Do they check your passport and residence permit when travelling by train and bus in Europe?

Do they check your passport and residence permit when travelling by train and bus in Europe? - Smiling female passenger wearing trendy plaid coat and white blouse checking passport and ticket standing on pavement near contemporary building of airport

I'm Chinese and currently waiting for my residence permit here in France. I'm not sure if my residence permit will be released before my scheduled trip in Europe. I'm planning to go to Belgium, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Germany and Italy. There is a chance that I will only have my temporary residence permit during my Europe trip. I will travel only by bus and by train. Do they usually check the passport and residence permit in buses/trains? By the way, the visa in my passport is already expired.



Best Answer

There will be occasional checks at least when entering Switzerland, or Germany from Austria/Switzerland, or France from Germany/Switzerland/Italy. However, it's less common on trains than buses.

When entering Switzerland by bus, checks are very common, though not systematic.

I would not recommend you to do this trip if you don't receive your residence permit in time.




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Do they check passport on train in Europe?

Although in most European countries there are no passport border checks, companies can refuse to board you if you do not have a travelling passport (or some other ID proving that you are in Europe legally).

Are passports checked within Schengen?

Part of the Schengen agreement also has provisions for allowing individual member states to temporarily reinstate border controls in certain circumstances. In addition, expect random passport checks when crossing borders at any time, as well as when boarding a plane at the airport.

Is there passport control between EU countries?

Since no checks are carried out at the borders between Schengen Member States, EU countries have decided to join forces to attain the objective of improving security through efficient external border controls, while still facilitating access of persons who have a legitimate interest to enter the EU territory.

Does Eurostar check passports?

Eurostar check-in processEurostar passengers require a valid passport or identity card.



THE SCHENGEN ZONE TRAVEL EXPLAINED - DIGITAL NOMAD TV




More answers regarding do they check your passport and residence permit when travelling by train and bus in Europe?

Answer 2

There are random checks on both buses and trains. I've had my passport checked when traveling by train from Germany to France and when traveling by bus from Austria to Germany. I also had my passport checked almost every time when traveling to Switzerland, but the last time I went there was 8 years ago.

These checks are seemingly random, and (other than Switzerland) they happened to me less than 5% of the times I traveled across borders within the EU. I suspect checks are more common on trains and buses that are suspected of carrying passengers coming from eastern Europe, but I don't know that for sure.

If you have a temporary residence permit that is valid the entire time you are traveling, then that should be good enough. It shows that you have permission to be there.

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