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Here’s proof that sometimes the small things are actually a big deal.
Seasoned travelers know that any trip abroad calls for its own essential pre-departure checklist. Visas, vaccines, and international chargers are all considerations, but the most important one is that little wallet-sized booklet you need to travel outside of your own country: your passport. And it’s not just about locating it. You’ll also want to make sure your passport is still valid—and that goes beyond checking its expiration date to evaluating the condition of the passport overall.
According to the U.S. Department of State, a damaged passport “may get rejected by airline or border officials and delay your travel.” Examples of damage include significant tears, mold, stains, missing or torn-out visa pages, a hole punch, or unofficial markings on the data page; the department does note that “normal ‘wear and tear’” (folded pages or a small bend) isn’t considered damage.
You might not think that a water stain from a leaking bottle or a wet umbrella in your bag could become a massive issue, but we spoke to one travel expert who warns against ignoring it.
“In all of my personal travels and leading trips, I have seen many ways that damage to your passport can cause it to be flagged as invalid,” says Leslie Coleman, founder of Suitcase Gals, a travel company specializing in small-group, luxury travel for women over 40. “The most common issue is water damage; the pages wrinkle, and the ink from previous stamps can run, making those pages illegible.”
Her advice to avoid this situation? “Always store your passport in a cool, dry place to protect it and to ensure smooth travels,” she says. A passport wallet or holder can help, too.
While you might be confident that your passport hasn’t experienced any water damage, it’s still important to audit this critical document before you head to the airport—weeks (or even months) before your actual trip. “A good rule of thumb is to take a look at your passport immediately after booking your trip to give yourself plenty of time to get things corrected should there be damage,” says Coleman. “Make sure it is signed, the pages are clean with no additional writing other than the stamps, and there are no tears or missing pages.”
She also recommends looking at the barcode on your passport and checking for scratches or missing information. “A scratch along that barcode could make it unreadable by the computers used to validate it,” she says.
Remember, airline staff and border patrol officers are looking at your entire passport, not just one page. “Every page in your passport is just as important as the others. If one page is damaged, your entire passport becomes invalid,” Coleman says. “Your passport is a legal document and must be 100% correct and intact.”
If your passport is damaged and you’re leaving for a trip in the very near future, don’t panic: there are a few steps you can take to get a new passport as quickly as possible.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
