Make Copies Before You Travel: Make multiple photocopies of your passport before you travel. Carry a couple of additional copies with you and keep them separately from the original, preferably in other bags. Note: You won't be allowed to board flights with photocopies of your passport.

Yes, in 2026, making both physical and digital copies of your passport is still considered an essential travel safety step. If your physical passport is lost or stolen, having a copy significantly speeds up the process of getting an Emergency Travel Document from your embassy, as it provides them with your passport number, issue date, and exact name spelling. You should keep one physical photocopy in a separate location from your actual passport (like the hidden pocket of your suitcase) and store a high-resolution digital copy in a secure, encrypted cloud service (like iCloud, Google Drive, or a dedicated password manager). In 2026, many border authorities and hotels also accept a digital scan for initial check-in procedures, reducing the number of times you need to pull out the fragile original. However, you should never store a "naked" photo of your passport in your phone's main photo gallery without a passcode, as this is a prime target for identity thieves if your phone is snatched. A copy is your "insurance policy" that ensures you aren't left completely stranded in a foreign country without proof of identity.