What qualifies as valid ID?

When traveling with any rail or coach carrier through the UK and Europe, you may be asked to show your proof of identity. What qualifies as valid ID may differ from carrier to carrier. Here you will find all of the information you need!

No matter which carrier you're traveling with, you must bring your ticket in the format in which you've been instructed to provide it (via mobile device, printed on A4/Letter paper, or printed from a self-service machine). For more information about this, please consult your confirmation email or  this page.

If your ticket is nominative, the name on your ticket must match the name on your passport or national identity card. If you're married and your passport reflects your maiden name but not your married name, this shouldn't normally be a problem, but we suggest that you bring your marriage certificate with you, just in case. Worried about the name?  See this page.

All carriers in our network require that babies and children have their own valid travel documents.

Important: if you are travelling internationally and/or across any international borders, you are responsible for researching ahead of time whether or not you need a visa or permit to enter the relevant country or countries through which your train or coach will pass.

Choose a country:

UK-Europe

Eurostar

Eurostar requires a valid passport or a valid national identity document (Swiss and EEA citizens) with your photo on it. 

Flixbus

Flixbus requires an official photo ID. This can be a valid passport, national identity card, or other national state/federal-issued ID that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

Eurolines

Eurolines requires an official photo ID. This can be a valid passport, national identity card, or other national state/federal-issued ID that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

National Express

National Express requires an official photo ID. This can be a  valid passport, national identity card, or other national state/federal-issued ID that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

France

SNCF, Thalys, TGV Lyria, Renfe-SNCF, OUIGO

SNCF requires a valid passport or EU identity card (EU citizens) that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

OUIBUS

OUIBUS requires a valid passport or EU Identity Card (EU citizens) with your photo on it. If you are traveling between the UK and Europe, please note that the UK is not a part of the Schengen Zone. You must bring a passport in this case, your EU Identity Card will not be enough. EEA or Swiss citizens must have their own valid passport or national identity card. 

Le Bus Direct and Beauvais Bus

You do not need to show ID to board these buses. 

Le Basque Bondissant

Le Basque Bondissant does not specify any requirements for a valid ID when boarding their buses, but we suggest that you always travel with a valid passport, national identity card, or other national state/federal-issued ID that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

Isilines

Isilines requires an official photo ID. This can be a valid passport, national identity card, or other national state/federal-issued ID that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

Spain

Renfe

Renfre requires a  valid passport or EU identity card (EU citizens) that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo.

Spanish Coach Carriers

The following Spanish coach carriers require a  valid passport or EU identity card (EU citizens) with your photo on it: 

  • ALSA
  • Agreda
  • Aisa
  • Almeria-Murcia Bus SL
  • Autocares Lazara
  • Autotransporte Tocina SL
  • Bus Almeria Madrid
  • Calecar-Intercar
  • Comes
  • Conda
  • Cooperativa Interurbana Andorrana SA
  • Daibus
  • Dainco
  • Damas
  • Grupo Samar
  • Hife
  • Interbus Badajoz
  • Jiminez Dorado Autocares
  • La Burundesa
  • La Burundesa
  • La Sepulvedana
  • La Serrana
  • La Union
  • Leda
  • Linebus
  • Lycar
  • Saiz Tour
  • Socibus
  • Subus
  • Therpasa
  • Vibasa

Germany

Deutshe Bahn

Deutsche Bahn requires a  valid passport or a valid national identity document with your photo on it. This includes:

  • A valid European national ID card for EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens.
  • An electronic residence permit (Elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel).
  • A BahnCard.
  • A Certificate of Registration as an Asylum Seeker (Bescheinigung über die Meldung als Asylsuchender - BÜMA). 
  • A Certificate of Registration as an Asylum Seeker (Behördliche Bescheinigung über die Weiterleitung als Asylsuchender - BÜWA).

Locomore (Flixbus)

Flixbus/Locomore requires an official photo ID. This can be a valid passport, national identity card, or other national state/federal-issued ID that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

Hamburg-Köln-Express (HKX)

HKX does not specify any requirements for a valid ID, but we suggest that you always travel with a valid passport, national identity card, or other national state/federal-issued ID that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. It's safe to assume that HKX has the same ID requirements as Deutsche Bahn, as seen above.

Italy

Trenitalia, Italo, and Thello

Trenitalia requires a  valid passport or EU identity card (EU citizens) that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

Fiumicino Express

Fiumicino Express does not specify any requirements for a valid ID, but we suggest that you always travel with a valid passport or EU Identity card (EU citizens) that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo.

Autostradale, Marozzi, Baltour, and Marino

These coach carriers require a  valid passport or EU identity card (EU citizens) that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

Belgium

SNCB

SNCB requires a  valid passport or EU identity card (EU citizens) that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

Luxembourg

CFL

CFL requires a  valid passport or EU identity card (EU citizens) that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

The Netherlands

NS

NS requires a  valid passport or EU identity card (EU citizens) that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

Switzerland

SBB/CFF/FFS

SBB requires a valid passport or a valid national identity document with your photo on it. This includes:

  • A valid European national ID card for EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens.
  • ID documents issued by the Swiss Federal Office for Migration.
  • ID documents issued by the road traffic authorities.
  • Refugee passports.
  • "Passports issued to a foreign national".
  • UNMIK documents.
  • UN Identity cards.

Domo

Domo requires an official photo ID. This can be a  valid passport, national identity card, or other national state/federal-issued ID that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

Austria

ÖBB

ÖBB requires an official photo ID. This can be a valid passport, national identity card, or other national state/federal-issued ID that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

WESTbahn

WESTbahn requires an official photo ID. This can be a valid passport, EU identity card (EU citizens) or other national state/federal-issued ID that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

City Airport Train (CAT)

CAT does not specify any requirements for a valid ID, but we suggest that you always travel with a valid passport, national identity card, or other national state/federal-issued ID that includes your full name, birthdate, and a photo. 

Denmark

DSB

DSB requires an official photo ID. EU/EEA citizens must provide a valid passport or national ID card. Citizens of other countries must provide a valid passport and, if required, a visa or residence permit. Nordic citizens must provide a valid passport, national ID card, or driving license issued in a Nordic country. 

Czechia/Czech Republic

Leo Express

Leo Express does not specify the requirements for a valid ID, but we suggest that you always travel with a valid passport.