I've heard that some European countries are accepting digital copies of passports now instead of physical ones. I'm planning a trip to Spain and France next month and would rather just show my phone instead of carrying my actual passport around. Is this actually accepted at airports and borders, or do I still need the physical document?
Not quite - while some countries have digital passport apps in development, you'll still need your physical passport for EU travel in 2026. Spain and France both require the actual document at borders and airports; a digital copy on your phone won't be accepted as your primary travel document, even though you can keep one as a backup. The safest approach is to carry your real passport and maybe take a photo of it on your phone for reference if needed.
You still need the physical passport for border crossings and airports in Spain and France - a digital copy on your phone isn't accepted as a travel document yet, even though some countries are experimenting with digital ID systems. The safest bet is to carry your actual passport, but keeping a digital photo of it on your phone as a backup is smart if you lose the original while traveling.
Don't count on leaving your physical passport at home - bring it with you, because Spain and France will ask for the actual booklet at border control and you'll get turned away if you only have a screenshot or app on your phone. The gotcha that people miss is that even if you have a digital copy stored somewhere, immigration officers won't accept it as proof of identity or travel authorization, and a phone can die or get lost just like anything else.
Log into answer.
