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Is bringing a passport mandatory?

brian2015

New Member
Hi all,

I am starting the camino frances on the 8th of June. I have been having a few passport issues over the past year. The issue being that I lost one on hols in Barcelona and the replacement was stolen from my car a few months ago. The passport office have told me that my latest passport is the last one they will give me until 2021!!

Therefore I have become very protective of my passport!!

I am staying with my brother for a few days in Barcelona and I am tempted to leave my passport with him.

My question to you is do I need my passport for the albergues or will they accept a drivers license or other form of id?

Thanks in advance.

Buen camino
 
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If you ever get in a position that your are required to produce it you could be in a legal jam as I believe all foreigners must be able to produce a passport with their entry date noted. I was among a group who were all stopped by Police when a fellow pilgrim had a large amount of money stolen in the town prior where we all stayed the night. The first thing they asked for was all our passports.
 
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If you ever get in a position that your are required to produce it you could be in a legal jam as I believe all foreigners must be able to produce a passport with their entry date noted. I was among a group who were all stopped by Police when a fellow pilgrim had a large amount of money stolen in the town prior where we all stayed the night. The first thing they asked for was all our passports.

Thanks so much! Does this include Europeans though because I am from Ireland and I dont recall getting my passport stamped entering other european countries like spain
 
I know a require a passport to enter spain and will be doing so but I have a brother living in Barcelona and I want to leave my passport with him rather than bring it on the camino....so I was just wondering do I need the passport for the albergues

I have seen posted in accommodation spots, ie pilgrim albergues and small hotels, signs stating that one must present a valid national passport and not a photocopy.
 
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Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
Hi all,

I am starting the camino frances on the 8th of June. I have been having a few passport issues over the past year. The issue being that I lost one on hols in Barcelona and the replacement was stolen from my car a few months ago. The passport office have told me that my latest passport is the last one they will give me until 2021!!

Therefore I have become very protective of my passport!!

I am staying with my brother for a few days in Barcelona and I am tempted to leave my passport with him.

My question to you is do I need my passport for the albergues or will they accept a drivers license or other form of id?

Thanks in advance.

Buen camino
Yes, albergues generally ask you for your passport, as do all hotels. It is a legal requirement to carry identity papers.
 
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@brian2015, maybe you can get an ID card that's separate from your passport, if Ireland offer that option? I live in the Netherlands, and until recently only had a passport, but last month I got an ID card specially for the Camino. It's the size of a bank card, so much easier to keep safe, and my passport can stay tucked away at home.
 
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I posted this in another thread, but I'll repeat it here:

Every time you check into an albergue or hotel, they ask to see your national passport (at least they're supposed to) and make a note of your passport number. Since most of us keep the passport in a secure place once we clear customs at the entry point into Spain or France or whatever, it can be a hassle to dig your passport out of its secure place every day. Consider making a color copy of the first page -- the page with your photo and vital statistics -- and laminate that single page copy. That's all that's needed to check into a hotel or albergue, and you can keep it right in the fold of your credential/pilgrim's passport so it's there when you check in and get your sello. Our Colorado Front Range chapter of the APOC often has a color copier and laminating machine at chapter events, and makes the copy for a small donativo.
 
I know it may seem a bit extreme to some, but I carried my passport and credit cards with me 24/7 on the Camino(s) in a holder similar to this. They never left my person except to shower, and even then were hanging in a waterproof bag within sight, along with my towel, etc.
View attachment 24687
Hi Mark, I like that passport holder - I am doing the camino in September - where did you get yours?
 
Hi Mark, I like that passport holder - I am doing the camino in September - where did you get yours?
The one in the photo is one I found a photo of on the net just to attach to my comment. I got one years ago from amazon.com that is similar, but has a velcro closure instead of a zipper. There are several different brands, colors, sizes, etc out there. I just like one to have that cord attached so that I can hang it around my neck, or loop it around a belt loop and stash in the pocket of my pants or shorts.
If you do a search on the net using "passport wallet" or "passport holder", you get a lot of results.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Brian,
You might find it worthwhile to apply for the new 'passport card' from the Irish Passport Office. You should have plenty of time before your camino, and it is more easily carried--a credit-card size. I'm using one this year, it's promised to be valid within Europe, costs 30 or 35 euro, I think. (I've had to remind myself that the card number is different from my full book-passport, so I don't refer to the wrong document for Ryanair, etc.)
Silverton (in Dublin)
 
The one in the photo is one I found a photo of on the net just to attach to my comment. I got one years ago from amazon.com that is similar, but has a velcro closure instead of a zipper. There are several different brands, colors, sizes, etc out there. I just like one to have that cord attached so that I can hang it around my neck, or loop it around a belt loop and stash in the pocket of my pants or shorts.
If you do a search on the net using "passport wallet" or "passport holder", you get a lot of results.
Thanks Mark - I'll check out Amazon
 
Thanks op for highlighting this. I am from Germany and I believed from some camino veterans here that my National ID Card would suffice for albergues and hotels. Can someone confirm for me if this is or is not true
 
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Thanks op for highlighting this. I am from Germany and I believed from some camino veterans here that my National ID Card would suffice for albergues and hotels. Can someone confirm for me if this is or is not true

The German pilgrims I walked with used their National ID card and did not have their passport with them.
 
I know it may seem a bit extreme to some, but I carried my passport and credit cards with me 24/7 on the Camino(s) in a holder similar to this. They never left my person except to shower, and even then were hanging in a waterproof bag within sight, along with my towel, etc.
View attachment 24687

That looks similar to the one I have and is from Mountain Warehouse.
 
@brian2015 I got a passport card in November. It cost €35 and I applied entirely online and it came in 48 hours (within Ireland). It is the size of a credit card. I plan to use it always now in Europe, leaving passsport at home, and if anything happens to the card, the passport can be sent out to me to replace it in an emergency. It has a different number to the passport, and is valid for 5 years, or the life of the full passport, whichever is shorter. You HAVE to have a passport to get it, but once you have got it, it functions independently of your passport. You need to use the number of the card if you are going to use it for checking in on Ryanair etc not your regular passport number. If you lose it, you simply apply for another one, online, after reporting its loss. You would need to have your main passport details with you to do this. You could even apply from Spain and have it delivered there, if the need arose. Losing the card does not invalidate your main passport. It seems very practical. I applied almost as soon as they came out. I see on the website they are saying 10 days turnaround on new orders at the moment.
 
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A selection of Camino Jewellery
For those from EU countries, don't forget your EHIC card for medical as well!
 
Thanks so much! Does this include Europeans though because I am from Ireland and I dont recall getting my passport stamped entering other european countries like spain
Hola Brian - which national passport are you travelling on?? If its an Irish one - then you are considered an EU citizen and will not require passport to be stamped except when re-entering the EU from outside (eg coming from NZ). If you are travelling on a Kiwi passport then it would be similar to the rules governing entry to any country - the passport is checked for validity and then stamped when the entry visa is issued.
Losing two passports is unusual/unlucky (OK yes one was stolen) and I can understand why you National Immigration office has issued that warning - trading is passports can be a lucrative money earning. Thankfully following the Aussy change to holographic pictures and identification chips our new ones are virtually impossible to forge or copy.
My suggestion for safe-keeping - buy a Pacsafe Passport wallet - it has a safety cord to go around your neck - and never let it out of your sight!!

this is a link to the Pacsafe site:
http://bagstogo.com.au/pacsafe-rfid...lid=CLS4n-zI08sCFdhivAodM8AHCA#googleshopping
 
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Marc
You may want to check out your local REI store. Eagle creek and rei brands have a few to choose from which are all good quality. I think there is an rei near Braintree or Brockton. I was there last fall,but can't remember the exact location. I'm sure Siri can help you out though. I have used these a time or two and they work pretty good,especially inside of a tee shirt and are not too noticeable. hope this helps.
 
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I think it may have been Hingham instead of Braintree.
 
I know it may seem a bit extreme to some, but I carried my passport and credit cards with me 24/7 on the Camino(s) in a holder similar to this. They never left my person except to shower, and even then were hanging in a waterproof bag within sight, along with my towel, etc.
View attachment 24687

Not extreme. Common sense!
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
If you stay in any commercial lodging, hostal or hotel, the proprietor (or clerk) is required to note details from your national passport. European nationals can use their standard EU identity cards. All others, like this gringo, must provide their national passports. So carry your passport if you are not a EU national with a standard ID card.

Most people do not know this, but European, and indeed most of the rest of the world, has police connectivity to major hotels and places commercial lodging. Where online connectivity is not available, manual records are usually completed. In many places, the local constabulary picks up the registration cards regularly.

This has been a routine thing outside the US for like, forever... That is one of the little, niggling reasons why we in the US are considered exceptional, not superior, but exceptional. This would not be tolerated in the US, but is commonly found aboard. Get over it. When we visit our friends and neighbors abroad, we are expected to play by and respect the local laws, including participating in nightly police bed checks via the data collection scheme.

I hope this helps.
 
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If your from outside europe, yes, you need to carry it. If you are from europe, al you need is your european id card. I never carry my passport anywhere in europe, just my id card.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Hi all,

I am starting the camino frances on the 8th of June. I have been having a few passport issues over the past year. The issue being that I lost one on hols in Barcelona and the replacement was stolen from my car a few months ago. The passport office have told me that my latest passport is the last one they will give me until 2021!!

Therefore I have become very protective of my passport!!

I am staying with my brother for a few days in Barcelona and I am tempted to leave my passport with him.

My question to you is do I need my passport for the albergues or will they accept a drivers license or other form of id?

Thanks in advance.

Buen camino
Brian, go to the passport office web page and download the app to your phone for the new Irish passport card. Use the app to take a selfie submit your application and a couple of weeks later you will have your card. This is valid for travel in Europe only. You can then leave your passport book in your brothers or at home and just carry the card. Thats all I will be using this year
 
Hi all,

I am starting the camino frances on the 8th of June. I have been having a few passport issues over the past year. The issue being that I lost one on hols in Barcelona and the replacement was stolen from my car a few months ago. The passport office have told me that my latest passport is the last one they will give me until 2021!!

Therefore I have become very protective of my passport!!

I am staying with my brother for a few days in Barcelona and I am tempted to leave my passport with him.

My question to you is do I need my passport for the albergues or will they accept a drivers license or other form of id?

Thanks in advance.

Buen camino
Hi Brian, you will need your Passport .At the most albergues they ask for it.
Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Really, one should not make such unfounded assumptions about a foreign national administration ;). From the Irish Government's public information service:

If your Irish passport is lost, mislaid or stolen and you wish to obtain another, you should be aware that:
  • If you have a poor passport record, (that is, you have lost two or more passports) it is likely that a limited passport facility will be given to you for specific travel purposes. On each occasion on which a new passport is issued to you, (even when the passport is being issued for a limited time) you will have to pay the full cost of this passport.
That was really easy to find out. :)

Even if it is a 'limited passport facility' it is still a valid passport/travel document. Which is completely different to what the OP stated

... The passport office have told me that my latest passport is the last one they will give me until 2021!! ...

...

A passport is not only a 'travel document, but also a proof of citizenship, so withholding one completely from a legal citizen would be a very strange occurrence ...

Buen Camino, SY
 
Fall 2015 on the CF there were many times we had to show our U.S. passports. It may be different rules for E.U. and others. I kind of fall in the better safe than sorry camp. We were hypercareful with the passports and credentials tho.
 
A passport is not only a 'travel document, but also a proof of citizenship, so withholding one completely from a legal citizen would be a very strange occurrence ...
The Australian Government will cancel your passport, even if you are overseas, for specific reasons. One doesn't cease to be a citizen as a result. For us, passports are travel documents, not citizenship documents.
 
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Fall 2015 on the CF there were many times we had to show our U.S. passports. It may be different rules for E.U. and others. I kind of fall in the better safe than sorry camp. We were hypercareful with the passports and credentials tho.
I had to show my UK passport at many of the Albergues I stayed in. It was also needed in SJPP at the Pilgrim Office to get my credencial.
 
Hi all,

I am starting the camino frances on the 8th of June. I have been having a few passport issues over the past year. The issue being that I lost one on hols in Barcelona and the replacement was stolen from my car a few months ago. The passport office have told me that my latest passport is the last one they will give me until 2021!!

Therefore I have become very protective of my passport!!

I am staying with my brother for a few days in Barcelona and I am tempted to leave my passport with him.

My question to you is do I need my passport for the albergues or will they accept a drivers license or other form of id?

Thanks in advance.

Buen camino

you must have an ID card on you at all times in Spain. as many countries in the world do not have ID cards, then by default you must have your passport.

that is the Spanish law, sorry (you could get 'detained' and fined, improbable, but possible)
 
Think about it: if a passport was required to stay in albergues, what would Spanish Nationals who don not have a passport do? It is only required if it was required for you to step foot In Spain.
 
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Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

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My friend has a small Pension here in Galicia and he is required to check every persons passport and make a note of various detials which he then has to forward to the police daily.
 
A word of advice to anyone asked for their passport, do not leave it in the possession of the Hostal/albergue overnight as some of them will try to do. This regulation no longer applies. They may take a photocopy but may not keep the passport. Even last year in France and Spain I had to argue this point several times. I told the person in reception that it was an offence in my country to let the passport out of my possession, (not strictly true) and offered to pay in advance or seek accommodation elsewhere if that did not suit. The last statement always seemed to work.
 
Think about it: if a passport was required to stay in albergues, what would Spanish Nationals who don not have a passport do? It is only required if it was required for you to step foot In Spain.

My Spanish friends (indeed, pretty well every European outside the UK & Ireland) carry their national identity document (DNI in Spain). I am under the impression that it is pretty well obligatory to carry ID at all times-- I remember the old French films where the gendarme commands "Vos papiers!"
 
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I know it may seem a bit extreme to some, but I carried my passport and credit cards with me 24/7 on the Camino(s) in a holder similar to this. They never left my person except to shower, and even then were hanging in a waterproof bag within sight, along with my towel, etc.
View attachment 24687

Same here.
 
My Spanish friends (indeed, pretty well every European outside the UK & Ireland) carry their national identity document (DNI in Spain). I am under the impression that it is pretty well obligatory to carry ID at all times-- I remember the old French films where the gendarme commands "Vos papiers!"
Yes, ID is mandatory, not a passport.
 
Yes, ID is mandatory, not a passport.
Sorry, but for some of us, otherwise acceptable forms of ID in our own country are not sufficient, and a passport is mandatory. I think there are two things operating here, the EU rules on what are acceptable documents to establish identity, and the effect of the Schengen Agreement in removing border controls. Noting that for me, the requirement to carry a passport doesn't change, it still might be interesting if someone could explain how this EU/Schengen combination affects someone from the UK or Ireland, which are members of the EU, but not in the Schengen agreement.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Sorry, but for some of us, otherwise acceptable forms of ID in our own country are not sufficient, and a passport is mandatory. I think there are two things operating here, the EU rules on what are acceptable documents to establish identity, and the effect of the Schengen Agreement in removing border controls. Noting that for me, the requirement to carry a passport doesn't change, it still might be interesting if someone could explain how this EU/Schengen combination affects someone from the UK or Ireland, which are members of the EU, but not in the Schengen agreement.
I have to carry my UK passport in order to leave the UK and also to re-enter. If I didn't have my passport, I might be put on a boat to Turkey. :rolleyes:
 
And this is what happens when you are not a member of the Shengen area... I also need my passport to come back to Canada, because Canada is not part of a Shengen-like community. Mind you, we now have the Nexus pass for those who want to cross the US-Canada boarder faster.
 
A word of advice to anyone asked for their passport, do not leave it in the possession of the Hostal/albergue overnight as some of them will try to do. This regulation no longer applies. They may take a photocopy but may not keep the passport. Even last year in France and Spain I had to argue this point several times. I told the person in reception that it was an offence in my country to let the passport out of my possession, (not strictly true) and offered to pay in advance or seek accommodation elsewhere if that did not suit. The last statement always seemed to work.


It is completely illegal to retain any type of personal identification because, amongst other reasons, in Spain everybody is obliged to carry it everytime, in order to be identified (if needed).

As i always recommend, calling police or guardia civil may be the best response to those situations. And, of course, may be the best way to stop that kind of behaviors.
 
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Sorry, but for some of us, otherwise acceptable forms of ID in our own country are not sufficient, and a passport is mandatory. I think there are two things operating here, the EU rules on what are acceptable documents to establish identity, and the effect of the Schengen Agreement in removing border controls. Noting that for me, the requirement to carry a passport doesn't change, it still might be interesting if someone could explain how this EU/Schengen combination affects someone from the UK or Ireland, which are members of the EU, but not in the Schengen agreement.

I made a quick call to a Spanish lawyer (now ensconced in a New England university for reasons too lengthy and peculiar to enter into here) and she tells me that it has little to do with Schengen, but rather with domestic laws on identification, most of which predate the European union (the French rules date from 1794). Schengen only applies when (say) an Andorran goes to another Schengen country; then their Andorran DNI is sufficient. All European states, save the UK and Ireland, have local identity document requirements but they work together on uniformly computer--accessible formats and have established an administrative protocol. She allows that there may have been some changes since 2012, when she last read up on it.
 
In short, if you have a european ID, bring it. If not, bring your passport.

Simple, right?
 
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I made a quick call to a Spanish lawyer (now ensconced in a New England university for reasons too lengthy and peculiar to enter into here) and she tells me that it has little to do with Schengen, but rather with domestic laws on identification, most of which predate the European union (the French rules date from 1794). Schengen only applies when (say) an Andorran goes to another Schengen country; then their Andorran DNI is sufficient. All European states, save the UK and Ireland, have local identity document requirements but they work together on uniformly computer--accessible formats and have established an administrative protocol. She allows that there may have been some changes since 2012, when she last read up on it.
So if I understand this correctly, within the Schengen zone, an ID (DNI) that is issued by one of the zone member countries is sufficient for travel within the zone. Otherwise, a passport is required both to enter the zone and then carried with you while in the zone as an acceptable form of identification.
 
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Not quite.

Within the Schengen zone, no valid travel document (such as national ID card or passport) is required for travelling as such. Many of these countries, however, specify that everyone, whether travelling or not, whether resident or visitor, has to have valid identification papers on them at all times (such as a national ID card or a passport) while residing or staying in that country. In some of these countries, driving licences or utility bills don't count for identification purposes.

On the other hand, a national ID card is a valid travel document for us for travelling to the UK, Morocco, Tunesia and a number of other neighbouring non-EU countries.

So, I need my national ID card for staying as a short term visitor in Spain but not for travelling to Spain.
I need my national ID card for travelling to the UK but not for staying as a short term visitor in the UK.
Quite simple, isn't it :). And it's been like this for ages, long before we knew where Schengen is (it's in Luxembourg).

For what it's worth...from my experiences
There are other reasons for carrying passports that a pilgrim on the Camino should be aware of. ..and where ID cards suffice...then that would be appropriate as well
1. Confirming identification on your Camino Passport( the pilgrim office in SJPP asked me for mine)
2. Confirming identification at banks during financial transactions.(Santander bank experience)
3. Confirming identification during medical emergencies (Pilgrim Hospital Pontferrada)
4. When Dealing with Police (Porto Portugal)
5. To confirm identification when using credit cards (Cortes Ingles Santiago)
6. When contacting embassies.(Canadian Embassy Madrid)
7 when making customs declarations at airports or post offices ( Paris CDG and Cordillero PO)
I am guessing but I suspect a passport would trump any other form of identification so I always carry it along with a photocopy and my drivers licence in case car rental becomes a necessity. The original passport never leaves my person or that's the idea anyway. I have had a lapse or two with good endings so far.
 
I few of the albergues I stayed at wrote down my passport number. In Valcarlos, the lady who took the money said that was in case we trashed the place, they would know who to come after.
 
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I dont get it, by law you must bring your passport or id when traveling abroad, so there could be 1 other reason or a thousand, your gonna have to bring it anyway.

How difficult can it be :$
 

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