Most reservation tickets are only valid when they are printed on paper and can often not be shown on a mobile device. Please read the conditions of use on the ticket when you receive it. In case your ticket needs to be printed, you need to arrange this before boarding the train.

In 2026, whether you need to print your Eurail seat reservation depends on the specific country and railway carrier. While the Eurail Rail Planner app allows for a fully digital travel experience with the "Mobile Pass," seat reservations are often issued as separate documents. For approximately 95% of European trains, you will receive an e-ticket via email which can be shown on your smartphone to conductors alongside your digital pass barcode. However, certain countries—including Croatia, Bulgaria, and Czechia—still occasionally require physical paper reservations for specific international or night train routes. If you receive your reservation by registered mail, you must have that physical copy to board. For high-speed lines like the Eurostar or TGV, digital versions are standard and accepted. It is always a "best practice" in 2026 to have a digital copy saved offline on your device, just in case of poor connectivity while the conductor is making their rounds.