Requirement to carry passport

Provided you have this done correctly it is accepted in Spain, I have done it, and mine was accepted, I can also legally  sign copies of UK passports.

This requirement sounds a bit unreasonable, just imagine all the tourists who spend time on the beach - I hardly think it's common that all those people on the beach will have a passport on them. Especially the part where they say "they can detain you". Perhaps authorities can order you to present valid documentation (if needed in some situations) in 24h at the local police station - that's more realistic.

I am sure you are right Baz. 
 

 I had a copy of my marriage cert copied by a townhall. A funcionario then certified the copy of the copy was a 'true copy of the original'    
 

I sent that to DWP .  It was accepted as a true copy of the original.  Had they realised what had happened it would not have been accepted.  That does not prove what I did was legal or correct, albeit that it was not illegal 

the property agent

"This requirement sounds a bit unreasonable"

That as maybe, but it does not change the law of spain 

This message was last edited by johnzx on 11/02/2020.

This message was last edited by johnzx on 11/02/2020.

So the law of Spain now lays citizens at increased risk of theft ( classic example on the beach) if the passport has to be carried at all times for all those who have not acquired a legal copy recognised in Spain? And the copy of copies is another possible route to fraud?

Has this been thought through in terms of potentially increasing fraudulent activities, or equally worrying, is this seen as a means of fining citizens and acquiring extra monies for the Police? Or is this unlikely John given your earlier reassurances that the Police will in reality allow you time to produce documents ( in some instances of heightened suspicion requiring them to accompany you) if you suggest that you felt at risk carrying your docs with you at all times?

This message was last edited by ads on 11/02/2020.

Ads.  Let's keep this real.    What happens in everyday life.

In practice all cases where  a non Spaniard is found to be indocumentada no action is taken.  But in cases where the police need power to arrest because of the law they can choose to do so

In 24 years of close association with the police in spain I have been present when people attending the police station have not had their passport.  Although in the early days they were often sent to back to their home or hotel to get it, I have never known any legal action being taken 

The point here was,  what is required by law.  In that context I would not say don't bother to carry your passport.  However if a person chooses to do that, no problem, their choice.  However my advice is do not expect to get away with not having it at say the police station, notary, court, interview with Hacienda, etc 

What happens where the hotel takes your passport off you and keeps it overnight? Is that to keep you in the hotel to spend more money at the pool bar?

Ok John. Thanks.

I just saw this on the U.K. gov advice page:-
 

Licences and documentation

To drive a car or a motorcycle over 125cc in Spain you must be 18 years of age or above, and at least 16 years old to ride a motorcycle up to 125cc. You must carry a valid driving licence, proof of insurance and proof of identity at all times.
 

That would seem to confirm that a U.K.  DL is not ID

Travel documents within Europe

You will need an ID card or passport if you are travelling within the European Union. And not just when you cross a border (for example, via an airport). You must also be able to show an ID card or passport if you are staying in a European country.

Sadly no Embassy/Consulate including Spain or any EU authority will tell you what is a valid ID document. They may tell you what isn’t. This could be one for Dusty Bin.

Travel documents within Europe

Some countries have just passports whilst other have passports and ID cards. 

I have an Irish passport.  I could apply for an Irish ID card too.   To travel within the EU I can choose  to use either my Irish Passport or an Irish ID card.

The UK of course do not have ID cards, thus the document required to travel outside UK to the EU is a UK passport (travel document).  .

Non EU nationals who legally reside in Spain have a Residencia card.  Brits until April 2007 used to have Residencia cards too, until the EU forced Spain to abolish them.  It  bears the holder’s photo and on the reverse an index finger print. They are valid travel documents within the EU.  

Brits resident in Spain may also be required,  after the Brexit implementation period, to have a Residencia again, in place of the green paper cert they now have.

Yes John

‘’Brits resident in Spain may also be required,  after the Brexit implementation period, to have a Residencia again, in place of the green paper cert they now have.’’

I bet some Spanish bureaucrat is frothing at the mouth to get stuck into that jobs worth exercise. What’s it matter, green paper cert or ID card. About time the world got busy feeding the starving and homeless instead of shuffling useless paper at €40,000 a year and company car.

I very much doubt any Spanish funcionario earns €40,000 a year and drives a company car. If they did, they might not be such pig-headed a-holes. But that's not the subject here.

What exactly is the point of this thread? The point of the quoted article in the Olive Press appears to me just to be to fill some column inches with a non-story, (which was originally lifted from that great purveyor of non-stories and fake news, The Sun) so why start a pi55ing contest here about it - other than to fill some forum bandwidth?

The Foreign Office advice referred to was specifically aimed at soccer fans (who presumably need to be reminded of some fairly basic common sense facts) traveling to Spain this month: "you must provide ID (your passport) if requested by a police officer. The police have the right to hold you at a police station until your identity is confirmed".

I would imagine very similar advice will be issued next week for fans traveling to Germany, where the standing advice is "if you’re asked to show your passport and you don’t have it with you, the police may escort you to wherever your passport is being kept so that you can show it to them." 

So what exactly is the story here? If you go abroad, take your passport, and expect to have to produce it if asked to by anyone in authority? Hold the front page....!

This message was last edited by Roberto on 11/02/2020.

I fully agree Roberto. Some of it seems nonsense, Burt and Maude can’t take their passports to the beach but they can take their £300 iphones, purse and wallet with credit cards, and pack of 20 Marlborough.

I do not see why ID cards were ever invented other than a job creation scheme. Everyone going abroad has a passport, and for the stay at homes have a birth certificate. Why didn’t they make passports compulsory at 18 years, how many ID documents does anyone need?

All a waste of time and money. Perhaps if it was no passport a night in the cells, that might change some attitudes.

In 24 years I cannot remember a Spaniard coming to the police station (commisaria) without their DNI (legal ID).

That also applies to almost all other nationalities, except the British, and the others do not complain they are required to do so.   It is only the Brits who are constantly complaining they are required to comply with a law which 'does not exist in U.K. '

When I visit another country I try to comply with their rules and regulations.  If I did not want to do so, I would not go there.

Roll on Brexit !

The only reason you can't remember a Spaniard not to have ID is because they are required to carry it at all times, same probably goes for many other countries and nationalities, except of course the UK..England which we don't have as a formal ID in the true sense of the word, doesn't mean we, the British, don't carry many forms of ID in one shape or another.

The majority of Brits were not against having ID cards, and to give you a idea how stupid this is here, When I was asked for ID, 'Of any type'  the chap said, I produced my Firearms Certifcate, issued and signed by the police with photo and address, no good he said, so I showed my EX military ID, no good he said, I showed him another form of ID, not telling you what, no good he said, so I gave him my old passport with the corners cut of...Fully accepted.

Many Brits, and probably many more then you, I know have never complained when asked to present some form of ID, so don't make out it's only the Brits who complain all the time.

You might comply with other countries rules and regulations but it would be wise to remember many Brits only come to Spain for perhaps two weeks holiday, is it not possible that they either don't know of Spain's rules and reg's, or just innocently forget to carry either Passport, or ID of some sort.

Another stupid comment 'Roll on Brexit'...You might not need us for our exports, but you sure a hell will need us for the money Spain wont receive from the UK when it gets into full swing.

Baz. "The only reason you can't remember a Spaniard not to have ID is because they are required to carry it at all times"

Thanks. 

That applies to everyone in spain.  So why do brits keep moaning about it ?

That applies to everyone in spain.  So why do brits keep moaning about it ?

Read my post carefully, it explains everything you need to know, and answers all your questions.