My family (2 adults and 3 children) is going to Germany for our first European vacation. When we are walking around / riding the local trains, do we need to carry our passports around? I'm not really concerned about getting jacked by the police, but issues like identification when making a purchase with a debit card, identification with a BahnCard 25, age verification (likely not an issue, but an example), etc.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
This is a weekly if not daily question. Two answers - yes and no. We always carry our passport regardless of activity except for going to the beach. A few times we have been asked for ID with the credit card but it is infrequent. And the times when an age is important - senior discounts, etc., Others will say a driver license or something similar is just as good. They could be correct but I know a passport always work.
I hope you statement about purchases with a debit card was in error and you meant to say credit card. You really should avoid making purchases with a debit card. Your level of protection is decreased. A debit card should only be used for cash at a bank owned ATM.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
I have not used a BahnCard 25 but it is personal to you, nontransferable, and appears not to have a photo on it. That makes me think that rail staff could ask to see ID, just as they can with a Eurail pass, and that your passports will be the only legal ID that works.
At the Euraide office in Munich main station, I remember staff making a big fuss about legal ID with one customer and it might have been for a credit card purchase. I don't think it was an issue of activating a rail pass (which I of course knew to require a passport).
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
In every day's life in Germany - even as a frequent traveler, you hardly need IDs. For Deutsche Bahn your BahnCard is your form of ID. Debit cards over here almost always only work with your PIN. Grocery stores were the last exemption but that has changed in the recent months as well.
Even when you drive a car and the police stops you all they want to see is your valid driver's license and the car's registration papers (which rental cars have in the gloves compartment).
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
I don't carry my passport around in Germany either. When I'm asked for ID, for instance, when I rent an audio guide in a museum, I feel much more comfortable handing over my drivers license than leaving behind my passport.
My daughter was travelling in Germany earlier this year and had all her wallet with all her cards incl. various forms of ID stolen (while partying in a club in Hamburg's red light district ...) except her passport which was safely in her bedroom. When she needed ID in the days afterwards, especially when riding the train, she showed a copy of her passport. That was readily accepted.
Posted by
San Francisco
14507 posts
Hi,
When you're out and about, say you want to make a purchase at a store, (clothing, etc) and are paying with a credit card, you may be asked for ID in the form of your passport. Not always but it could happen.. Luckily I had it on me then to show to that dept store clerk.
Posted by
1 posts
My son is a student in Germany and was randomly checked for ID by police in Dresden. I would keep at least a copy of your passport, and preferably the passport itself handy if I were you. He had a visa card and that had all the info they needed, but for a visitor, I think the passport is best.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
When I bought a SIM card in Berlin, the store needed my passport.
When I used a pre-purchased train ticket (bought online in advance for a substantial discount), the conductor needed the credit card used to buy the ticket.
These are the times I remember having to show a card or ID and not expecting it; luckily, I had the required items each time.