Photocopy of Passport?

[scrappinginontario]

I've heard that I should photocopy my passport and put a copy in each piece of luggage.

1. Do you do this?

2. Why?

It seems like it's putting personal information that I do my best to protect in a very vulnerable location.

Why is it recommended that we photocopy our passports and if you do, where do you put them?

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I dunno. Seams like the only thing you might need is one photocopy somewhere to help you get a new one if you lose the real one. Even then, probably all you need is your other ID (drivers license, etc.) and maybe the passport number itself. My sister gave us copies of there passports a couple years back when they traveled, so that they would have a copy in a "safe place" in case they needed it, I could have sent her a picture, but really, she could have e-mailed herself a picture and accessed it anywhere if she needed to.

Not sure you need to worry about this.

Anyone out there who actually lost a passport: Can you tell us what you needed to start the process of getting a new one?

 

[cedricandsophie]

I always have copies of ours in one or two carryons separate from the actual passport. Why? So I have the photocopy, the passport number, etc just in case it gets lost to make it easier to get into an embassy or consulate. I also make copies front and back of credit cards in case they are stolen or lost so I know phone number to call and have the exact card number.

 

[PoopDeckPappy]

Ditto to what has been said but also know that a photo copy is not worth anything should you need an actual passport (can't use it as a sub). Maybe it will facilitate things easier? I doubt it since you can be identified by ssn too. I wouldn't want a copy floating around. email yourself as mentioned is a good idea if you think you'd need to access it for some reason.

 

[squirk]

I can see the benefit of recording your passport information somewhere, but I agree with you - I sure as heck would not put it in my luggage. Anyone handling that luggage, particularly anyone in security who's inspecting the contents, would have access to your passport info.

I understand it's harder and harder to forge passports with the chips in them nowadays, but I still wouldn't leave that information readily available like that.

 

[lahobbs4]

I can only assume it would be safer to snap a pic with your phone of important documents.

 

[amberwc]

I can only assume it would be safer to snap a pic with your phone of important documents.

Your phone is more likely to get stolen then a piece of paper in your luggage

 

[mevelandry]

I scan ours and keep it in my e-mails.

 

[squirk]

Your phone is more likely to get stolen then a piece of paper in your luggage

True, but I think someone stealing the phone is just after the phone itself, y'know? Plus, you can auto-lock it. And if the phone is stolen, you know it's gone and can remotely wipe it.

A piece of paper in your luggage, though - someone could snap a pic of your passport photocopy, put the paper back in your luggage and you'd be none the wiser.

 

[owensjro]

According to the US passport site the only thing having a photocopy will do is help them to cancel your existing passport. You could just as easily do this by writing the number down somewhere. In the case of a lost passport or getting stuck somewhere without your real passport a photocopy does nothing to help you regain entry to the US.

 

[texasgingerbread]

I scan ours and keep it in my e-mails.

Ditto. Leave it in your inbox or put it on your private dropbox. Passport and credit cards.

 

[tnshsms]

I also make a copy but I leave it at home with someone there so they can send me a copy if I need it. I also keep a copy of the credit cards in case they get stolen. I've known someone who had their passport stolen and once they got to the consulate they could have her mom fax it to at least prove they did have one and get the number. It wasn't something they could fly home on, of course, but it did speed things up for them.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've heard that I should photocopy my passport and put a copy in each piece of luggage.

I have NEVER heard of this bit of advice.

1. Do you do this?

Gosh no.


I don't even make a copy of my passport. If I lose it while on vacation I trust that the extra 5 minutes it takes to find the info will be 5 minutes I can nap or something. I carry my passport with me at every port (other than Castaway and Coco Cays), trying to keep it safe, and that's it. No copies.

Maybe if we had any trustworthy or helpful family members at home I'd leave a copy with them, but we don't even tell people when we travel.

 

[Alicatt]

I thought that you were not supposed to take your passports/documents ashore unless it was required by the port. I thought you just brought a photo ID and your KTTW and put everything else in a safe. Is that not correct?

 

[Canooknic]

We have photos of passports and medical insurance in folders on our phones - very little chance of ever being in a situation where neither of us have one with us or both of us losing our phones at the same time!

 

[Amanda129]

I have copies of my passport with trusted family members at home, and I usually carry the copy ashore with me, but never have I left this information in my luggage. I have, however, left a piece of paper in my luggage with my name and phone number on it in the event my luggage is lost.

I thought that you were not supposed to take your passports/documents ashore unless it was required by the port. I thought you just brought a photo ID and your KTTW and put everything else in a safe. Is that not correct?

It's recommended that you don't carry your passport ashore, unless required by a particular port, because you can always contact the ship's agent to have them retrieve your passport from your stateroom in the event that it's needed.

 

[scrappydew]

What if you missed the boat in another country? Wouldn't you need your passport physically with you then?

 

[Markonefive]

For vacation, I bring one colour photocopy of our passports. Either kept in my wife's purse, or the room safe. Not in luggage (treat it as securely as you would the real passport). Keep your real passport with you when off the boat -- this is your legal ID as a visitor in a foreign country. Best to use a waist or neck pouch for maximum security (purses can be snatched, pockets can be picked).
Inside each suitcase, I put pieces of paper in outside pockets with the following information: first and last name, address of hotels (or cruise information), cell phone number and email address where I can be reached, flight numbers and airline names. If luggage is lost, this is more than enough information for someone to track me down, either directly or through the airline, or if the bag is lost on the ship. I never put home address (why advertise where your empty house is?). My luggage tags on suitcases have name, cell phone number, email address. You never want the one luggage tag held on by a small string or piece of plastic to be the only way your bag can be identified. Those can too easily come off, or be water damaged.

 

[Markonefive]

Forgot to add -- depending on the country you are going too, you may wish to have an extra set of passport photos taken and with you in advance. With the photos and the copy of your old passport, it will make it easier for your embassy or consultate to issue you a new temporary passport. Eliminating one step (getting new photos) is convenient. Also, in addition to having a passport scanned copy on a secure cloud drive (in case all copies lost), I also carry an IronKey USB drive with copies of important documents, in case I am somewhere with poor internet access. The IronKey is industrial grade and destroys all data if the wrong password is entered 10 times.

 

[ludari]

In addition to traveling with my actual passport I also carry a color copy of my passport just as in case my passport is lost or stolen. I don't place copies in my suitcase but I do give a copy of passport as well as my other travel documents to a family member so there know what I'm doing (I travel/cruise solo all the time). Finally I also have a picture of my passport in my phone.