Are you sure your passport is valid?
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) 2016-17 Consular State of Play report, 7370 emergency passports were issued to Aussie travellers in the last year. And while around 4,500 were due to passports being reported stolen or lost, a staggering number had to be replaced as a result of physical damage or because they were invalid.
Sure, you pay for a passport thinking it’ll last you 10 years, but some countries require a buffer (usually six months before your passport’s official expiry date) in order for you to enter.
“Well before travel, travellers should check that their passport will meet the minimum validity requirements of the countries they plan to visit or transit," DFAT advises.
And don’t make the mistake of overestimating the durability of your passport, either. “A passport with damage, especially to the photo page, may not be accepted at borders, leading to expensive inconvenience and a requirement to replace the passport during the trip. Even small tears can render a passport invalid.”
According to DFAT, the most common causes of damage to passports are water damage and torn pages. “Travellers should avoid carrying their passport in their back pocket (this also helps to prevent passports being accidentally washed).”
Have you ever had to be issued an emergency passport? Or been refused to board a flight because your passport wasn't valid? Share your story with us in the comments below.