Tourist's Guide to Spot Damaged Passports for Trouble-Free Travel
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Editor
3 July 2024 21:56 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Earlier this week, an incident went viral on social media where a local celebrity was denied check-in at Kualanamu Airport in Medan because her passport was considered damaged by an airport officer.
Damaged passports are the bane of tourists’ plans to travel abroad. Unsuspecting tourists are often caught off-guard by this issue which could end up ruining their entire holiday. But what are the characteristics of a damaged passport?
Characteristics of a Damaged Passport
According to Article 35 of Ministerial Regulation No. 8 of 2014, a passport is dubbed damaged if the information inside becomes unclear, or gives the impression that it is no longer appropriate as an official document.
In its upload on Facebook, the Directorate General of Immigration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights mentioned five characteristics of a damaged passport, namely:
- Tear
- Perforation
- Stains/scratches
- Wet
- Folded.
So, before you head to the airport, check your passport for signs of damage such as tears, stains, or missing pages. Make sure the front page containing your photo and data is damage-free. Always keep your passport in a safe, dry, and protected place, at home or when traveling.
Other Reasons for Passport Invalidation
Apart from being damaged, passports can also be invalid for several reasons, including expiration. Some countries do not allow tourists to enter if their passports will expire in 6 months or less.
A passport can also be invalid when the blank pages inside run out. People who frequently travel abroad will often have a visa affixed to their passport as well as stamps from the country of origin and destination. Some countries deny entry unless at least 2 to 4 pages remain blank in the passport.
Fake passports will also be invalid so make sure you apply for a passport in legitimate locations and avoid brokers and scammers. Large airports such as Soekarno-Hatta Airport provide accelerated passport-making service that will have you travel-ready in a matter of hours.
TEMPO.CO
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