Damaged Passport
#48
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Metal tube with wings
Programs: KF Gold|VA Gold|HH Diamond|Kimpton IC|Hyatt Gold
Posts: 445
I have had a damaged passport for the last 8 years.
Water (actually rum) damage to the front page with all details including the MRZ, as well as my picture being affected by the water that I kind of looked like the Terminator when he loses half his face. Chip also doesn't work half the time, and rarely scans properly on those self check kiosks.
I've still travelled around the world, including the USA 10+ times. The only grief I've had is departing/arriving home to Australia.
But if you want peace of mind, definitely get a new one.
Water (actually rum) damage to the front page with all details including the MRZ, as well as my picture being affected by the water that I kind of looked like the Terminator when he loses half his face. Chip also doesn't work half the time, and rarely scans properly on those self check kiosks.
I've still travelled around the world, including the USA 10+ times. The only grief I've had is departing/arriving home to Australia.
But if you want peace of mind, definitely get a new one.
#49
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
The airlines are more likely to hassle someone over such a damaged passport than US CBP, but either one or both can and do sometimes make a big fuss over such damage on so many pages even when it's not as extensive on the biodata page.
#50
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1
Butter Stain on Passport
Ugh. Due to an inflight mishap, the bottom of most pages of my (new) US passport have some minor butter stains. I've removed much of it by absorbing into brown paper, but the stain residue remains. It's not really noticeable if you aren't looking for it, and the photo page is untouched. US Customs didn't even notice, and the bottom of most pages have a convenient mountain image.
I'd really like to clean it off if possible, especially since this is a brand new passport.
Does anyone know of any safe way to remove the greasy butter stains from the passport? Iron on cloth, baking soda, or something very absorbent?
I'd really like to clean it off if possible, especially since this is a brand new passport.
Does anyone know of any safe way to remove the greasy butter stains from the passport? Iron on cloth, baking soda, or something very absorbent?
#51
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1
Torn passport help
On the damaged passport websites it defines damage as a “significant tear” on my biodata Page there is a small tear ah the bottom of the page. It is literally a centimetre long and barely noticeable. Does this need replacing ? Or would this not be classed as significant. Please advise
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,356
At the bottom of the page through all the details? If it is not ripped through anything official-like I would not worry, if it was I would check with the issuer directly.
#53
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,697
Moderator's Note:
Folks,
Please refrain from posting political opinions and commentary in this forum. Members come here for practical advice to help them travel safely and with minimal hassle.
Posts have been deleted.
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
Please refrain from posting political opinions and commentary in this forum. Members come here for practical advice to help them travel safely and with minimal hassle.
Posts have been deleted.
TWA884
Travel Safety/Security co-moderator
#54
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
On the damaged passport websites it defines damage as a “significant tear” on my biodata Page there is a small tear ah the bottom of the page. It is literally a centimetre long and barely noticeable. Does this need replacing ? Or would this not be classed as significant. Please advise
Given the number of first-hand accounts on FT from people who swear up and down that their passport had only "minor" damage and that none of it affected any biometrics or official printing yet were denied boarding by an agent who may or may not have been too zealous (or not), the sensible thing is to replace the document.
None of this has to do with what the proper standard ought to be or whether it is right. Simply a matter of risk tolerance and the consequences of being denied boarding. Always a chance that you are denied entry to some country, but it seems that it is the air carriers which are perhaps more zealous than passport / border control.
#55
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: GIG - YYC - SVO
Programs: Lost it all and don't care
Posts: 945
While I cannot answer the OP's Russian question, I can add my personal damaged passport data point to this thread.
I washed my previous Canadian passport twice back in 2016. Left it in the leg pocket of my cargo pants, and pulled it out after the rinse cycle, and left to air dry on a desk. Note to self, pay attention when you arrive home after midnight.
Probably crossed the US border 50 times with it, as well as other countries, without off handed comments or any unusual looks whatsoever. In fact, the only one who had an issue with it was our own passport office staff who made me notarize a declaration when I renewed it, as I was turning in a damaged passport in their eyes.
I washed my previous Canadian passport twice back in 2016. Left it in the leg pocket of my cargo pants, and pulled it out after the rinse cycle, and left to air dry on a desk. Note to self, pay attention when you arrive home after midnight.
Probably crossed the US border 50 times with it, as well as other countries, without off handed comments or any unusual looks whatsoever. In fact, the only one who had an issue with it was our own passport office staff who made me notarize a declaration when I renewed it, as I was turning in a damaged passport in their eyes.
Last edited by KDS777; May 6, 2018 at 12:55 pm
#56
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: LH, TK
Posts: 25
Passport - data page broke out
Just like to share an experience I had a while ago. I have a German passport, the red one, with the laminated data page.
Data page I call that page with your picture, name and details. It did broke/fall out. The staff that did that (not at a border) didn't handle the passport badly. Just was just too much bending over the years.
This makes a passport basically invalid. A German passport takes about 6 weeks to get. Not wanting to get stuck during that time here is how I fixed it:
Passport tempering is basically bad advise, but if you do it, do at least in a way that isn't spotted immediately. And not sure if a repair is even tempering.
Good luck!
Data page I call that page with your picture, name and details. It did broke/fall out. The staff that did that (not at a border) didn't handle the passport badly. Just was just too much bending over the years.
This makes a passport basically invalid. A German passport takes about 6 weeks to get. Not wanting to get stuck during that time here is how I fixed it:
- I bought some different types/brands of invisible document tape
- I check them all under UV light, some glow bright blueish white, some not at all. The UV type is unsuitable
- I taped only the backside of the data page, no tape on data side (would be easy to spot)
- Data page was then rather loose (as in hinge less stiff) but typically only the data side is checked/looked at
Passport tempering is basically bad advise, but if you do it, do at least in a way that isn't spotted immediately. And not sure if a repair is even tempering.
Good luck!
#58
Depending on the scope of the damage and the individual checking the passport, it could go either way. The prudent thing to do is to replace if it’s damaged unless you don’t mind the extra risks
#59
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: In between continents.
Posts: 14
My partner flew to Mexico using their US passport which was clearly damaged. Water + mold damage (brown spots all over the pages) and the front cover a little frayed. How they let them onboard, no clue.
My advice is to renew it ASAP because you never know when you might need your passport.
My advice is to renew it ASAP because you never know when you might need your passport.
#60
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Do you live near a Passport Office?
When do you travel (international) next?
If, by way of example, you live in or near a city with a Passport Office, you could show up with your damaged passport, the paper work and funds for a new one, tomorrow morning just before opening time and have your new passport in 3-4 hours and be on a late afternoon flight.
There is absolutely no way of predicting whether you will be denied boarding and, if boarded, denied entry, based on a damaged passport. Anybody here who tells you that it will work because it worked for them, does not have a clue.
Should you attempt travel with a damaged passport? All risk tolerance on your part.