Why You Should Never Put Your Passport in Your Carry-on

In 2024, the State Department issued a record-breaking number of passports for the third year in a row. While today’s passport is a relatively new invention—it only became popular after WWI—the concept dates back to 450 B.C.E. Back then, no one was traveling by plane, but these days, you definitely need a passport if you plan on flying internationally. (You may also need one if you plan on flying domestically and your driver’s license isn’t Real ID compliant.) That said, it’s imperative that you never put your passport in your carry-on luggage—here’s why.

If there’s one thing every frequent flier dreads, it’s having to gate-check their bag. Gate-checking is when passengers are forced to check their carry-on bag, usually their wheeled suitcase, at the gate prior to boarding the aircraft. The practice has become a lot more popular recently given how many passengers are now traveling with carry-ons to avoid paying fees to check their bags. American-based airlines are also updating their baggage policies, and if rumors are true, they may even start to adopt international airline regulations that further limit the size of carry-on luggage. If you put your passport in your carry-on and are forced to check it at the gate (and forget to take it out before boarding your plane), you could find yourself in a serious predicament. 

For starters, if you’re flying internationally, you typically go through immigration, also known as passport control, prior to being reunited with your checked luggage and going through customs. Without your passport, you could be denied entry to your destination or face a fine. Furthermore, if you’re connecting to a domestic flight, you could easily miss that flight, too. For example, if you’re flying from New York to Naples via Rome, and you don’t have your passport with you when you land in Rome and go through immigration, you may miss your connecting flight. If you’re eventually reunited with your passport, you could likely purchase another flight, but it’s best to avoid this travel hiccup entirely. 

Even if your carry-on bag doesn’t get gate-checked, it’s not a safe place for your passport. Unfortunately, in-flight theft is a thing, and while stats are hard to come by, it’s likely more common than you think. Often, there isn’t room in the overhead bin directly above your seat. If you have to store your carry-on either several rows in front of you or behind you, it’s not always easy to keep an eye on your belongings. That said, you have a far greater risk of forgetting about your carry-on than being the victim of a theft; vacation brain is also a thing. Once you leave the aircraft, it can be very difficult to retrieve items forgotten on board, especially if the plane is scheduled to depart again soon. 

In 2018, a young U.K. couple traveling to Greece accidentally left their passports on the plane. “There [were] people watching us like we were criminals,” the couple told The Independent. According to the article, the couple was sent back to the U.K. on the next available flight less than an hour later. “They gave us a boarding pass and chucked us on the next flight, we didn’t get a choice,” they recalled. The couple’s passports were never found—something that could happen if you put your passport in a bag that gets checked and misplaced or lost during transit. Replacing a passport is not only expensive, it’s also time-consuming given all of the documents you have to gather. 

Savvy travelers keep their passports on them at all times. Don’t worry: This doesn’t mean you have to sport a dorky money belt. These days, it’s easy to find stylish belt bags, wearable accessories, crossbody purses, and travel pants and tops with pockets deep enough to hold your passport. If you do opt for a pocket, make sure it’s zippered and strategically placed. You’ll want easy access to your passport as you’ll need it to go through security, board the plane, and get the green light at immigration. At the very least, your passport should stay in your personal item, which should be right next to you at all points throughout your journey.