Charlotte Foster
International Travel

Surprising things that can invalidate your passport

It goes without saying that a lot of planning goes into booking an overseas holiday, such as flights, accommodation, insurance, packing, and much more. 

However, what some people don’t consider for their international holiday is the condition of their passport. 

With many obstacles in the way of getting to your overseas destination, it's worth checking out the state of your passport before you head to the airport. 

Keep an eye out for these telltale signs that could render your passport invalid before you even set off on your holiday.

A damaged document

As 9Honey reporter Bronte Gossling recently discovered, a damaged passport will prevent you from flying. 

Bronte was one of the first Aussies booked to jet off to Bali after the Covid-19 restrictions eased, when she was stopped at airport security. 

"My passport had become a casualty of Sydney's rapidly-growing mould plague, and the resulting water damage meant my Bali dreams had gone up in smoke," she wrote.

While some general wear and tear is expected on your passport, the Australia Passport Office says it must be minimal in order to still be valid. 

More serious damage such as water damage, tears or cuts in the pages, marks across your photo or in the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) on the photo page can prevent you from travelling.

Imminent expiration

In order to travel internationally, you must have at least six months remaining on your passport. 

As there is no chance of extending your passport’s time of validity due to the pandemic, it’s best to renew the document sooner rather than later. 

If you have grand travel plans and your passport is due to expire this year, consider renewing it now to prevent being barred entry to international destinations. 

Not enough blank pages

While everyone likes to see the stamps of different countries collected in their passport, be wary of how much space you have left. 

Some countries require up to three blank pages in your passport depending on how much space they need (some visas take up at least two pages), and a limit on space could see your passport rendered invalid. 

If you’re running low on space, consider renewing your passport and keep your old stamp-filled document as a reminder of all the places you’ve seen. 

Souvenir stamps

While it’s all fun and games to fill your passport with stamps of everywhere you’ve been, some unofficial stamps could see your passport in big trouble. 

Collecting souvenir stamps at places such as Berlin’s Checkpoint Charlie or a research station in Antarctica could mean your passport is now invalid. 

The only stamps that should grace your passport should be placed by government officials working for the destination you're visiting. 

A passport stamp from Israel

Some countries, such as Lebanon and Iran, do not recognise the Israeli state and will deny entry to any travellers who have the stamp in their passport. 

In order to avoid this hassle if you’re planning a trip to Israel, simply ask for officials to not stamp your passport and instead ask for an entry card - a document you can keep with your passport until you leave. 

The limitations around travelling from Israel to other countries in the Middle East vary, so make sure you look up your destination and their rules before planning your trip. 

Image credits: Getty Images / 9Honey

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travel international, passport, documents, invalid