“The dog ate my homework” might be an old cliché, but “the dog ate my passport” can be a real-life travel nightmare.
I’ll never forget when a friend showed up to the airport for a fabulous international vacation, only to discover that her pet had chewed up her passport to the point that it was no longer acceptable for travel. And it’s not just our four-legged friends who can do serious harm. Spilled coffee, a laundry mishap or an unfortunately timed rainstorm can all render your passport unusable.
So what actually counts as “damaged” and what should travelers do if their passport looks worse for wear? HuffPost asked experts to break down the rules around damaged passports.
Why can’t passports have physical damage?
“Having a damaged passport can cause delays at border crossings by raising suspicion of tampering or fraud,” said David Alwadish, the founder and CEO of the passport and visa concierge service ItsEasy.com. “When a passport is damaged, it is difficult for the immigration agent to verify if the client is who they claim they are, especially when significant identifiable data is unreadable or not scannable.”
That’s why the federal government and airlines have policies around passports that have sustained some damage.
“Even if it technically scans, an airline agent or border official can refuse it if they suspect tampering or think it won’t be machine-readable,” said Sally French, NerdWallet Travel Expert and co-host of Smart Travel Podcast.
Grace Cary via Getty Images
Travelers should check their passports for damage beyond normal wear and tear.
These rules are in place to protect travelers and prevent fraud, Alwadish explained.
“When these secured documents are damaged, their security is compromised which makes it hard to verify if the information is correct and aligned,” he said. “Requiring the replacement of passports helps ensure there is no potential for tampering or fraud.”
That’s why travelers should pay attention to the condition of their passports.
“If a passport shows damage beyond normal wear and tear, it could be considered invalid, thereby requiring you to apply for a new passport,” Alwadish noted.
What’s ‘normal wear and tear’ vs. disqualifying damage?
“‘Normal wear and tear’ refers to natural aging like the bending of a passport after being carried in your back pocket or the fanning of the visa pages after lots of opening and closing,” Alwadish explained. “Light creasing from travel is common as long as the information, security and passport photo remain intact.”
French pointed to other examples of typical wear and tear, like a few scuffs, bent corners or a tiny mark on the cover.
“But once there’s water damage, torn or missing pages, peeling laminate or an unreadable photo, it’s considered damaged and could get you denied at the airport,” she said.
The U.S. State Department website also breaks down what counts as damage and how to determine if you need to replace your passport.
“Anything that compromises the passport’s original condition or identity information ― such as water stains, rips, missing pages, unauthorized notations, hole punches, dog bites and damages on the front cover ― deems a passport beyond normal wear and tear,” Alwadish said.
“Damage causing the front cover to separate from the information page containing your photo can raise suspicion that the original image was removed or replaced,” he added. “The current passport design now has a PVC page with the passport holder’s picture, similar to a credit card, to better withstand abuse and facilitate machine processing.”
What should you do if you have a damaged passport?
“If your passport is in that gray area, don’t gamble on it,” French advised. “You’ll need to apply for a replacement passport even if your old one is still valid.”
And if your current passport is actually about to expire and needs to be renewed anyway? Experts say you should still apply for a new one, rather than a standard renewal.
“Renewing a damaged passport is difficult and like Russian roulette because the outcome is uncertain,” Alwadish said. “I would advise against using simple mail-in renewals for damaged passports if the traveler’s time is limited, because the process can be delayed by weeks if the application is rejected, requiring a back-and-forth exchange with the passport agency. Rejection letters take time to arrive ― up to a week to 10 days by regular mail ― which adds to the delay.”
Instead, you’ll want to follow the full process for replacing a damaged passport. This includes submitting a signed statement explaining the damaged condition of the document and a Form DS-11 with all the required fees, proof of citizenship and new passport photo. You’ll also have to turn in your damaged passport.
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“The U.S. State Department doesn’t want people simply discarding damaged passports on their own because they could end up in the wrong hands,” Alwadish said. “Instead, they require that anyone with a damaged passport turn it in with their new passport application to ensure the old one is officially canceled and cannot be misused.”
As part of this process, you will have to visit a passport office in person.
“If you’re traveling soon, you can request expedited service,” French noted. “The State Department even has limited same-day appointments for travelers with proof of upcoming flights.”
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