How to Keep Your Passport Safe when Traveling (2024)

Support TFG by using the links in our articles to shop. We receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) so we can continue to create helpful free content. We earn from qualifying purchases made to the featured retailers. Thank you, we appreciate your support!

Wondering how to keep your passport secure while having it easily accessible when you need it? This is a great question! My answer varies depending on your situation. Read on to discover our top passport safety tips!

Every traveler’s nightmare is losing their passport or having it stolen. Wherever you travel, losing your passport can completely ruin your trip and make it difficult for you to get home.

Wherever you’re traveling, we’re sharing how to keep your passport safe in these scenarios:

• Going to and from airports
• Traveling by land on trains, cars, or buses
• Crossing the border by land
• When sightseeing

How to Keep Your Passport Safe at Airports

Travelon Anti-Theft Cross-Body Bag

When going through airports, which are generally pretty secure, I keep my passport in my handbag or in an accessible, interior compartment of my daypack. Just to be safe, don’t keep it in the outermost pocket of your bag or in an easily accessible jacket or pant pocket, as convenient as it might be.

When going through security, I make sure my passport is securely zipped in my bag. When on board the flight, I keep my daypack stowed underneath the seat in front of me or hidden underneath my clothing (if necessary).

Check out our round up of the best anti-theft travel bags for women based on the top picks from TFG readers!

Travelon Anti-theft Signature Slim Multipurpose Backpack

What’s a daypack? A daypack is the personal item you choose to add to your capsule wardrobe other than your main luggage. This can be a small backpack, large travel purse, or small carry-on bag.

An anti-theft daypack is a great option for travel, but there are many kinds of anti-theft accessories to meet everyone’s needs. To ensure all your valuables (not just your passport) are secure, the best option is to use a combination of items.

Let’s take a look at the best day bag options for every type of trip!

Compass Rose RFID Secret Bra Wallet

Make sure to use a hidden bra wallet to store your credit cards and cash for everyday use, use another anti-theft accessory of your choosing to store your passport on transit days, and the rest of the time, use a lockable suitcase, safe, or locker to keep your belongings secure inside your accommodation.

Travel Money Belt RFID Blocking Hidden Waist Stash

How to Keep Your Passport Safe On Trains and Land Transportation

Aside from being at the airport, taking transportation to get from point A to B is the only time I carry my passport on me. And because I won’t need to show my passport, I make sure to have it safely hidden within my daypack.

Never, ever, ever store your passport, money, or credit cards in baggage that will be stowed underneath a bus, in the trunk of a shared car service, or in the luggage section of a train. It’s most common that your luggage will get stolen on land transportation, so always keep your valuables on you or hidden deep in your carry-on.

Here’s a roundup of the best money belts and travel accessories to theft-proof your gear!

Underwear with Secret Pocket

If you’re wondering how to protect your passport when traveling in a part of the world where theft is common, I use underwear with hidden pockets. I like these cute boyshort-style travel undies.

If you don’t have underwear with pockets like the ones below, a good option is a secure passport money belt like this.

If you’re looking for clothing designed to protect your belongings, our readers share their recommendations for concealed pocket clothing!

Trench Coat with 20 Secret Pockets

How to Keep Your Passport Safe During Border Crossings By Land

If I’m crossing a border via land, I use EXTRA caution, as some crossings can be very shady. The best way to carry passport while traveling through borders is using travel underwear or a money belt! Just remove it when needed to show the border patrol officer as discreetly as possible.

Passports clothing is another option, and one popular piece that many readers have suggested is this SCOTTeVEST trench coach that has a whopping 20 hidden pockets! You can stroll along fashionably while keeping all of your most valuable items completely safe from pickpockets.

You could also opt for a scarf with a secret pocket. These anti-theft scarves are designed to fit a passport, as well as some other valuable items, and the infinity styles means there’s no risk of it falling off! This is another popular passport traveling scarf.

Read these four travel safety tips and how they could’ve helped me avoid having my bag stolen!

Venture 4th Travel Neck Pouch with RFID Blocking

How to Keep Your Passport Safe When Sightseeing

My passport is ALWAYS locked in my bag at the hotel while I’m sightseeing.Thankfully, this strategy has worked for me during my six years of full-time travel through 36 countries.

I’ve heard countless stories of travelers losing their passports when they’re out at big festivals or street fairs. This is when you’d most want to leave your passport in your accommodation because you’re a prime target for pickpocketing at events with lots of people in close quarters.

I’ve also heard stories of passports getting stolen out of trouser pockets. If you insist on taking your passport out sightseeing with you, keep it hidden under your clothing by using a money belt or travel underwear with pockets. Some travelers prefer neck wallets to hide their passport, like this Neck Stash Hidden security Wallet, claiming that they’re the best way to carry passport and money when traveling!

Please Note: Money belts are to be used only for things you don’t need access to. Keep the cash you’ll need for the day in a wallet and don’t dig into your money belt in public–that defeats the purpose! I see travelers doing this all the time, making them an easy target.

Here are our readers top recommendations for scarves with pockets to help keep your valuables safe!

Samsonite Omni PC International Carry On

How to Keep Your Passport Safe In Your Hotel Room

When figuring out where to keep passport when traveling, remember that most thefts occur from convenience. It’s less likely that a thief will take your entire suitcase out of your room than any cash or credit cards that are sitting out. Hotels don’t want to have a bad reputation, either, so a less obvious theft is easier to deny versus an entire suitcase that suddenly disappears.

Avoid theft by using a suitcase with lockable zippers that can’t easily be pried open. Yes, there are ways to break zippers and sneak into bags, but again, if you don’t have a hotel safe or don’t feel comfortable leaving your passport with reception (if that’s an option), then all you can do is make it more difficult for a thief to break into your bag.

It’s more likely a thief will try to open an unlocked bag than risk getting caught taking time to break into a locked suitcase.

If I hadn’t left my Osprey backpack locked in my hostel in Borneo, my valuables would have been gone when I returned from a scuba diving trip. The Osprey Transporter and the Samsonite Omni PC are both terrific suitcases that have built-in lockable zippers.

If you travel enough, small mishaps mayhappen while on the road. It’s almostunavoidable. Here are my five best safe travel tips!

Pacsafe Travelsafe Portable Safe

Another great option for where to put passport when traveling is to bring your own portable safe, like this PacSafe option that can be locked down to a stationary object in your room. A lot of readers opt for a portable safe, as it ensures that no matter where they’re headed, they’ll always have a super secure place to keep their passports and other valuables. They can also be secured to the inside of your bag in many of the other scenarios listed above!

Please read my top ten tried and tested anti-theft travel tips for more information on how to properly use these items!

What About General Photo Identification?

While I’ve hardly ever needed to show photo identification in my six years of travel, I do carry my California State ID on me at all times in case of an emergency.

Get ano-fail flawless look with these awesomebeauty tips!

WATCH THIS VIDEO (starting at the -17:20 minute) FOR MORE TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP PASSPORT SAFE WHILE TRAVELING. FIND OUT HOW I’VE AVOIDED BECOMING A VICTIM OF THEFT DURING 9 YEARS OF FULL-TIME TRAVEL:

You can also watch the video on Facebook here.

Product Comparison Chart

Let’s take a quick look of the travel accessories that can help you keep your passport safe when traveling:

BRAND | MODEL	FEATURES | REVIEWS	RATING | PRICE
Travelon Anti-Theft Cross-Body Bag	When going through security, I make sure my passport is securely zipped in my bag. When on board the flight, I keep my daypack stowed underneath the seat in front of me or hidden underneath my clothing (if necessary).	Check Price
Travelon Anti-theft Signature Slim Multipurpose Backpack	An anti-theft daypack is a great option for travel, but there are many kinds of anti-theft accessories to meet everyone’s needs.	Check Price
Compass Rose RFID Secret Bra Wallet (similar)	Make sure to use a hidden bra wallet to store your credit cards and cash for everyday use.	Check Price
Travel Money Belt RFID Blocking Hidden Waist Stash	Because I won’t need to show my passport, I make sure to have it safely hidden within my daypack.	Check Price
Underwear with Secret Pocket	If you’re wondering how to protect your passport when traveling in a part of the world where theft is common, I use underwear with hidden pockets.	Check Price
Trench Coat with 20 Secret Pockets	SCOTTeVEST trench coach that has a whopping 20 hidden pockets!	Check Price
Venture 4th Travel Neck Pouch with RFID Blocking	Some travelers prefer neck wallets to hide their passport, like this Neck Stash Hidden security Wallet, claiming that they’re the best way to carry passport and money when traveling!	Check Price
Samsonite Omni PC International Carry On	Avoid theft by using a suitcase with lockable zippers that can’t easily be pried open.	Check Price
Pacsafe Travelsafe Portable Safe	Another great option for where to put passport when traveling is to bring your own portable safe, like this PacSafe option that can be locked down to a stationary object in your room.	Check Price

These tips aren’t 100% fool-proof and neither is an anti-theft device. However, you can do your best to prevent a theft by exercising caution and following these tips.

What are your tips for how to keep your passport safe while traveling? Share and comment below!

For more travel safety tips, please read:

• Best Money Belts and Anti-theft Travel Accessories
• The Best Anti-theft Travel Bags for Women
• I Had My Bag Stolen and 4 Ways I Could’ve Avoided It
• How I Keep My Valuables Safe Abroad

LIKED THIS POST? PIN THIS PIC TO SAVE IT!

I hope you enjoyed this post on how to keep your passport safe while traveling. If you found it helpful, please share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!