What ID do I need to present at hotel check-in?
Hotels accept any valid government-issued photo ID at check-in - passport, national ID, or driver's license. For international stays, bring your passport.
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What counts as valid ID at hotel check-in
Hotels need to confirm that the person checking in is the person on the booking. They do this with a government-issued photo ID. The most common accepted documents are:
- Passport - accepted at every hotel worldwide, required for international stays.
- National ID card - accepted at hotels in your home country and across the EU.
- Driver's license - widely accepted for domestic stays, often refused for international stays.
- Residence permit - accepted in the country that issued it, alongside a passport for visitors.
The document must be valid (not expired), include your photo, and show your full legal name. School IDs, work badges, and library cards aren't accepted anywhere.
When a passport is required vs. when other ID is fine
A passport is required when you're staying in a country other than your own. Many hotels are legally obliged to log your passport number for foreign guests, and they cannot do this with a driver's license.
A non-passport ID is usually fine when you're staying in your home country. Boutique hotels and large chains alike accept a national ID card or driver's license for domestic guests.
Important: If you're not sure what your hotel accepts, check the hotel's policy on your trip1 confirmation email or our article on traveling with a national ID before you leave.
Why the name on your ID must match your booking
The guest name on the hotel reservation is the only link the property has between the booking and the person standing at the front desk. If the names don't match, the hotel may refuse check-in - even if your payment is settled.
When you book on trip1, enter the full legal name exactly as it appears on the ID you plan to present. Skip nicknames, initials, and shortened versions. If your passport says "Jonathan", don't book as "Jon".
If you notice a mismatch after paying, contact trip1 support immediately. Whether the name can be changed depends on the property and the rate you booked, so reach out as early as possible.
Hotel check-in ID requirements - FAQ
A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID showing your full legal name. A passport is accepted everywhere and needed for international stays. A national ID card works in your home country and across the EU, and a driver's license is widely accepted for domestic stays. School IDs, work badges and library cards are not accepted.
Yes. Hotels need to confirm that the person checking in is the person on the booking, and they do it with a government-issued photo ID. Many are also legally obliged to log passport numbers for foreign guests. The name on your ID must match the guest name on the reservation, or the hotel may refuse check-in.
Usually not. The guest name is the only link the hotel has between the booking and you, and it may refuse check-in if the names differ, even though your payment is settled. Book under your full legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, without nicknames or initials, and contact trip1 support immediately if you spot a mismatch.
Not usually, because the hotel matches the guest name on the booking to the ID of the person at the desk. If someone else will be staying, their name needs to be on the reservation and they need to bring their own ID. If the wrong name is on a trip1 booking, contact trip1 support as soon as you notice.
For a stay in another country, yes. Many hotels are legally obliged to log the passport number of foreign guests, which they cannot do with a driver's license. In your home country a non-passport ID is usually fine, and both boutique hotels and large chains accept a national ID card or driver's license from domestic guests.
Most accept one for domestic stays, but it is often refused for international stays, where hotels usually want a passport. If you plan to use a driver's license, check the hotel's policy before you leave, and make sure the license is valid, has your photo and shows your full legal name.