I have the voucher for entry to the Vatican. It states that "the visitor must present an identity document and the voucher". Is a copy of your passport sufficient, or must it be the original? Is it required of every person in your group, or just the purchaser? Thank you.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
David, A driving licence, especially a foreign driving licence in a foreign language is not legally ID. And since you need to be 18 to drive, a 16-year old with a licence is doubly invalid.
The only legal ID for non-EU foreigners is a passport, which underscores the rule that you should carry your passport at all times (NOT a copy) as that is the only legal ID.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
David, an official guide is one who is licensed by the state. Proficiency exams must be passed. A tour group leader doesn't necessarily qualify.
You just have to show your document, so use your passport for this.
Posted by
693 posts
The two times we have prepurchased online and presented the voucher at the counter we have not been asked for any ID. However, we did carry our passports just in case.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
A drivers license is not an official government I.D. It's state issued, not government issued such as a passport is. You are legally required to carry your passport with you in Italy if you are not an EU citizen. This goes for everyone, including kids. For the Vatican, a copy will not work especially if you purchased discounted tickets.
Donna
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
"A drivers license is not an official government I.D. It's state issued, not government issued such as a passport is." - that may be the law in the USA, but outside the USA the acceptable "travel document" ID is governed by international treaty and is in most cases a passport only (No "such as").
With the one exception is that pairs of countries can agree to accept other documents from each others citizens, as EU countries do by accepting EU national identity cards.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15202 posts
Unless you are a EU citizen (in which case you must have the national ID card with you), you need to take your passport with you since you are in a foreign country.
The Vatican is a foreign country and you could be stopped by the Swiss guards and asked to show your passport. If you don't have your passport, the Swiss guard might wield his halberd and threaten to take you to jail. However since the Vatican city does not have any jails, they will simply deport you across St. Peter's Square to Italy, where you will be just another illegal alien without papers among millions of illegal aliens in Italy. At that point, without the possibility of visiting the Vatican, there will be nothing left for you to do but to sell souvenirs in the street or go to a restaurant and enjoy some spaghetti all'amatriciana and some abbacchio alla Romana.
Posted by
OP
O Fallon, IL, United States
34 posts
Thanks all--passports it is.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Chris, that's what I was saying, the only I.D that is acceptable is a passport if you're not from the EU.
Donna