Is passport needed ? (EU citizen)

[tomas.on.the.road]

Hi everybody,

I wonder if I need to carry my passport (travel) with me during the camino. As far as I know I don't need it for crossing borders because I'm from Czech Republic. Is it necessary to have for other reasons (eg in albergues) or is it ok if I will just have my driving licence.

Thanks
Buen camino

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Albergues want an ID.

 

[KinkyOne]

Hi everybody,

I wonder if I need to carry my passport (travel) with me during the camino. As far as I know I don't need it for crossing borders because I'm from Czech Republic. Is it necessary to have for other reasons (eg in albergues) or is it ok if I will just have my driving licence.

Thanks
Buen camino

Hi, Tomas,

Your valid ID card will do. I don't know about driving license. But the documents has to have your photo.

Buen Camino!

 

[Bradypus]

Spanish law requires you to carry either a passport or a government-issued identity card at all times. A driving licence is not a legally acceptable alternative. In practice it is unlikely that you will be stopped by police and asked to show one but it is possible. Many albergues demand to see a passport when you check-in.

 

[MinaKamina]

A driving licence is not a viable ID outside the country where it was issued. You will need a passport or an ID-card to identify yourself outside the Czech Republic. This applies to the entire Schengen area.

 

[grayland]

When I worked as a hospitalaro, we asked for a EU ID card from EU citizens and passports for others.
EU folks all seemed to have a photo ID card they used.

 

[naplesdon]

My expat French driver's license is my French ID and works in airports.

 

[Bradypus]

When I worked as a hospitalaro, we asked for a EU ID card from EU citizens and passports for others.
EU folks all seemed to have a photo ID card they used.

Not quite all. We Brits are still part of the EU for a little while longer and we do not have national ID cards.

 

[grayland]

We didn't accept Brits. We read in the German papers that they were hooligans ....

 

[fraluchi]

I wonder if I need to carry my passport (travel) with me during the camino.

No, unless you have another official identification such as an identity card or a (valid) driving licence.

 

[Kathor1]

Please don't tell EU citizens that they can use a EU driver licence as a legitimate ID document in an EU country other than the one that issued the driving licence. It is not valid when dealing with authorities abroad (such as police); when you register at a hotel (or albergue) in Spain you should also show your national IDcard (or passport).

 

[fraluchi]

Please don't tell EU citizens that they can use a EU driver licence as a legitimate ID document....

As a EU citizen I travel (and have traveled) within the EU area with my ID and/or driving licence without a problem. Maybe that at my age (80+) the authorities and service providers tend to close an eye?

 

[tomas.on.the.road]

Hi folks, thank you for answers.
So I will take my valid Czech ID card (Občanský průkaz) with me and leave passport at home. I would take both but I plan to travel outside of Europe right after the camino so I need to be sure that I will have my passport ready. I hope that I'll be fine.

 

[fraluchi]

[...]Why confuse people?

You're right: travel with your valid EU passport and you should be OK to walk the Camino. Don't forget you credencial either.

 

[dfox]

Hi everybody,

I wonder if I need to carry my passport (travel) with me during the camino.

Thanks
Buen camino

I am not a EU citizen. Last April, I was asked to present my Passport and the credential to get a bed in an albergue.

 

[Former member 49149]

We didn't accept Brits. We read in the German papers that they were hooligans ....

this made me laugh so much!

 

[Former member 49149]

I do not have an ID card, and I always travel with my passport.

 

[Glenshiro]

I have an Irish passport and a handy credit card-sized Irish passport card which is valid as a passport in the EU - https://www.dfa.ie/passportcard/

 

[Thomas1962]

A few years ago I forgot my ID in an albergue. That same day it was found and we agree they would send it ahead of me to SdC. I did have my driving license with me, which was not a problem. Untill... I got to Galicia. I was refused by two state-hospitalero's in Galician state-albergues. Just a driving license wouldn't do. Only ID (or pasport)

 

[Kaiur]

As a EU citizen I travel (and have traveled) within the EU area with my ID and/or driving licence without a problem. Maybe that at my age (80+) the authorities and service providers tend to close an eye?

EU driving licence, signed and with photo, is a valid id

 

[Bradypus]

EU driving licence, signed and with photo, is a valid id

Not so. Here is advice from a Spanish legal firm specialising in serving foreign residents in Spain. It is quite explicitly stated that a driving licence is not an acceptable alternative and gives a reference to the specific section of Spanish law which applies. https://www.spanishsolutions.net/legal-issues-in-spain/carrying-id-in-spain/
And similar advice from another website for ex-pats in Spain:. http://www.rondatoday.com/carrying-id-when-living-in-spain/

 

[Kaiur]

This may be the case if the driving licence is issued in Spain and used in Spain. Or issued in France and used in France ... see @MinaKamina's message number 5 in this thread who has explained it quite succinctly. See also message number 22 which does not support your claim - I harbour the strong suspicion that @Thomas1962 did not present a Spanish driving licence.

All EU citizen have the same drive licence model, and is recognized as valid driving licence in others EU countries ( Directive 2006/126/EEC ). There are countries in EU that not have id card. Some hospitaleros could ignore that the EU driving licence (signed and foto like the EU model) is a valid id.

 

[Kaiur]

I give up, secure in the knowledge that @tomas.on.the.road from the Czech Republic will take his Občanský průkaz with him and will leave his passport at home. And will keep us in the dark about where his driving licence will be.

PS: Little insider joke with myself: 2006/126/EEC is a wrong number. I noticed this immediately, without even googling.

2006/126/EC or 2006/126/CE sorry for the other "E"

One of the reasons for the unification of the EU driving Licence, was the posibility for id because there was countries that no have id card.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Our driving licences are not sufficient ID, we have to carry either full ID cards or our passports. All for greater security reasons. We have some pre-bookings this year which are making this very clear.

 

[Kaiur]

Our driving licences are not sufficient ID, we have to carry either full ID cards or our passports. All for greater security reasons. We have some pre-bookings this year which are making this very clear.

Then it´s clear, no discussion, but is absurd. Spanish can proof id with the EU drive licence, can vote with the EU drive licence, can check in hotels with EU drive licence; if all EU drive licence are reciprocally recognized for all members, why drive licence is not valid for that purpose, especially for that countries that not use id card

 

[arturo garcia]

I´ve been managing a Private Albergue for 3 years and counting, in the meseta, and talking with the "GUARDIA CIVIL" of spain I found out this:
Every Pilgrim has to register with a physical Official passport or Id for the check in:
-ONLY Spaniard citizens can check with Passport, driving license or ID (DNI)
-European Union citizens can check with Passport or ID (No Driving license allowed)
-rest of the World should check in with Passport. (No ID or driving license allowed)
Note: If the person has lost its ID, Passport during the trip Have to go to Guardia Civil office and report it, with the report note from the police can Check in at the Albergue. (only that way).

When you go into the app to fill the information of the Day and you try to put a drivers license number of a non Spanish pilgrim it is not accepted by the App.

Every Albergue has 24 hrs after the pilgrim´s check in to send that info to the Guardia Civil;
That can be done via App in the computer that is connected to the police system or
Sending the physical questionary to the police office. (one for each pilgrim)
If the Albergue don´t do this process can get a Penalty Fee. (they audit randomly).

This year All Albergues has to be registered and follow the Data Protection Act.


In our Albergue we follow strictly these rules (Albergue San Miguel, Hospital de Orbigo)

Buen Camino

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

EU driving licence, signed and with photo, is a valid id

No way , sorry .

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

especially for that countries that not use id card

Than you use a passport .

 

[arturo garcia]

If your country use ID but is not part of the European Union you cannot check in at the Albergue. The Guardia Civil App doesn´t accept it.

 

[HenkSlb]

On two different caminos the Guardia Civil asked me explicitly for my (EU) passport. So it's not only necessary for a sleeping place.

 

[JabbaPapa]

You do technically need a valid passport, even though multiple tolerances exist, especially within Schengen, including the fact that passports beyond their expiration date continue for some years to be defined in international Law as ID documents even though they are no longer travel ones.

Within those tolerances though, in the Schengen zone, any valid and current ID document of EU origin should do.

 

[AJGuillaume]

Switzerland is part of the Schengen area, but not part of the EU, and we have ID cards issued at the same time as our passports.
I am not sure about the info that only EU ID cards are accepted. I am assuming that as long as you have an ID card issued in a country within the Schengen area, you should not have problems checking in to albergue, hotels, etc.

 

[AJGuillaume]

I´ve been managing a Private Albergue for 3 years and counting, in the meseta, and talking with the "GUARDIA CIVIL" of spain I found out this:
Every Pilgrim has to register with a physical Official passport or Id for the check in:
-ONLY Spaniard citizens can check with Passport, driving license or ID (DNI)
-European Union citizens can check with Passport or ID (No Driving license allowed)
-rest of the World should check in with Passport. (No ID or driving license allowed)
Note: If the person has lost its ID, Passport during the trip Have to go to Guardia Civil office and report it, with the report note from the police can Check in at the Albergue. (only that way).

When you go into the app to fill the information of the Day and you try to put a drivers license number of a non spaniard pilgrim it is not accepted by the App.


Every Albergue has 24 hrs after the pilgrim´s check in to send that info to the Guardia Civil;
That can be done via App in the computer that is connected to the police system or
Sending the physical questionary to the police office. (one for each pilgrim)
If the Albergue don´t do this process can get a Penalty Fee. (they audit randomly).

This year All Albergues has to be registered and follow the Data Protection Act.


In our Albergue we follow strictly these rules (Albergue San Miguel, Hospital de Orbigo)

Buen Camino

@arturo garcia , could you please check if the Swiss ID card is accepted by the Guardia Civil app? I have now checked with Swiss authorities and the local Spanish consulate, and both advise that a Swiss ID card is all that is required to travel in the whole Schengen area, and in Spain.
Thank you in advance!

 

[arturo garcia]

Hi Guillaume, I had had many pilgrims from Switzerland and the ID Card is fine with the APP. No problem and no need for passport in that case.

Buen Camino!

 

[AJGuillaume]

Hi Guillaume, I had had many pilgrims from Switzerland and the ID Card is fine with the APP. No problem and no need for passport in that case.

Buen Camino!

You made my day @arturo garcia !!! ¡Muchisimas gracias!

 

[domigee]

On two different caminos the Guardia Civil asked me explicitly for my (EU) passport. So it's not only necessary for a sleeping place.

In Spain you are required to carry your identity card at all times, pilgrim or no pilgrim. Same in France.