Prepare your travel documents

When you travel on an SNCF Voyageurs train, both at the station and on board your train, agents can check the validity of your ticket. We'll explain why, and what proof of identity is accepted.

You must present at the station or on board:

1. The valid ticket, or the barcode on your smartphone if it's an electronic ticket;

2. Proof of discount if you have one (season ticket or commercial card);

3. Original valid photo ID.

The national identity card must be valid or expired within the last 5 years. Other documents must be original and valid.

Here is the full list of accepted documents:

• French national identity card or identity card from a member state of the European Union or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Andorra or Monaco, of which the holder is a national;
• Passport;
• French or European Union member state driving license;
• French civil or military disability card;
• French veteran's card;
• French military identity card ;
• French hunting license;
• Consular laissez-passer issued by the French authorities;
• Receipt valid as proof of identity issued to persons under investigation in exchange for their identity documents;
• Receipt valid as proof of identity issued to a French national subject to a ban on leaving the country;
• One of the residence documents issued in application of articles L. 311-1 et seq. of the code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile;
• A titre d'identité républicain provided for in article L. 321-3 of the code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile;
• A document de circulation pour étranger mineur, provided for in article L. 321-4 du code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile ;
• A refugee or stateless person's identity and travel document ;
• Professional cards issued by a public authority (Ministry, Collectivité, French or European Administration) bearing a photograph, surname, first name and address of the holder.

Please note:

• The carte vitale is not accepted as it does not offer sufficient guarantees;
• Dematerialized identity documents (photo or scan on your phone, paper photocopy, etc.) are not accepted.

On TGV INOUI and OUIGO trains, the ticket you have purchased is nominative, and cannot be transferred to a third party. This may also be the case for INTERCITÉS and TER train tickets. In addition to your train ticket, you must be able to prove your identity when your ticket is checked. In fact, when you buy a train ticket, you enter your full name and date of birth. This is a requirement of the French Transport Code.

Same thing:

• If you are entitled to a discount (season ticket or commercial card): you must prove that you are the person concerned by this discount.
• For disability cards: even if your disability is visible, we have to ask you to show your card, as the rate of reduction you benefit from is specified on this card.
  

These rules are also necessary to combat fraud and the risks of identity theft.

If you are unable to present proof of identity when an agent checks your travel documents, you will be considered in breach, as if the ticket were not yours. The inspecting officer will then ask you to regularize your situation by immediately paying the fine at the control rate with a surcharge.

Please note:

• If you refuse to pay the amount of the fine assigned to you, you will be issued with a procès-verbal;
• If you fail to pay your fine within three months, you will be liable for the increased amount, to the Treasury.

If you realize that you don't have a suitable supporting document, or if you have any doubts about the validity of your ticket, then you should spontaneously present yourself to the agents on board, without waiting for your ticket to be checked. The surcharge you will have to pay on the regularization scale will then be lower than the surcharge you have to pay during a check.

As a general rule, it's advisable to contact the conductor as soon as you have any doubts about the regularity of your situation on board. Once your situation has been regularized, you can send a complaint to SNCF customer service TOUTOUI https://tout-oui.sncf.com/ or 3635. For TER travel, visit each region's website.