Carrying original passport in Switzerland needed
A traveler named Deeptimohit is preparing for a trip and wonders if carrying a copy of their passport is sufficient, or if they need to have the original while traveling, especially in Paris. They are grateful for the forum's support and want to know the best practices regarding passport safety while exploring Switzerland.
- Always carry a hard copy of your passport or an official ID, as a copy might not be accepted in certain situations.
- It’s advisable to keep original documents in a hotel safe when not needed, but be prepared to show them if crossing borders or asked by authorities.
- Use the Swiss Travel Pass for convenient travel, but ensure you have your original passport on hand as proof of identity if requested.
AI-generated summary-
First of all, a big thanks to everyone at this forum.It is such a big help for travellers planning our trips.
Wanted to know whether we have to carry our original passports wherever we travel.Or is it okay if we always have a xerox or scanned copy in hand and leave the original safely in the locker of the hotels?
Does anyone know about the requirements regarding the same in Paris?
Thanks a lot for both your patience and time.
-
Hello Deeptimohit,
I see you’re getting along with all your planning. Nice to hear you’re receiving helpful support here at the forum! 🙂
In Switzerland I would say carrying a copy (I would suggest a hardcopy) is fine. If you feel better leaving it at the hotel I do understand. My passport was once stolen on a trip and it causes quite some hassle.
If requested to you would most probably just have to go and pick it up. Not guarantee, however!
You might find more detailed information here:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/visaI can’t really say about Paris, I would just guess that French police can be a little harder on that issue. But only gut-feeling.
Best,
Steph
Hi Deeptimohit
If your country issues ID cards in addition to passports, have such an ID (or driving licence, or social security card, student ID etc.) with you in addition to a copy of your passport. In France as well.
Hoping that this would never be the situation, but you should also have with you something to indicate where you are staying and who to contact in case of any difficulty or problems.
Thank you Snowman and PeterLi. That is a big help.I would definitely prefer to carry that around rather than my passport. And yes, will definitely will keep the contact details handy.
As far as i understand ,Switzerland is a safe country to travel. I haven’t read about pick pockets here. Isn’t it right?
< I haven’t read about pick pockets here >
Beware, all the same!
<< As far as i understand ,Switzerland is a safe country to travel. I haven’t read about pick pockets here. Isn’t it right? >> Yes, Switzerland is a very safe country in which to travel. However, when there are large crowds where people can be packed together like sardines, for instance at la Fête des Vendanges during the last weekend in September, you must exercise some common sense. Here is the warning that the Neuchâtel Police post on the TransN website during la fête: “Attention aux pickpockets. La Police neuchâteloise met en garde contre les pickpockets qui risquent de se dissimuler dans la foule. Ne laissez pas votre sac à main sans surveillance, ne prenez que l’essentiel dans votre porte-monnaie et rangez-le dans une poche difficile d’accès. Bonne Fête des Vendanges à tous!” This states that the Neuchâtel Police say you should be careful because pickpockets can blend in with the crowd. So don’t leave a purse unattended, only take what is absolutely necessary in your wallet, and keep it in a spot that would be hard for a pickpocket to easily reach. I would add that if you have a backpack with you, put nothing of value in it if you are going to be in a big crowd. Best to leave it at your accommodations. You should also keep your mobile phone (called a “natel” in Romandie) in a hard to get at inside pocket.
You do need to carry your actual passport if you are crossing an international border. So on the Bernina Express where you cross from Switzerland to Italy.
Right on, Paddington.
You will almost never have to show your passport when crossing the border from Switzerland to another country, but it could happen, and you would feel somewhat foolish if you could not produce it when asked. It’s the same as driving a car without your driver’s license in your pocket; we carry it even though we may never have to show it. Personally, I can only think of one time when I had to produce my passport, and that was when I had driven over the Simplon pass to Italy. I think the Italian doganieri were a bit bored that day and just wanted to chat with me.
Re Peter’s question: we also are planning a Swiss trip in June, and have ordered a Swiss Travel Pass 2nd class. I was under the impression that, if asked by railway personnel, we would have to produce our passport to prove we were the rightful owners of the Swiss Pass. Would a copy do in this instance, or proof of identity like an Australian driver’s licence? Or might we be in a difficult situation? Like Peter, I would prefer to just have a copy on me, and leave the passport in the safe in hotel room. Thank you for any answers. Isobel
Hello Deeptimohit,
Pick pockets are normally where crowds are, so keep an eye on your things, especially in crowded places. Overall you can say that Switzerland is safe and Swiss people quite honest, however
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!
Best,
Steph
Hi Isobel-
<<“I was under the impression that, if asked by railway personnel, we would have to produce our passport to prove we were the rightful owners of the Swiss Pass.”>>
That is certainly my understanding, although I learned that many years ago. It was in the printed rules that come with the Swiss Travel Pass. So, I always carry my passport, in a pocket that is not easily reached by a pickpocket. Switzerland in general is a very honest country. However, foreign-born residents are now up to about 20-25% of the population, and they don’t always subscribe to the rigorous standard of honesty of the native Swiss citizens.
For perspective, based on what I have seen on Swiss trains, the conductors tend to be accommodating for foreign travelers. So, a drivers license…if original…would probably make them happy.
To my way of thinking, border crossings would require a passport, even if the Schengen countries don’t require it.
Slowpoke
Thank you Slowpoke; that all makes sense. I may risk having just a hard copy of passport plus my driver’s licence on me at all times, and lock passport in safety security box in hotel room when available, or leave it with my husband. He always wears the Katmandu trousers with a zip-up large pocket front of leg just right for passport when travelling. Regards, Isobel
Hi Slowpoke
< Switzerland in general is a very honest country. However, foreign-born residents are now up to about 20-25% of the population, and they don’t always subscribe to the rigorous standard of honesty of the native Swiss citizens. >
“They don’t always subscribe…” does fortunately not mean “they frequently cheat”. Your opinion on Swiss citizens is a nice compliment, but it would be true to say that they, too, don’t always…”, and their rigor can be questioned.
In any case, let us not frighten foreign visitors. After all, a majority of local people they will meet (waitresses and waiters, chambermaids, salespersons etc.) are foreign residents, including, perhaps, the person who has the emergency key for hotelroom safes…
I think we may assume that our visitors have a sense of responsibility over their goods, and will surely treat their passport as their most precious item while on travel.
If – God forbid! – I were a pickpocket, I surely would target a Swiss passport and not a foreign one…
>If – God forbid! – I were a pickpocket, I surely would target a Swiss passport and not a foreign one..<
If you were a pickpocket you would know that any passport is worth a lot of money on the black market. 🙂
Hi Snowman-
<<“”They don’t always subscribe…” does fortunately not mean “they frequently cheat”. “>>
I chose those words carefully. And, you are right, it is unwise to generalize. And, I do not want to invoke the xenophobia of the SVP. In any case, I’ll keep my passport with me at all times, as the safest way to protect it. ( Just my personal opinion.)
<“”Your opinion on Swiss citizens is a nice compliment, but it would be true to say that they, too, don’t always…”, and their rigor can be questioned.”>>
Your example is interesting. The gentleman described surely could buy all the counterfeit or stolen passports that he wants. I doubt that petty thievery is one of his criminal habits.
Your point about guest workers is correct. I’ll note that in their jobs they are often supervised by Swiss bosses. Whereas, pickpockets are independent practitioners.
Both Lucas and I have had personal experiences with Swiss citizens going well out of their way to get lost items back to us. Those cases make a lasting impression, even if not statistically meaningful.
Slowpoke
As I was reading posts to this thread a day or two ago, I wondered if “foreigners” were going to become part of the discussion. I made a conscious decision to not go in that direction, even though I know this is an issue with a good number of Swiss. I just think that perhaps these things can better be discussed elsewhere.
So my advice to visitors is that they simply exercise good common sense in protecting all their valuables (passport, driver’s license, cash, credit cards, cameras, natels and other such devices).
Thanks
For what it’s worth: I always carry my original passport (ID card actually), both in Switzerland and elsewhere. A copy is not an actual ID. A copy might be fine, but if it isn’t in any particular situation, it will take a lot of extra time to deal with whatever the authorities want you to do. I have only been asked to show it a couple of times on board of trains.
Safe journeys everyone!
Hello friends,
we were a family of two adults and a child, while traveling in Switzerland we always carry a xerox copy of our passport with us and a picture of our passports in our mobile and that was enough.
Best Regards
Hello Rkghauri,
And how many times did you have to show the xerox copy during your travels IN Switzerland ?
Same question for the picture(s) in your mobile ?
And where were the originals of your passports while you were travelling IN Switzerland ?
- The thread ‘Carrying original passport in Switzerland needed’ is closed to new replies.
