Must foreigners carry a passport at all times?

Why do they need to? - Every German has an ID, every non-German MUST have a passport (or they should not be here in the first place). Being permitted to live here has nothing to do with identification. Tourists may not be permitted to live here, but they still must have an ID/passport...

YL6

The point isn't being here, it's living here. Most countries issue some sort of ID for residents. Germany has an ID which could be used for foreign residents but they refuse to issue it to anyone but citizens.

woof.

But I don't see why they need to - the passport does perfectly well!

I do not carry my passport and I never will unless I am expecting to cross borders. I speak German and I own a house here. If that is not good enough, then I don't know what is.
I don't really care about or think that I need a PA. I have my driver's license and my mouth and that is big enough for Germany.

no it doesn't or we wouldn't be having this discussion..A passport is a totally inpractical form of ID. It also does not give your place of residence, so it would even be beneficial to the Police if johnny foreigner were issued a Personalausweis.

Carrying around a blocky passport in your pocket all the time is definately quite annoying.

I can't stand carrying around a wallet (instead, a card holder with some cash), let alone a bulky passport. I'm with the people who take the chance with a photocopy and a drivers license. I doubt anything major would happen, phoning in to confirm information sounds practical if the cops are in doubt.

People like me who like to go out and have fun every now and then are doomed if we carry our passports with us all the time. They are such a hassle to get a replacement -- and costly, too.

BTW: Is it really impossible for an EU national to receive a German personalausweis?

@Chris, no, my mate from Scotland was offered one (sorry Dawg).

When I lived in France a few years ago they issued foreigners with a Carte de Séjour which apparently could be used as ID (not that I was ever asked to show it). However, it was the same size as a passport (although not as thick, just a laminated plastic card) so it wasn't much more convenient than a passport anyway in terms of fitting it in your pocket/wallet/handbag.

By the way, I do carry my passport here because quite often when buying things in town with an EC card you have to show ID (at H&M for example). Also when picking up parcels at the post office. The only thing that flummoxes the locals is that there's no address on your passport.

Who do they work for? As Katrin pointed out, some NGOs are allowed to apply for Sonderausweise from Berlin for non-German resident citizens.

I read the thread. It was a plain old pass and he is unemployed.

Hey there,

Well i thought it was totally weird to when i arrived however after being here just over a year i can see why. Where we come from there is less chance of people being illegal immigrants and so fourth but if you look at it this way... Germany is surrounded by many countries and very close to many eastern countries. And therefore the control is strict. Living in Australia for most of my life i have never ever EVER used my passport. My driving licence was always my passport. If i travelled ok it was different but thats it!

And the transport connections in and out of germany are far more accessible by foreign countries... In Austria (where i lived before coming here) was far worse. I was controlled on the UBAHN, and not to mention if there was a scuffle (which barely happens in the sleepy town of Vienna) those in the area looking a little out of place will be demanded to show there passport.

hmmm

Hi everyone, I did read somewhere that carrying a photocopy plus an "official" document was OK. It is true that the police can stop you any time, but only my "non-German-looking" friends have actually experienced it. But if you have a traffic or parking violation, it will be the first thing the Polizei ask for.

My Sonderausweis states it's to be used in conjunction with a passport. Is yours the same? I only carry my Sonderausweis but leave my passport at home.

Incidently, after reading this thread I'm a little confused. Don't foreign citizens working here get something similar to an ausweis? Is that why they require a passport as ID? (since I was issued with a sonderausweis I automatically thought everyone was issued with one/or something similar).

EU citizens used to have to get an Aufenhthaltserlaubnis (residence permit), which had a photo and could usually be used as ID (I often used it when collecting packages from the post office) but that has since been replaced with another type of document that doesn't have a photo and thus can't be used as ID. Jeeves wrote about it here:

I personally never carry my passport & residence permit around any more. Used to, but then I got a german drivers license and have been using it as ID for a couple of years with no problems.

Pretty sure the previous comments about the passport being the only official form of ID (for brits) are correct, but in practise I think in most cases when you have to ID yourself on the street the residence permit or drivers license will be sufficient. I suppose it depends on how much of a jobsworth the Beamter is.

two weeks before holidays my took my passport and put it away so I wouldn't lose it, good idea except she didn't tell me and gave me a major panic attack thinking I had lost the damm thing.

After being picked up on the street because they matched the description of supects who were wanted for stealing cars, Swedish friends of mine spent a night in jail in Munich because they didn't have an ID with them. They were not treated kindly...It was a long time ago, but since then, I've carried an ID in my bag. I've only had to show it once -- Christmas Eve 15 years ago when I forgot my S-Bahn ticket!

I have lived in Munich for more than 3.5 years and never carried my passport with me and never been asked for it... Seems to me that every time I have seen the police stopping someone and asking for a passport, they all tend to be Arab/Muslim-looking... or is that just coincidence? Would definitely carry it if you *are* Arab-looking...

Which reminds me of a funny situation with a dumb American employee of our company... Our boss suggested that if he was every stopped on the Ubahn without a ticket to give a false name and address... His name was Jesse Perrin and one time was stopped and had no ticket... They asked his name and he told them "Jesus Peron" and apparently they just pissed themselves laughing and didn't believe him... Police were called but he had no passport on him. His passport had been left at work and the police escorted him there to collect it... The bosses saw the funny side anyway

I just carry my US drivers licence and my university card. that works, although i have never been stopped.

I carry my Dennis the Menace stripey-jumper club membership card and as long as I'm not stopped it works too.

I have been told that all foreigners in Germany must carry their passport with them at all times. Is this correct??

Apparently this is so they can prove they are legally entitled to be here. ie proof of residence etc.

Germans I know are in disagreement over whether it is Compulsory to carry their Ausweis at all times or simply Highly Recommended.

I suppose if all foreigners are supposed to carry their passport, in practise they only check people who obviously look like they come from Africa or some eastern european countries.

Maybe the rule depends on which policeman stops you?

Topics merged by admin

I never carry mine I am too scared of losing it

Yes in theory, no in practice

You should have some form of ID with you though; it's the law, dontcha know.

See also the related topic: Carrying ID

they have never had a problem with my driver's license...but I usually carry a photocopy of my passport, too (certainly when I'm working)

...and yeah, there's gotta be a thread on this already...

Like Rus, I don't carry mine either cause I'm afraid of losing it. I carry my Nevada driver's license. No one seems to care except the guy at the video store. He said it wasn't a proper "Ausweis." Don't know why he thinks he's so important.

BTW, thanks for reminding me.. I have to pack my passport for my trip to Rome tomorrow

Had exactly the same problem. Have used my Aufenhalterlaubnis and driving license as ID with everyone from banks to cops and only the video store bloke rejected them. It wasn't a video place in Laim by any chance?

Since the bayern ticket requires the signature as of this past year I had to validate that is was my ticket on the way home. I gave my Oregon License, passport, and my credit card with my picture ID on it. He still wouldnt accept it. I finally got pissed and said very loud " How many fucking Germans do you Know that go by Ambr*** J*** Barb***?" He accepted then.

*Yes I had been drinking a little that night* Thank you Hazza

Germans must carry a form of ID from 16 on, generally it is their Personalausweis.

perdido, i had exaclty the same experience with dhl or some nob like that and in frustration used the same line except adding "who live in effing freising?". surprisingly, it worked too.

I've been asked by police to identify myself a few times - usually after noise complaints at The Arc and once when I witnessed an assault. Each time I didn't have my passport and they didn't seem to care. They just asked for my details and I gave them - no warning or anything about having to carry ID...

Oh, and I can't hang out anywhere near the Outland bar, or a cop'll ask me for my ID...they're nice about it...but it's fucking weird that I've never been asked anywhere else...yet every time I'm near there...

I've got a german driver's license though, so that makes it more of a hassle since they then do not believe me that I don't speak german.

hey mike, i think i can explain why you get that treatment - and i mean this with all respect: see, there are three platzes in the area: Ostbahnhof, Weißenburg and Parissen (sp??). these tend to be congrigation (sp?) points for scruffy looking people, who wear black leather jackets, various beat-up hats, drink in public, and generally frighten the local old ladies (simply by being different). and sorry as I am to say it (dude, you're cool, and I dig hang'n out with ya) but I can see how a cop might think, from your looks, that you are one of the hang-out folks. ... what can ya do?

Such as...? And what is it that makes their origin so obvious?

You are not required by law to carry any form of ID, however if asked for any by the piggies you must show it at a piggie-station within 3 days. Or if they wish to really piss you off, they can demand you get in the piggie-transport and off you go to your house/flat/park bench. If you want to be a smart arse you can ask the piggie for his/hers/it`s ID, they are required to prove their ID before dragging your arse off to the pokey, but strangely enough no one asks for them to show it. The Kripo have a small metal disk which they flash in your face before duffing you up and saying you resisted arrest. Does anybody have the feeling I don`t like cops. You`re right, I don`t. Any cops reading this please note... What am I saying??? They can`t read.

I think you and I might get along Sea King. After practicing Criminal Law for several years I founf I liked the criminals (alleged) more than I ever thought and despised the cops. They lie like bastards, goes for prosecutors also.

Maybe have a word with these guys. They come highly recommended.

been stopped 3 times by the police now asking for my passport allways by undercover ones in the ubahn stations too.
first time no idea what was happening and it was an empty UBahn thought i was gonna get mugged
I allways give them my MVV card with my picture on and that seems to satisfy them but they all give me the same lecture that theyll let me off this one time and that i should use my passport

I would just post a smiley in this post, but then the moderators would remove it, so I won't.