invited to a wedding-but asked for a copy of my passport

Hi all, I was invited to an egyptian wedding but told that i must provide a copy of my passport to be allowed entry (as supposedly all foreign visitors must do this....) does this sound shady or is it legit?

Hi,

I'm not an expert on this, but it sounds a little odd to me. Why exactly do they need a copy? I have been a few times and no copy of passport was needed to gain entry. It might be worth just giving your local embassy or consulate a call just to check, it may be diffierent for different passports.

It may be nothing, but with personal details and official docs it is always better to air on the side of caution.

Good luck,

Tanya
Latest Adventures...

What difference does it make?

There's no confidential information in your passport. I have to surrender my passport for a copy to be made at hotels at check-in, travel againcies to make reservations, certain national places of interest to get tickets or enter, etc..

Making a copy of the first page of your passport and giving it to someone is no big deal. When you travel a lot you get used to always being asked for your passport and/or to have a copy made. In fact, I usually make 20 or so copies prior to leaving and keep them in my pack to give out when requested.

Have fun at the wedding.

This is not that odd. Lots of weddings are held in military or military-owned hotels or event halls, and in these places they will certainly want the passports of any foreigners attending. So it sounds like your hosts are probably just getting the bureaucracy out of the way first. I'm not sure why a foreigner should be a security risk in a wedding hall that just happens to be run by the army, but ours not to reason why.

Besides, as laketraveller says, it hardly represents any real risk. Unless they are also asking for your credit card details ;)

I agree with @#2 and @#3. Anyway they are only asking for a copy, so just give them a copy!

Good point about the fact that passports get copied at hotels a lot, don't think you have anything to worry about, good advice above.

There's no reason why they would need a copy for when you enter the country. It's more lilely that you are going to stay in a hotel and that they need the copy for it.

#6 I think the issue is in entering the venue where the wedding is taking place.