucky. But a Driving Licence is not official ID, and will not be accepted for any official purpose. The only guaranteed to work ID is a passport.
In France (and most of Europe) the minimum driving age is 18, so having a Licence may be taken as proof- your daughter is 18!
I would not yet your children carry their own passports, carry them all yourself.
I stand by the DL or school ID suggestion. The suggestion is for the purpose of free admission for those under 18 to museums or Versailles.
NO NO NO! That may work, if you are lucky. But a Driving Licence is
not official ID, and will not be accepted for any official purpose.
The only guaranteed to work ID is a passport.
Chris, Americans use their state drivers license as a "non-essential" ID in Europe all the time. They work great as ID's for audio guides and when getting museum passes. They would be fine for under 18 entry into museums.
Chris relax , my DL most defiantly has worked !! I think it would be very foolish indeed to leave my passport for audio guide collateral .
We are talking about Id for a kid for a museum , not border crossing . You need to relax .
We have also used our DLs as ID for years before the passport cards came out. The passport cards also work great and if you have gotten those for the kids, use those. They have the birthdate on them so there won't be any confusion with French DLs.
Kids are almost never asked for ID, but of course with the 16 year old you want to at least be prepared. Of course kids should have ID on them; of course it should not be the Passport; if they must be carried, Mom and Dad cna secure them in the moneybelt.
The United States Passport states on the inside cover that the bearer may make a copy of the ID page and last entry page.
Can't argue with the US Government.
Make your kids carry the copies. Leave the originals in the hotel safe.
Brad's advice for juveniles is sensible. One other suggestion: Give each young person a card from the hotel, as well as the cash to call a taxi and return there.
We were there today. They do not ask for ID. If they did, assuming your 16 year old looks much older. Any ID would work I am sure
They will trust that you are an honest person. I've never been questioned or asked to show ID for my kids in France.
