Ooo I wouldn't have thought so. Think of the security implications.

Kath x

It is a legal requirement that you carry some form of identifcation at all times in Spain. We carry photocopies of our passports.

I thought of that too but i think it was the crime programme and it said in Spain you need to carry passports at all times so was just checking what everyone else does. I usually go to tenerife

Well it looks like it's photocopy of them then.

Thaks Mike.

I usually carry my driving licence in my bag.

Kath x

Sorry, I can't copy and paste to quote on this Spanish keyboard...
Absolute rubbish, it is not a legal requirement to carry ID, unless you are Spanish, as the Spanish have ID cards.
I'm not quite sure about residents.

The only people who might be required to carry Id are let's say "arabic" looking people and immigrants, since the Madrid bombings, but certainly not British tourists....that may change when Britain gets ID cards in the future.
Illegal immigrants are looking for British passports to "doctor", so keep your passport where it belongs...in the SAFE.
I carry a photocopy of my passport for convenience and nothing more.
Convenience that should anything happen to me, then the police have an idea who I am/was and will be able to contact my next of kin.

sanji

It isn't "absolute rubbish" as you so rudely put it. You should check your facts first, paying particular attention to the last sentence of the quote below from the UK Foreign Office website:-

Identification
"From 28 March 2007, all EU citizens planning to reside in Spain for more than three months are required to register in person at the Foreigner's Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) in their province of residence or at designated Police stations. However, they will no longer be issued with a residence card and, instead, will be issued a certificate stating their name, address, nationality, identity number and date of registration. The certificate serves as confirmation that the registration obligation has been fulfilled, but the local authorities do not recognise it as a valid form of identification and EU nationals are not obliged to keep the certificate with them. However, in Spain there is a requirement to carry ID at all times, so you should carry your passport or other photographic ID with you."

Residents, or staying more than 3 months...not British tourists going for a fortnightly jaunt.

sanji

Is there really any need to be quite so rude to each other. You may have a difference of opinion or conflicting information but please keep it friendly.

Sarah

Apologies I wasn't being personal Mike. it was directed more at the media or in this case the crime programme. telling people mis information.
Please accept my apologies, I can't quote on this keyboard, half the keys don't work.
The last sentence is referring to EU citizens planning to reside in Spain or be there more than 3 months.... which the whole quote is talking about, as it is compulsory to carry the ID cards that Spaniards have had for years.
It may be advisable to carry some form of ID for personal information EG: should you be in an accident, but it is not compulsory for British tourists going for two weeks holiday....

Sanji

Google comes up with 100's of websites which say that everyone, including tourists, must carry ID at all times. A couple of examples:-

http://www.thisistravel.co.uk/travel/guides/article.html?in_page_id=101&in_article_id=20269

http://www.littlehotels.co.uk/notes.php

The original question was asking about passports...
It is only compulsory to have ID if you are considered a resident , are working here, or here in excess of 3 months.....

Not my words, actually a Thomson reps words, she has to carry her passport because she is working here ...I've also asked someone who takes British passports off tourists daily.....
This is one of the reasons why you cannot book an holiday more than 3 months and 2 days...you would then be classed as a resident and will need some form of ID.

The TO's advise you to keep your passport safe, otherwise why are none of the TO's telling tourists to carry it around with you. ?

Sorry, but I don't see why me and others who have been banging on in this forum for over 2 years, advising people to keep their passport safe and some website and TV programme says different.

Fine by me, if people want to carry their passports around with them, but I know the law and carrying ID for British tourists is not compulsory...it might be advisable, but it is not compulsory...passports must be carried ONLY if you are driving a car.

Sanji

ZZZZzzzz....

thanks everyone.

Mike there really wasn't any need for that.

Hi folks...

Heated thread here..

The law here is Spain is that everyone regardless of race or how long they are here for (2 weeks or 2 years) has to carry some form of credible ID.
Perhaps the Thompsons rep advises not to carry passports around as she doesn't want to be dealing with tourists with stolen passports, make a photo copy and keep that with you.
However the chances of you being stopped and asked for ID by the Police are probably 1 in a billion ..lol...

For a holiday rep to say that the law is something different for holiday makers is quite bizzare, does she also say that the Non smoking in public places doesn't apply to holiday makers ??.

Anyone that can read Spanish can have a look here at the link taken from Government web site, scroll down to Artículo 11.

http://www.mir.es/SGACAVT/derecho/lo/lo01-1992.html

most definately a heated debate. I can confirm that it is a legal requirement to carry your id at ALL times. i learnt this first hand from the police on the costa del sol, i was the victim of a vicious crime, i had to attend a preliminary hearing and as i turned up without my passport the case could not go any further. I then enquired with the police as to what the law was about always having your passport on you as i had been involved in many heated debates about it (a bit like what's going on here), they informed me that IT IS LAW, whether there for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month! we always keep our passports locked away safely but now we have scanned them, reduced to credit card size and carry that copy in our wallets, and yes..we have been asked for them, sometimes when making large purchases by credit card in stores we have been asked for id.

i joined this forum for friendly advice and to share my thoughts and experiences on the costa del sol, not to see adults involved in aoverheated, childish, war of words! let's keep it friendly eh!!

As the Thomson rep explained....
You have your passport checked at check-in, at passport control and before boarding the plane, then you may have to hand your passport over at the hotel...in Thomsons case or any other TO, they are guaranteeing the Spanish government that you have a valid passport and ID....guaranteeing is the word she used.
The foreign office tell you to not carry your passport around with you, the TO's tell you not too and nowhere do they say that you must carry ID.
Attending a court hearing, or buying by credit card then yes you will need your passport.....

Someone show me where a British TO says that you must carry your passport around with you. ? or it is compulsory to carry ID.?
I'm not disputing Costachick's link, but someone show me where the foreign office advice is to carry your passport around with you.?

Sanji

Is Spanish law written by the Bristish TO or the Thomson rep ??..No..

Spanish law states that any forienger found on Spanish territories needs to have on them at all times a credible from of identification.
I can totaly see the point of advising people not to carry passports on them but what they should also be doing is advising people of a certain countires laws regarding ID and advising the people traveling to make photo copies and laminate them so that if needed they can show this..

Costachick, of course the Spanish law is not written by anyone but the Spanish, but we don't have ID cards and therefore a British passport might be the only ID we have.
Now as much as Thomson or any other TO likes to fly you to Spain, they also want to fly you back and from the moment you step off the plane until the moment you step back on it, your health, safety and welfare is the complete responsibility of the TO.
TO's are guaranteeing the Spanish government that they will only fly people into Spain after 3 checks and that they have valid ID.

Because they are totally responsible for their clients safety, they don't want people being mugged for British passports and neither do the Spanish government, afterall high crime statistics don't attract customers to Spain do they.?

It may be the Spanish law, but I as a tourist, have to take the advice of the TO and the Foreign Office...maybe you should be asking the Spanish Government what agreeement they have come too with the British Foreign office, instead of asking me. ?

Or maybe you should be asking the TO's why they are guaranteeing your ID when flying you into Spain.?

Funny you mentioned cigarettes...the Britsh Customs quote 3,200 as a guideline, but Spain has a law that only 800 can be taken out of the country.

Yes, people should be advised to laminate a copy, but the Spanish police will only frogmarch them back to their hotel to produce the passport anyway.

Sanji