MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial Swiss Half Fare Card + ID inspection: is colour copy of passport ok?
-
Hi All,
When I read that you have to show passport together with the pass. Can I show the colored photocopy of our passport together with the pass?
Thank you again and again.
Karen
-
Hi Karen,
No, any sort of copy of your ID is not valid. You have to show your original passport or government-issued ID.
Showing original ID is an anti-fraud measure. Copies of a document can easily be forged, which would defeat the purpose.
Hope this clarifies the requirements!
Alpenrose
There have been lots of reports of people showing their driving licences instead.
I wouldn’t walk around with my passport, unless of course I was travelling to a different place, but not just out for the day.
Hi Deb,
A driver’s licence would count as a government-issued ID I would think.
Alpenrose
Hi Karen,
Yes, per the above replies. Original identification be it, in the form of passport, ID card, driving licence must be produced when asked by a ticket inspector.
More on how the Swiss Half Fare Card works in the attached link: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thanks Alpenrose and Yolanda. I am slightly concerned that an Australian licence won’t be good enough, but I will carry it and see how I go. I will have both the original and the new phone version that gets introduced next month.
I just do not feel comfortable walking around with my passport, unless of course we are changing hotels.
Hi Deb,
I understand your concern.
As far as the driver’s licence goes, I guess it depends on whether the conductor/ticket inspector is confident they are looking at a genuine one. A plastic driver’s licence has obvious security features as part of the design, so that should be OK.
One thing to remember is that many day trips people do from a base in Switzerland involve crossing a border (to France, Italy or Austria in particular) so taking a passport on those trips is essential.
I cross borders quite frequently on day trips when staying in the Engadin or Montreux, so I take my passport with me every day rather than forget to bring it. I wear it on my person at all times, in a special passport pouch. I would never put it in a bag that might get left behind on a train or in a restaurant.
Alpenrose
Alpenrose, yes our licences are plastic and have security features built into them.
I think the only time we will be crossing borders is on the Bernina Express from Tirano to St. Moritz, and if we do a day trip from Montreux to Yvoire. I will also have it when changing location which will happen quite a few times and I plan to get some sort of pouch for that purpose.
I just don’t want to have it while going for a walk in the Bernese Oberland, which of course will require trains or gondolas to get there.
Alpenrose and Yolanda: Thank you so very much. I am not comfortable bringing my passport if we are in the mountains or in the city except going to Chamonix of course. We appreciate the help here.
Cheers to everyone!
Karen
- You must be logged in to reply. Please log in, or create an account.
