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07-22-06

Passport proxy

A seasoned traveler who ventured further into third world slums than I ever would told me about this nifty trick-of-the-trade. Make a good color copy of your passport, including the covers. Align the inside sheet of your passport data with the outside passport cover sheet. Glue together. Laminate. Score and fold. You now have a fairly official looking travel document.

I have found that for most purposes -- changing money at a bank, rentals, hotel front desks, and even police -- this passport clone is sufficient. You hide or store your real one and use this one for everything else except crossing borders. I don't know why, but most people seem happy to accept it. It may be because it seems like some new futuristic version 2.0 passport and who are they to question it?

(According to the US Passport Agency, it is perfectly legal for you to make a color copy of your passport -- although Kinko's can't -- and in fact they recommend you do so.)

-- KK

 


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Comments

 
#1 | Fri, 09-11-09 09:11
Yecats

In NZ, it is illegal (you could be fined $10,000 or 3 months imprisonment) for colour copying a passport, bank notes or other offical documents.

 
#2 | Sat, 09-12-09 08:18
steve

As the other posters have said, you could end up in big trouble if found with forged documents

 
#3 | Sat, 09-12-09 11:46
Kevin Kelly

Good thing a copy is not a forged document.

 
#4 | Mon, 09-14-09 12:07
kyle

"Good thing a copy is not a forged document."

zzziinng

 
#5 | Thu, 10-08-09 12:00
herb mello

If I was still a bank teller and you presented this "proxy" passport as I.D., I would take it to my supervisor for approval, my supervisor would call the police, and the police would harrass your sorry ass in the parking lot for 45 minutes (at a minumum) and, most likely, take you down to the station.

 
#6 | Thu, 10-08-09 04:27
samples

I've used this trick for years, except that I will include a copy of the current "entry document" and current visa stamp page, as well. This has worked for police stops in several asian countries. This will usually stop the local police from hassling you for ID. I will generally reduce the size to a double-credit card size (still legible) for easy wallet storage.

 
#7 | Thu, 10-08-09 04:29
samples

This is not to be used for "proper" ID at banks and the like.

 
#8 | Fri, 10-09-09 08:52
Kevin Kelly

I'll be sure not to take it to your bank.

 
#9 | Fri, 10-09-09 08:57
Kevin Kelly

Here is where you use it. You are at Huangodzo Lake in China and the bike rental stand wants to hold your passport as collateral while you rent their bike. I see no reason to hand them my real passport, especially if they will accept this one.

 

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