Any advice for being left photo ID-less in France?

crazymama

DIS Veteran
Joined
Nov 3, 2004
I'm not optimistic that there are any solutions but thought I would throw it out to Disworld!

Here's the abbreviated story... my daughter (19) is au pairing in France. Was on a quick trip to Barcelona on days off. Did very well for two days but then let her guard down in a Starbucks on the night before she went home and was robbed. Lost everything but her passport (thanks be for that!!!). She has cancelled cards and ordered new ones and has called the insurance bureau that issues drivers licenses here (ICBC for fellow Canadians :) ) They are sending a new paper license to her but cannot do photo ID as she has to be in front of their cameras etc etc. Here's what has me so worried... she is there for 6 more months and has nothing but a passport for photo ID. Obviously I do NOT want her using that when out socially etc but I don't know what else she can do.
I have googled but to no avail. Has anyone had any similar challenges? :thanks:
 
I dont drive and have always used my passport for photo ID. She should get a money belt and keep her passport in that under her clothes, instead of keeping it a bag or purse.
 


she does not need embassy or consulate help as she still has her passport. I am from Europe and I have lived in multiple countries in Europe. A passport is the most universally recognised form of photo ID and I have used mine for so much more than just travel. She just needs to be careful and like I said before , wear her passport in a money belt under her clothes.
 
Not canadian but really the passport is the only valid ID when traveling internationally..it's what she should be using anyway.

Was going to say the same thing. My family held carte de séjour, but our American babysitters always just carried their passports. Honestly, it's easier to replace those than a foreign driving license while abroad.
 


The passport IS her only true legal photo ID as a foreign national living abroad. She should scan the photo page and store a copy at a secure location in the cloud, and also send a copy to you for safekeeping, so that if it is lost she can easily get it replaced at the nearest consulate. (They can replace without it, but it's a lot easier and faster to get it done with it.)

I always thought it was just Americans who went all super-secret-squirrel about their passports.
 
She should contact her nearest embassy or consulate. They will be able to assist her

It doesn't sound like they can recommend anything other than to perhaps make a copy of the page of the passport just in case the passport is ever lost or stolen. All I could find was this (Canadian Embassy in UAE), which recommended going to the provincial authority to request a new DL, which was already done.

https://www.canadainternational.gc....s_consulaires/identity-identite.aspx?lang=eng

Apparently they used to have a wallet-sized certificate of citizenship, but that's been discontinued as of 2012.

1514387255319.jpg


It sounds like the newer version is a paper form without a photo.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...news/notices/new-citizenship-certificate.html
Like the plastic card, the new certificate is a legal status document, not an identity document or a travel document. Unlike the plastic card, the new certificate will not contain a photo. The citizenship certificate’s sole purpose is to prove Canadian citizenship.​
 
The only reason she should have had her BC DL with is if she was DRIVING. and even then she probably should have had an INTERNATIONAL DL issued.

Is that necessary in France? I thought that France requires a translation of the DL into French, and most provinces (obviously Quebec) have that already on their DLs. Sorry - looked it up and BC doesn't have French headings.
 
As an American in Germany I can say that the passport is unfortunately the only official form of ID. I do have a German drivers license that I use as an ID And a permanent resident card but even these are not official. But stores were and other places That are non-official accept these for a general confirmation of who I am. Does she have a French Health insurance card with her picture? That is often used in Germany as an unofficial ID. If I were her I would just make a copy of her passport and take a picture of it for her phone and carry that around unless she knows she’s traveling via airports or places where she needs official documentation. But seriously for day-to-day living I never have my passport with me and I’ve been here for 15 years.
 
BTW that sucks about what happened in Barcelona. Happened to a colleague of mine too, he was sitting in a café and his bag was just grabbed
 
Is that necessary in France? I thought that France requires a translation of the DL into French, and most provinces (obviously Quebec) have that already on their DLs. Sorry - looked it up and BC doesn't have French headings.
No our BC DL are not in French unfortunately. I had to get a international permit for that reason when i was last in France.
 
No our BC DL are not in French unfortunately. I had to get a international permit for that reason when i was last in France.

Got it. I suppose getting and IDP makes it far easier than trying to get multiple certified translations. Still - I doubt that most police officers can't figure out what everything on a DL is.
 
I dont drive and have always used my passport for photo ID. She should get a money belt and keep her passport in that under her clothes, instead of keeping it a bag or purse.

Same. When I have had a medical hold on my license I just use my passport for ID. A passport isn't a magic document like some think. It's really no big deal to use it for daily purposes.

ETA: I wear mine in a wristlet, so I would know immediately if it wasn't attached.
 
It doesn't sound like they can recommend anything other than to perhaps make a copy of the page of the passport just in case the passport is ever lost or stolen. All I could find was this (Canadian Embassy in UAE), which recommended going to the provincial authority to request a new DL, which was already done.

https://www.canadainternational.gc....s_consulaires/identity-identite.aspx?lang=eng

Apparently they used to have a wallet-sized certificate of citizenship, but that's been discontinued as of 2012.

1514387255319.jpg


It sounds like the newer version is a paper form without a photo.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...news/notices/new-citizenship-certificate.html
Like the plastic card, the new certificate is a legal status document, not an identity document or a travel document. Unlike the plastic card, the new certificate will not contain a photo. The citizenship certificate’s sole purpose is to prove Canadian citizenship.​
Most Canadians won't have a Citizenship Certificate in either format. They're only issued to people born outside of Canada who become citizens later, like my Chinese-born daughters. Anyone born in Canada, like my husband and I, will have a birth certificate instead.
 
Most Canadians won't have a Citizenship Certificate in either format. They're only issued to people born outside of Canada who become citizens later, like my Chinese-born daughters. Anyone born in Canada, like my husband and I, will have a birth certificate instead.

Not that it would help the OP's daughter's situation, but it was my understanding that the Certificate of Canadian Citizenship can be issued to any Canadian citizen on request. The old card form would have been considered photo ID, although it might not be recognized as valid ID depending on the purpose.
 
Thanks for all the input everyone. Her passport does have her au paire visa in it so it is even more valuable to her... that was a bit of a procedure to get. I think she is just worried about the day to day photo ID... for example when she goes to London to meet up with her best friend and they want to grab a glass of wine. It burns her to be of legal age to order a drink but not be able to prove it... lol! Passport Canada strongly advises against using the passport as proof of age in "establishments." She will get a money belt and we will make sure that we have pictures of all the pages. She's a pretty smart girl and the Starbucks theft was a real eye opener to her. Life lessons!
 
Thanks for all the input everyone. Her passport does have her au paire visa in it so it is even more valuable to her... that was a bit of a procedure to get. I think she is just worried about the day to day photo ID... for example when she goes to London to meet up with her best friend and they want to grab a glass of wine. It burns her to be of legal age to order a drink but not be able to prove it... lol! Passport Canada strongly advises against using the passport as proof of age in "establishments." She will get a money belt and we will make sure that we have pictures of all the pages. She's a pretty smart girl and the Starbucks theft was a real eye opener to her. Life lessons!

Well if she's just wanting to get a drink in France, she won't need ID. Can't speak for London, but there's an entirely different attitude towards that type of thing in Europe in general.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!






Top