Must I carry my kids passports with us at all times?

There is no firm answers and opinions will vary but we always carry our passports at all times. We split the boys' passports between us. Whether you have to or not - I don't know.

It would be so unfortunate if you got into a situation where you couldn't prove they were your children. Sounds weird but...

Leave it in the safe

Larry has a very good point. Also, the fact that your kids are 'city kids' does not really apply. Do they speak French? What would the drill be in Paris? If they were to become separated from you somehow they should have information with them regarding how to contact you.

I carry my kids' passports at all times. 2 main reasons: sometimes you need proof of age for admission discounts (just happened to us last week in Dresden) and the "what if" scenario that Larry alludes to. What if there is an emergency/disaster and the apt burns down, or you just need to prove who they are for any reason?

Whatever you do with the passports, each kid should have on them brief contact info. Include your apartment's address, your name and contact info, and emergency contact back home.

IDK, losing a passport is a much bigger hassle than not getting a discount. I would keep the actual passports in the safe and carry copies for age-verification purposes or to prove they're yours.

Our kids carry neck wallets with their own passports, some money, and contact numbers - we didn't start bringing them in tow until they were five or six, so they understood what they were carrying and when they might need it. One passport isn't a big deal to carry, a bunch of them gets awkward.

We made three sets of color photocopies of all our passports. The original official passports were "hidden" in our hotel room during day trips. 1) The first set of copies were always carried in our packs/purses on outings from the hotels. These were for discounts and or official identification if needed by police. I didn't want the chance of our kids loosing the real passports or having them stolen, causing problems returning home or changing countries. (Incidently, our current cell #s and hotel addresses were always written on the copies.) 2) The second set were kept in a suitcase in the hotel, in case the real passports disappeared. 3) One set was left at home with family in case we lost 'everything' so they could be faxed if needed. This seemed like a good approach for us. Pete
Europe 2012

Thanks for all the help! I will use this as I pack my bags in the next few days. Now I'm off to make color copies and get a few more neck wallets for my gals. Many many thanks!!!

You need to have everyone's passports with you at all times. They don't take up that much room. I don't see the point of them being left in the hotel room for someone to possibly steal when they could be safely with you at all times. We do carry our children's passports whenever we leave Germany. Example where it is necessary to have it on you is a car accident or other accident (fall off a curb and break your leg, etc.) where you need proof of citizenship and other information pronto.

Replies to this question are evidence of the fact that ultimately, you have to do what you feel comfortable doing. Not only is there no one "right" answer, answers may in fact be diametrically opposed. Case in point, Kathy in Germany states that you "have to" have passports on you at all times. This is of course merely her opinion. I'm American, born in Germany, while my husband is Swiss. We've lived both in Switzerland & America. In neither country (or any other country) do we routinely go about with our passports, nor do we carry our sons' passports on us at all times. Honestly, folks, there's no need to over-complicate the very simple matter of spending time in a Western European nation.

If you read the State Department's website on International Travel, you'll find that they pretty much advise that you carry your passport with you in foreign countries, whether it's the local law or not. As a tourist, it's your ID, it's your proof of citizenship, and it can also be your proof that you're in the country legally (e.g., that you haven't exceeded your 90 days). I put mine in a neck wallet and carry it under my shirt & under my arm, and forget about it. No big deal.

I do what Tom does.

As I posted many times this is the problem of a Type I or Type II error - error of inclusion or error of exclusion. Only you can determine the type of risk you wish to assume with passports.

Except in Arizona. Better have your papers on you at all times there.

I prefer to carry mine, but the thing about the State Dept urging you to do so- well, duh. Of course they advise that. How many man-hours do they spend every year replacing lost passports?

Actually, the State Department does not always advise you to carry your passport on you. They have fact sheets for every country and sometimes they include info on whether or not you are required to carry your passport. For example, on the UK fact sheet they say, "U.S. citizens should take steps to ensure the safety of their U.S. passports. Visitors in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar are not expected to produce identity documents for police authorities and thus may secure their passports in hotel safes or residences. " Of course, the law as to whether you must carry ID on you varies from country to country. Unfortunately, there is no info about legal requirements related to ID/passports on the State Dept. France fact sheet.

I leave mine in safe at hotel.. my 11 yr and 13 yr olds were never asked to produce id to prove they were under 18,, the age that museums are free for non EU citizens. If child was 15 or older then they may get ided as they look older sometimes.

My wife and I both have "Passport Cards" as well as regular passports. We always leave our passports in the hotel safe and carry our passport cards in our wallets. Passport cards are not good for crossing international borders (except the US border by car, bus or train) but are legal for establishing identity and US citizenship anywhere.

What's a Passport Card?

It is an option with the passport of a card with picture, etc., that is used for border land crossing between Mexico and Canada. It is not legal for air or ships entering the US. If you were frequently going in and out of Mexico or Canada it is probably handy but after that I don't know. I just use a passport. For some reason some people seem to want to make a big deal out of carrying a passport or not. I have found it inconvenient to carry - much smaller and thinner than my billfold.

I would never let my kid carry his own passport! I don't even let my Husband carry his own. Passports stay in the same inner zipped pocket or my little purse which stays worn across me all vacation long.