Travel experts have detailed the reasons why your passport could be rejected at airports, putting an end to your holiday.
Many people are unaware that a damaged passport can be the reason they cannot enter airports. Travelbag experts recommend that tourists check that their document is in good condition before leaving.
What may seem like a minor problem could mean you can’t travel. Here’s a list of things you should check before you set off on your trip, according to Travelbag.
What to check in your passport
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Discoloration or damage to any part of the passport, including tears, rips, bites, watermarks and ink stains.
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Tear off perforated passport numbers
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Security details unreadable
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Missing or loose pages
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The personal data or observations page cannot be read
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The laminate is peeling off on the personal data page.
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Cracking or breaking of the personal data page
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The chip 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 issues mentioned above, you should replace it immediately before you travel. You may think the damage is minor, but due to the way passports are manufactured for added security, there may be more damage than you realise, which can result in you being refused travel. For your peace of mind, it is recommended that you keep your passport well hidden and out of sight so that it stays as pristine as possible and you don’t experience any of these issues when you travel.”
Aside from damage, travellers 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 expiry dates, with some requiring a full six months remaining from the expiry date in order to be accepted. So you should check the expiry date and rules of the country you are travelling to some time before you leave to make sure yours is 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 no longer accept passports that were issued more than 10 years ago, known as the “10-year rule.” If you got yours before that date, you will probably need to get a new one.
It’s also important to make sure your passport has enough pages. If you travel frequently or are an avid traveler, chances are the pages in your passport are filled with stamps from around the world. However, before you travel, you should always make sure there’s room for more stamps, including some empty pages, as some countries stamp more often than others, or you could be banned from entering a country that can issue you a stamp.
Finally, if you’re a parent, make sure you check your children’s passports just as often (or even more often). Children under 16 will need a new passport every five years, compared to the usual ten years for adults.
