#travel-documents

#travel-documents

Ravi Kumar, owner and global passports and visas advisor at A1 Passport & Visa Services in New York City, puts it bluntly: "Traveling with a damaged passport can be a real headache. Airlines and immigration authorities can deny boarding or entry if your passport is damaged, even if it's just a minor issue." What counts as passport damage? Many travelers assume "damage" means something extreme. But according to U.S. government standards-and the experts who work with passports every day-the threshold is much lower.

I spent 15 years working in the travel industry, specifically as an airline check-in and gate agent for the majority of that time. During those years, I encountered a variety of amusing, shocking, and often frustrating mistakes made by passengers. As someone who has traveled to over 40 countries, I know how stressful flying can be. However, being courteous to airline agents will actually increase your likelihood of receiving help, ensuring you board your flight and take off seamlessly.

According to the U.S. Department of State, damage includes "stains from a liquid, a significant tear, unofficial markings on the data page, missing visa pages (torn out), or a hole punch." In practice, what counts as "damage" isn't always clear-cut, and different countries may have different standards. A mark that one border agent ignores might lead another to reject your document entirely. That uncertainty makes souvenir stamps risky since you never know how they'll be interpreted next.