'Ruining our holiday': Surprising things that can render your passport invalid
It's the stuff of nightmares. One minute you're fronting up at the airport check-in counter, your mind racing with visions of foreign lands and poolside cocktails. The next minute, you're being told there's no way you're going to be allowed to board the flight.
Just this week a British woman had to go on holidays alone after her boyfriend was banned from boarding their flight over a passport issue.
In a video on TikTok, Lauren claimed her partner wasn't able to board because "because of a small tear in his passport."
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A British woman was left to enjoy her holiday solo due to a passport issue. TikTok
Instead, she found herself enjoying a picturesque ocean vista solo. Despite the fact airline staff claimed they "had a friend who got a new passport in four hours".
"You now have two days of your holiday remaining and you're still on your own," Lauren lamented in the caption. "Thanks for ruining our holiday British Airways."
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Commenters had little sympathy with one person writing: "I fear it is common knowledge that damaged passport is no longer valid."
While another responded: "This is not British Airways' fault."
The situation is one multiple Aussies have bee been faced with over the years gearing up for a holiday to different destinations around the world, including the popular spot of Bali.
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Aussies are also being turned away at check in due to a raft of passport issues. Getty
One woman named Madelaine was allegedly stopped from boarding her Jetstar plane to Bali in 2023 due to a small rip in her passport. Then a few weeks later, another British woman living in Australia said the "tiniest" water mark on her passport ruined her planned 10-day holiday to the Indonesian island.
It's the situation even Nine's own Bronte Gossling faced in 2022 when she was prevented from boarding the first flight out to Bali on account of a small mould mark on her passport.
"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 at the time.
Despite her strong, repeated public warnings at the time, travellers are still being caught out by Indonesia's strict rules.
Bronte Gossling's passport that was denied at check in. Supplied/Nine
Mould is certainly one issue (and let's face it, one which many of us have never really thought about), but there are plenty of issues that could render your passport invalid, thus preventing you from boarding your next flight.
A damaged document
According to the Australian Passport Office, some wear and tear is expected on your passport (you're carrying it around for 10 years, after all) but that lived-in feel must be minor.
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 – everything else on the photo page needs is clear and legible.
Of course, there can be no evidence that the document has been altered or tampered with in any way so pages cannot be removed and glue must not have introduced itself to the document.
Imminent expiration
While wait times for passport renewals have come down, it's a good idea to always keep an eye on your passport's expiry date. Some countries will not let you enter if your passport has less than six months expiry on it, and the last thing you want is to be rushing through the application process when your holiday is mere weeks or days away.
If your passport is up for expiry in 2026, it's best to renew it now otherwise you run the risk of being prevented from entering other countries.
Not enough blank pages
Assuming you hit the international circuit hard pre-pandemic, you may find there are few blank pages left in your passport. Be careful; some countries require one, two or three blank pages depending on how much space they need (some visa stamps can take up to two pages).
If you find you're running low on blank pages, it's best to apply for a passport renewal right away.
Some countries won't let you enter if you don't have enough blank pages. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Souvenir passport stamps
Australians are known for their laid-back, larrikin nature, but do you know who's often lacking in the humour department? The dour immigration official studying it towards the end of a very long shift.
The truth is that while those stamps collected at Checkpoint Charlie or a research station in Antarctica serve as a great talking point or photo moment, they can also render your passport invalid. The only stamps that 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 not allow entry to travellers who have the stamp in their passports.
Some also have entry rules based on previous travel. Getty Images/iStockphoto
To save yourself from any future hassles, refuse to have your passport stamped and instead ask for an entry card – a document you can keep with your passport until you leave.
If you have travelled to Israel and plan to travel to other regional countries afterwards, it's imperative you read the travel advice for these countries on smartraveller.gov.au. In Lebanon, for example, any evidence you've travelled to Israel (or that you intend to) can lead authorities to not only refuse you entry, but they can also deport you. Evidence can be anything from Egyptian or Jordanian stamps from border crossings with Israel, travel itineraries that include Israel as a destination, or yes, Israeli exit or entry stamps in your passport.
If you're unsure about the condition of your passport (or indeed, if you're unsure if you're meeting all the rules), you can contact the Australian Passport Office on 131 232 for assessment and assistance.
