Do i need a Passport to go from Spain to France?

Question

I am residing in Spain and want to take an overnight train to Paris for a trip. Im going on the hotel train. But Ive lost my passport somewhere and dont have time to apply for a new one. Ive been told that due to schengen i dont actually need a passport and there wont be any checks for any. So i should be fine. Whenever ive been to france ive been asked for my passport number when checking into the hotel. Why is that?

Answer 1

They ask for your passport because the French government wants to know where every foreigner is every single day they are in France.

The information taken by your hotelier is sent to the police every day.

Border control is, however, almost non-existant when traveling within the EU.

NB: If you've managed to lose your passport then getting a new one should be your number one priority right after maintaining homeostasis and remembering to breath.

You may be able to get away without having one for quite some time but the instant you are called on it you will be in such deep trouble you will wish you had never been born.

Answer 2

You will need some identity paper. ID card or passport (or driving licence if you have a photo on it as a last resort). You might not be asked for it crossing the border but it is a legal requirement in France to always have some identity paper on you.

Rillifane is right, getting a new passport, or a paper from you embassy to replace it until you get a new one, should be your priority number one, especially now with all those terrorist high alerts. French police singularly lacks humour or any understanding.

Answer 3

NO

Answer 4

If you are from the European Community, you don't need it. I was in France in July in a hotel and they didn't ask for it.

But if you aren't you will need it

Answer 5

nope both countries are in the eu, therefore you can use a national id card, if spain does these??

Answer 6

Well, they're likely not to check, but as a non EU person, you NEED your passport

Answer 7

Absolutly no !!! That is  why Europe is created.

That's like if you need a passport to go from NYC to Washington

But you'll surely need your id card or driving licence to prove your identity

Answer 8

The answer to your question is *yes*.  Even if you were a citizen of a European Union country (which I'm assuming you aren't), you would need to have a passport in order to prove your citizenship... The only real difference is that People with EU passports are processed much faster when going through checkpoints than someone with an America/Canadian/British passport.  I lived in France for quite a while, and during that time I did a good bit of traveling.  As an American I always need to have my passport and my Carte du Séjour (the card that says you are living there legally) when I crossed the French border either coming or going.  On the other hand when I left France to go on vacation in Scotland with an Irish friend ...  she still had to have her passport examined even though she was a legal citizen of the European Union.  I hope that helps.  In the meantime, getting a replacement passport can take a bit of time so I would recommend reporting the loss of yours tot he nearest American (or your nationality) Consulate as soon as possible.  Because technically, anyone can ask you for verification that you are in Spain legally any time and you would have to supply proof in form of a passport.  While instances of that happening there would be rare - I would recommend not taking any chances.

Best of Luck!