Important papers

Keeping a photo of your passport, ID card or birth certificate on your phone can help if the real one is lost or stolen abroad, and government travel advice says so. But a copy never replaces the document, and where the photo lives matters: the camera roll syncs to the cloud, shows up in search and memories, and opens with your phone’s passcode. These guides explain what official advice says, how to keep copies out of the camera roll, and where an encrypted room fits. They aren’t legal advice; for what a copy can be used for, check with the government office that issued the document. Start with the pillar guide below, which covers passports first and then the other papers people keep.

In short

• A photo of your passport is a useful backup if the real one is lost, but it never replaces it.
• The risk is where the photo lands: the camera roll syncs to the cloud and opens with your passcode.