There are often threads about “Do I really need to carry my passport with me.”
This morning police were stopping people just across the street from the train station and asking for passport or ID. I watched several people get stopped. I think at that moment you would really want to have your passport on you…….
We ran into the same in Palermo a few days ago. Found it interesting, they were not just looking at them, they scanned my passport, (not sure if it was just visual or RFID) then he waited for a bit, watching his device, then said "OK" and moved on.
But you could show them a photo of your passport on your phone 😅
In Hungary and I am certain other European countries the law requires the citizens to carry their passport or National ID card. American tourists arent held to the same standard if they promise its in the hotel safe. /s
American tourists arent held to the same standard if they promise its in the hotel safe.
I suppose that might be the case for the good humored Italian police that would gladly walk back to your hotel with you, on the other side of Rome, or in another city, to check.
Most i would assume. /s
I'm with you on that, Mr. E.
I never walk around with my passport unless I'm taking a train.
Even though Italy requires people to walk around with official ID--which is a passport for Americans--I'm sure just letting them know you're American will let you off the hook. And if not, tell them you'll have the government pull US troops out of Italy
Carol nr, thanks for sharing.
I don't really care what others do, but I'm perfectly fine carrying my passport on me when I'm out of the U.S. whether or not it is required by the host country's law.
Frank II that only works with the Germans. But you could threaten US deportation of Chef Boyardee.
That’s actually the law in the United States as well — not for US citizens, but any foreigner (with some exceptions for children) is supposed to carry their evidence of alien registration (which typically is the I-94 stamp in the passport, as well as things like green cards) on their person at all times, and it’s a misdemeanor offense not to.
I'm with you on that, Mr. E.
I never walk around with my passport unless I'm taking a train.
Quite sure Mr E is being snarky as evidenced by the "/s" at end of his post.
We have been stopped and asked to show our passports- three times in Italy. I am glad we always carry our actual passport according to the law as I wouldn't want to wonder if the police would actually accept a photocopy or deal with the consequences if they didn't.
Besides I consider my passport the most important thing I travel with, why would I leave it anywhere else but on my person?
Pickpockets don’t want your passport-they want your cash and smartphone
ChristineH, the /s denotes the other term.
However Europeans do understand that those pesty rules were not written for Americans otherwise they would not have put safes in the rooms.
Note that Paul's post about seeing a passport being scanned on the street is evidence of the predicted arrival of real time police immigration checks. The prime current reason for passport checks is illegal entry / expired permission in my opinion. Real time access to the Immigration and EES databases by police in the field will mean quicker (and more common?) passport checks.
Mike, I would suspect so. Border control and illegal residency is fairly high on the list of concerns of voters in a number of European countries.
Leaving my sarcasim behind for a moment, ignoring the rules and laws of your host is in very bad taste. The world is a big place, pick locations more in keeping with you views.
They are also looking for fake passports. Easily checked anyplace by reading the computer chip embedded in the passport.
I think whether or not to carry your passport on your person while traveling must be the most talked about subject on travel forums!
I would never leave mine in my accommodation unless I was staying with friends or family in the UK.
In the EU, it’s in my underclothing moneybelt when I leave my hotel or apartment.
If for some reason I can’t get back into my hotel: fire, incident, I’m in an accident, etc, I like to know I have it with me.
I have been stopped a few times by police in Italy and the pp politely requested.
No. It's second after "there is no tipping in Europe". But just before "can I carry my drugs in little zip lock bags?".
About 2 weeks ago I was in a small town for a train connection in a place I never heard of and can't remember. There were about five of us on the platform and the two officers came and asked me for ID and I showed them my driver's license and then he asked me for my passport. I never travel on a daily basis with my passport but I did have a copy in my phone and I did have a paper copy and the paper copy was sufficient.
Thanks everyone! There sure is a lot of variety on what people do about this. I know I read in a RS guide book that a copy is sufficent, but I dont know if he meant for police check or for enrry into museums with advanced tickets. In my opinion, with a good money belt, having my passport on me seems to be the simplest route!
I wish travellers would understand that your passport is your official ID when you are in a foreign country. Officials aren't interested in your driver's license or other ID that you would have in the country where you are a citizen.
Carry your passport securely on your person when you are out and about. Make photos of the important pages and have a photocopy of those important pages and keep it in your luggage, for the unlikely situation that you lose it.
I guess I don't get why people stash it away in the hotel safe.
Just to clarify what one poster said, I don't believe Rick Steves ever wrote that copies of your passport is sufficient. I believe he wrote that it is wise to make copies of it and other important docs in case of loss or theft. On the contrary, I recall him saying you should carry your passport with you in one those money belt/neck wallet thing-a-ma-bob-doo-hickeys. (Ah, obviously I can't recall his exact words! Oh, to get old!)
Here is a link to one thing he wrote about travel docs:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/travel-documents
Happy travels!
No. It's second after "there is no tipping in Europe". But just before "can I carry my drugs in little zip lock bags?".
Packing, my bag vs your bag, carry-on or heaven help us checking a bag has got to fit in there somewhere! 🤪
Back to the subject, my wife and I both carry our passports in neck wallets, easier to have it than not.
I leave my passports stashed at home in Italy, not even in a safe. I don’t go to the supermarket to shop with my passport on me. I also don’t have any documents with me while snorkeling underwater. If the Carabinieri subacquei stop me I’ll deal with it.
When I snorkel underwater, I always carry my American Express with me incase I want to buy some fresh seafood-- but that's just me.
Happy travels
Ed, that's probably part. A local might choose to do less, maybe someone fluent might choose to less. Maybe I might actually do less on ocassion, but giving advice begs for a higher standard.
Your United States passport is not yours. It is the property of the United States government. Any slight damage is cause for other countries to deny you entry based on what they perceive to be the poor condition of the passport. So carrying your passport in a money pouch could, baste on your body type, how you wear it, if you're a sloppy eater, or you fall in the Trevi Fountain, drink from a fountain and get water on it, or other situations damage it, then you could be in a real bind.
Mr Carabinieri sir, my apologies but I cant show you my passport because I was afraid if I carried it I might throw up on it. But I have this printed copy I can show you ... rats, I spilled my espresso on it! How about i show you the photo on my phone? Do you have an IPhone charger that I can borrow? Okay please walk with me to my hotel. Only 35 minutes from here.
Unless you are an Italian citizen, or a citizen of the EU, you must carry it with you at all times. If you cannot produce it at the request of a police officer the sanction is 2,000€ AND one year in prison.
If you are a citizen you are under no obligation to carry any document, however if you refuse to give your personal details, then you are subject to sanctions.
https://www.brocardi.it/testo-unico-immigrazione/titolo-ii/capo-i/art6.html
There are 60,000 inmates in the Italian prison system, the majority of them were caught in line at a museum unable to show their passport. There are more people in prison for that than for association to organized crime.
Lol
Very amusing to see how folks justify things they do or don’t do
Good grief
I have several friends who travelled to Italy (separately) between March and early May this year, and all three said that at some point they were asked by police to present their ID, in both Florence S.M. Novella and Rome Termini stations. It seems to be more common recently. As someone said, the guidance from R.S. to take a photocopy or scan of your passport is for your own sake to facilitate replacement if the original gets lost, it's not for presenting to authorities in lieu of your original document. Get a plastic sleeve for it if you are actually worried about damage...
At least bring a link to the RS thread that says copies are just as good as what the law requires so that if you are stopped you can show it to the cop.
This is what the law requires:
https://www.brocardi.it/testo-unico-immigrazione/titolo-ii/capo-i/art6.html
The relevant paragraph is no. 3 in the link.
“Lo straniero che, a richiesta degli ufficiali e agenti di pubblica sicurezza, non ottempera, senza giustificato motivo, all'ordine di esibizione del passaporto o di altro documento di identificazione e del permesso di soggiorno o di altro documento attestante la regolare presenza nel territorio dello Stato è punito con l'arresto fino ad un ann o e con l'ammenda fino ad euro 2.000.”
The Emglish translation is below
“Any foreigner who, at the request of public security officials and agents, fails, without justifiable reason, to comply with the order to produce his or her passport or other identification document, residence permit, or other document certifying his or her regular presence in the territory of the State is punishable by imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to €2,000.”
I emphasized the phrase “without justifiable reason”. Unfortunately the statute does not specify what constitutes “justifiable reason”, therefore we must rely on the legal doctrine and jurisprudential precedents.
The document below, explains in very technical language such circumstances.
You can read the entire document in case you have trouble sleeping, but relevant passage is the one below, translated by your truly:
“Such justified reason may apply, in the case of theft of documents, or entry into Italy following a shipwreck, or loss of documents as a result of war or other public disasters, or when the person detained has never possessed them or is a foreign minor, or when the foreigner is temporarily without them and its identification is not, in any case, hindered.”
I have emphasized the last sentence. So, my conclusion is that if you happen to be momentarily without your passport (including because you left them at the hotel) make sure that you facilitate as much as possible your identification by the officer. That means having photocopies of your passport, your hotel information, and any possible government ID (including your US driver’s license). No guarantee that you may not be still taken to the police station, but chances are that, if you are an American or Canadian, the most serious consequence will be just a stern lecturing warning by the officer. The law mentions 2000€ in fine AND one year imprisonment, not either or. And I can guarantee you that no Italian officer will go to the trouble of arresting a North American tourist for having left their passport in the hotel room. The Italian court system doesn’t have resources for much more heinous crimes, let alone this.
For sure know that you should not leave town, on a day trip, without your passport, especially because those kind of checks are most common at or near train stations. That is where undocumented aliens tend to congregate and that is where the police focuses its attention.
I’m trusting that Roberto fellow. His advice on Italy has always been good in the past!
Happy travels!
Your United States passport is not yours. It is the property of the United States government. Any slight damage is cause for other countries to deny you entry based on what they perceive to be the poor condition of the passport. So carrying your passport in a money pouch could, baste on your body type, how you wear it, if you're a sloppy eater, or you fall in the Trevi Fountain, drink from a fountain and get water on it, or other situations damage it, then you could be in a real bind
A person like that should keep their passport in the waterproof case that their phone is in. ( they are protecting the phone, no?)
falling into the Trevi Fountain is much less easy than previously
I have heard that snorkeling in the Trevi fountain is particularly difficult nowadays which makes waterproofing your passport less of a concern.
Nigel, still easy, just more expensive. Now tgey charge for you to get close enough to fall in.
You can only fall in at your prebooked timed entry booked online 60 days in advance (Rome time)
Sadly, you now need to pay extra to accidentally fall into the Trevi fountain
