What Is Considered a Damaged Passport?

While minor damage to your passport may not cause any issues, serious wear and tear may cause it to be rejected by border officials.

Therefore, it’s crucial tounderstand what a damaged passport looks like and make sure the document’s condition is acceptable to avoid disruption to your travel plans.

Check out these pointers to decide if your passport needs to be replaced, and what steps to follow.

How Do I Know if My Passport is Damaged?

The decision about whether your passport’s condition is acceptable for travel rests with officials. In most cases, visible damage to any part of your passport will mean it is rejected.

Significant passport damage includes:

  • Water damage, particularly to the biographical page, or that results in previous visas being unreadable or pages to stick together
  • A loose or missing cover
  • Stickers or stamps that aren’t official visa or border stickers or markings
  • Faded, or curled pages
  • Loose binding or threads hanging from the edges
  • Missing pages
  • Tearing or puncturing of the cover or pages
  • Damage to the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip

If your passport is rejected, it’s not possible to get a replacement on demand. Therefore, you’re advised to request a new passport well in advance of your travel plans to avoid issues.

- What doesn’t count as a damaged passport

Here are some examples of what typically does not count as passport damage:

  • Wear on the cover, like frayed edges, as long as the cover is still intact and attached to the pages
  • Slight curves, bends, folds, or creases on the interior pages that do not make personal data, visas, or entry/exit stamps unreadable
  • Minor marks on blank or visa pages, provided they do not make any visas or entry/exit stamps unreadable
  • Small water damage that doesn’t distort the passport book or pages and does not affect the readability of personal data, visas, or entry/exit stamps

If you’re not sure if your passport will be considered damaged or not, it’s better to err on the side of caution.

How to Replace a Damaged Passport

The process of replacing a damaged passport depends on the issuing country.

Some nations allow you to apply for your new document online, whilst other governments require you to apply in person at a processing facility. Consult official government sources to find out how to replace your damaged passport.

Some countries may also require you to send your damaged passport by mail or attach a signed statement detailing how the passport was damaged.

Consult official government sources for your country to find out how to replace your damaged passport. To replace a damaged US passport, follow the steps below.

Steps to replace a damaged passport in the US

To replace a damaged US passport, you’ll need to visit an acceptance facility, embassy, or passport agency in person. Damaged passports usually cannot be mailed in for replacement.

First, schedule an appointment with the facility to avoid long wait times. You’ll then need to bring the following documents:

  • The damaged passport
  • Signed statement explaining the damage
  • Completed application form for a replacement passport (Form DS-11)
  • Proof of US citizenship (e.g., birth or naturalization certificate)
  • A valid ID (real document as well as a photocopy)
  • New passport-sized photos of yourself taken within the last 6 months

Once these documents have been submitted, you must pay the passport application fees before it’s submitted for processing.

What happens to visas in my damaged passport?

If you have any unexpired visas, online visas, or visa waivers for foreign countries registered with your damaged passport, they will no longer be valid once your passport is declared invalid.

A visa is only valid with the same passport used for its application and approval. Your new passport will have a new passport number, and issue and expiry dates. Use these new passport details to reapply for any travel permits or visas you need.

Replacing a damaged passport for a minor

If you need to replace a damaged passport for a child, most countries require that both parents must provide their details on the application form.

Check the official guidelines of the passport’s issuing country to find out about any specific requirements for child applicants.

How long does it take to replace a damaged passport?

It usually takes several weeks for a passport application to be approved. Processing times vary from country to country, but in the US it takes between 3-6 weeks.

In some instances, it’s possible to expedite the process in urgent cases by paying an extra service fee, but only some passport authorities offer this service.

How do I replace a damaged passport if I am abroad?

If your passport becomes damaged while you are traveling, the nearest embassy or consulate of the issuing country can advise you on how to replace it.

You may be issued with an emergency travel document rather than a passport. This will allow you to travel to your home country. You’ll need to apply for a new passport in the usual way once you have traveled home.

In other cases, consular staff will assist you in applying for an official replacement passport.

How to Prevent Passport Damage

Once you’ve received your new passport, follow these tips to keep it safe from damage:

  • Keep your passport out of reach of pets and small children.
  • Invest in a protective case, preferably waterproof, to shield it from spills and weather.
  • As a budget-friendly option, use a Ziploc bag to protect your passport.
  • If traveling to places with harsh weather, make clear, color copies of your passport as a backup.

To be on the safe side, regularly inspect your passport every few months to check for any damage, and replace it if needed.

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