Should I leave a copy of my passport when traveling?

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Make two copies of all your travel documents in case of emergency. Leave one copy with a trusted friend or relative at home and carry the other separately from your original documents. To help prevent theft, do not carry your passport in your back pocket, and keep it separate from your money.



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In general, across Europe, you should carry either your passport or a copy of it. You are required by law to have a valid form of identification.

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Before you even head out on your trip, you should make multiple copies of your passport: Copy the page that has your photo and full name on it, and keep these copies in separate places—at the bottom of your bag in different pieces of luggage, or even with different people who may be traveling with you.

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Many European hotels check your passport in addition to asking for a credit card for incidentals. In most cases, you only need to show your passport at check in, or, rarely, leave it overnight.

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Having a passport is one of the best ways to protect yourself when traveling abroad. Not only does it make life easier and more convenient, but if something goes wrong while you're away from home, such as losing your luggage or getting sick, at least you'll have something that proves who you are and where you're from.

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Yes, it will show up as an object made of (probably) paper, maybe with a chip in it. The chip might give it away as specifically a passport, if the security person manning the system was actually looking for that. But their primary role is to look for weapons and other potential hazards to flight safety.

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The answer, in many places, is yes. Sometimes hotels may legally demand that you hand over your passport when you check in. In some countries, hotels may be required under local law to retain copies of guests' passport information, a U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed with me.

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Let's delve into the ways you can ensure their safety during your travels.
  1. Make Digital and Physical Copies. ...
  2. Use Plastic Bags. ...
  3. Find Secure Storage. ...
  4. Keep Documents Close. ...
  5. Separate Documents into Different Bags. ...
  6. Get Locks for Your Bags. ...
  7. Consider Tracking Devices.


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You don't have to carry your passport, but local authorities can ask to see it. You may need to produce it on request. Always carry a photo ID.

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Carry Your Passport on Your Person Only if Needed
If you carry it in your purse or travel bag, keep it zipped up in an internal pocket within your bag. Don't carry it loosely in your bag where a pickpocket's hand can gain quick access to it. Never keep your passport in your back pocket.

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If you accidentally gate-check your bag and it has your passport in it, the best thing to do is approach an airline customer service representative at the gate where the plane arrived to inform them of what happened, Dan Bubb, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and former airline pilot, tells Travel + ...

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An Italian hotel has no legal right to keep your passport overnight. They need your passport in order to complete a registration document for the police, but this only takes a couple of minutes. Many hotels like to keep the passport overnight as security, so that guests won't run off in the morning without paying.

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