Entry denied: 5 passport issues that may cause problems
As of 2024, nearly 15 million Australians had a passport – that’s more than half the population.
A passport is a vital document for anybody travelling overseas, and if it’s not in exceptional condition, you could run into trouble.
Here are five passport problems you should try to avoid when travelling overseas.
1. A damaged passport
You might have seen photos online of passports that have become a piece of children’s artwork. If your little Picasso decides to use your passport as a canvas, it’ll need to be replaced before you travel.
Even minor damage could mean you’re stopped from boarding a flight or denied entry to a country. And if the local authorities suspect passport fraud, you could even be detained.
Before you travel, check your passport for rips, stains or water damage. Make sure you keep the photo page and machine-readable zone free of any marks or other damage.
2. Missing pages
Missing pages in a passport are a big no-no. If you have accidentally ripped a page out of your passport, don’t try to repair it with sticky tape or staples. You’ll need to apply for a replacement passport with the Australian Passport Office.
3. Too many stamps
Having enough spare pages in your passport is probably less of a problem these days as many countries no longer stamp the document when travellers enter and exit the destination.
However, if you travel overseas frequently, you might have a lot of stamps in your passport. Before travelling, make sure you check how many blank pages you have left.
Some countries, including Germany, Indonesia and India, won’t let you enter unless you have at least two blank pages in your passport.
4. Souvenir stamps
While we’re on the topic of stamps, let’s focus on another variety you can get at tourist hotspots like Machu Picchu or the United Nations in New York. While souvenir passport stamps might seem fun, they can be grounds for denying entry in some countries.
5. Expiring passport
Many countries around the world won’t let you enter if your passport is due to expire in six months or less. So, well before you’re due to leave for your overseas holiday, make sure there’s more than six months between your passport expiry date and when you leave your destination.