Will I Need My Passport?

[LadyCG]

We've booked a day trip for our break next week which will mean crossing over into Lithuania from Latvia. Will I need to take my passport with me? The Tour Operator makes no mention of this.

Thanks.

[bednobs]

it's probably safer to keep it on you.

[naomi24]

Strange question. I certainly wouldn’t leave mine behind.

[LadyCG]

Thank you, bednobs.

[calmck]

Yes you will. I always have a notarised copy of my passport with me as some hotels keep your passport until you check out

[LadyCG]

Thanks, Calmck.

I did google earlier and found this, but the responses are a bit mixed:

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g274960-i1133-k6136898-Latvia_to_Lithuania-Latvia.html

[douglas9401]

Maybe they haven't updated their advice since we left the EU, when there would have been no need.

[LadyCG]

The itinerary for this trip is a fairly new one, Douglas, so the write up will not be too ancient.

[Old_Geezer]

Make sure it has enough time left on it too. Just because the UK considers a passport ok, doesn't mean a foreign government necessarily will.

[LadyCG]

Thanks, OG, we renewed them in 2019 so we've still 6 years left.

[Hopkirk]

Why would you not need to take it? The tour operator probably thought it was obvious.

[Bobbisox1]

I’m not familiar with Latvia/ Lithuania Hoppy or it’s border policies but I do know that crossing from North to South Cyprus , two different countries Turkey and Greece , one time required a passport , I don’t think that the case anymore, the weirdest one is Gibraltar , passport controls of Spain and Britain are within spitting distance of one another ;0)

[New Judge]

Latvia and Lithuania are both signatories to the Schengen agreement. There are no border controls for people moving between Schengen countries. Once you have entered the Schengen area you can move freely between all the member nations.

[jno]

you shouldn't need one. I went on a Helsinki-Tallinn-Riga trip a few years ago (post-Brexit) and didn't have to show my passport anywhere after first arrival. I didn't go to Lithuania but I imagine that would be just the same.

[LadyCG]

Thanks to New Judge and jno - that's more or less what I thought, but just wanted confirmation. I guess that's why it doesn't mention that a passport is required for this trip.

[10ClarionSt]

calmck @ 10.52:

"...some hotels keep your passport until you check out"

I've never handed my passport over at a hotel. I gave them a coloured photo-copy of the page with my photo on and they accepted that.

[calmck]

Yes you gave them a copy that's why I carry a copy but do have it notarised

[Hopkirk]

I would still take it.

[ratulpuri12]

Its better to carry your passport.