When do you need to use a passport? Most people may think that traveling abroad is the only reason to need a Passport. Yes and no. When you travel to other countries, you must first show your valid passport, and then you are allowed to enter any other country in the world. A passport is the only acceptable document that allows you to stay in other countries. It’s not the only time you need a passport. There are many reasons why you need a passport in your life. In this article, we will show you when you need a passport and why.
What is a passport?
As we all know, passports are official documents issued by the government, allowing citizens to show and prove their identity and citizenship while traveling abroad. A passport document usually includes the holder’s name, address, date of birth, photograph, signature and other basic biometric data. Therefore, officials can clearly check your identity and allow your entry despite customs without any trouble.
Take a Passport as a Traveling Document
As a matter of fact, the most important and popular reason to have a passport is when you need to travel abroad, allowing you to enter other countries. There are also some different situations where you need to show your passport when traveling. Let’s read below.
International Travel
Most countries have clear and strict rules that allow you to enter the country with a valid passport. No matter which transport you choose, by plane, boat, train or car, you must show your identical passport to customs officials. Otherwise, you will be refused entry to this country because you have failed to show a valid passport document. Everyone must strictly observe this rule. Of course, if you can’t show the valid passport file before boarding the plane, you will also be denied boarding the plane.
Passports don’t just work at customs. When you travel to another country, passports will work as an international identification document. If you are in trouble or going to specific places, you need to show your legal citizenship with this important international security booklet.
Schengen Area Travelling
The Schengen Area is a special place that allows you to move in or travel freely without a passport if your country is a member country. Most countries in the European Union follow this principle, such as Italy, Finland, France, Spain, Denmark and Poland. You don’t need to show your passport and explain why you’re here. And you can stay there as long as you can when you travel through the member’s border.
However, if you are not a citizen of the Schengen area member countries, you still need to take your passport and Schengen area visa when traveling to EU countries. Ireland is a member of the EU, but not in the Schengen area. You are not allowed free passage on these borders.
Anyway, we highly recommend that you always carry your passport with you as you have a new plan to travel to other countries. Or you can use it as your backup identification in case your other ID cards get lost or stolen.
Domestic Traveling
When it comes to domestic travel, you don’t need a passport with you. Traveling in your own country of origin will be easier than international travel. Usually, you don’t need a passport to travel through cities in most countries. But in some cases, you are required to show some kind of ID, such as a government-issued ID card and driver’s license if you’re traveling by car, though.
Take a Passport as an Identification Document
A passport doesn’t only work when you travel internationally. Surprisingly, you can take a passport as an identification document in some countries that do not issue national identification documents for their citizens, such as India, Denmark, New Zealand, Japan and Australia. In these countries, you can take a passport or driver’s license as your national ID to verify your citizenship. Especially when you go to a club, buy alcohol, buy a ticket or do things that are only allowed among adults, you need to show your identification to prove that you are an adult if you have a baby face. Otherwise, you are not allowed to do this or you may get into trouble. In addition, in some countries, such as the UK, you can use a valid passport to confirm your identification document when you get married, such as your name and nationality.
Can I enter a casino with a valid passport?
When you travel to other countries, you may be curious about local casinos, such as Las Vegas. Yes, if you are under 21, you can’t buy and consume alcoholic beverages, or gamble. If you have a baby face, they need to check your passport. If you are over 21, you are allowed to enter a casino.
Can I travel to other countries without a passport?
It depends on which country you go to. If you are a citizen of the Schengen Area and travel between Schengen Member States, you do not need to take your passport. However, if you are traveling to other countries, the passport is the only approved document that allows you to enter the Non-Schengen Area.
Can I use an expired passport to travel internationally?
Absolutely not. If you have an expired or significantly damaged passport, it won’t be accepted at the border. You can get in trouble if your passport gets expired, lost or stolen while traveling in other countries. Here you need to replace a new one as soon as possible, in case you are not allowed to enter the country.
Closing Thoughts
All in all, the main use of a passport is for travel documents and proof of identity. You will find that it is very important for you to have a passport, especially when you are preparing to travel internationally or when you need to take it as an identification document in case your other ID gets lost or stolen. Therefore, you should take good care of your passport. If you find it expired soon or get lost, remember to reapply for a new passport as soon as possible.
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