Travel experts have detailed the reasons why your passport could be rejected at airports, putting an end to your holiday.
Many people may not realise that a damaged passport could result in being refused at airports. Travelbag experts urge holidaymakers to check that their documents are in good condition before they set off.
What may seem like a minor problem could mean you can’t travel. Here is a list of things you should check carefully before embarking on your trip, according to Travelbag.
What to check in your passport
- Discoloration or damage to any part of the passport, including tears, rips, bites, watermarks and ink stains.
- Tearing off perforated passport numbers
- Security details unreadable
- Missing or loose pages
- Personal data or observation page is illegible
- The laminate is peeling off on the personal data page.
- Cracks or tears in the personal data page.
- The chip’s antenna is visible through the flyleaf on the back cover of a burgundy passport or on the personal data page of a blue passport.
A Travelbag spokesperson said: “If your passport has been damaged by any of the above issues you should replace it immediately before you travel. You may think the damage is minor but due to the way passports are manufactured for safety and security reasons there can be more damage than you think that can result in you being denied travel. For your peace of mind it is recommended that you keep your passport well hidden and out of sight so that it remains as pristine as possible so you don’t run into any of these problems when you travel.”
Aside from damage, travelers should also be aware of other factors that can render their passport useless, the Mirror reports. For example, each country has its own rules and regulations regarding expiration dates, with some requiring a full six months left on the date in order to be accepted. So you should check your expiration date and the rules of the country you’re traveling to some time before you travel to make sure yours will be valid and that you have time to update it if it isn’t.
The date your passport was issued is another important factor. Since the UK left the EU, most countries will no longer accept passports issued more than 10 years ago, known as the “10-year rule”. If you got yours before, you’ll probably need to get a new one.
It is also important to make sure you have enough pages in your passport. If you are a frequent traveler or avid traveler, chances are your passport pages are filled with stamps from all over the world. However, before traveling you should always make sure there is room for more stamps, including some empty pages, as some countries stamp more times than others, or could prevent you from entering a country that can issue you a stamp.
Finally, if you are a parent, be sure to check your children’s passports just as often (or even more). Children under 16 will need a new passport every five years, compared to the usual ten years for adults.
