Damaged passport guidance: when replacement is the safe answer
An unexpired passport can still be unusable. Damage to personal details, pages or the cover can lead to denied boarding or border delays, so condition needs its own check.
The document must also be intact and readable.
A carrier can refuse a doubtful document.
Do not ask the airport to decide.
What official guidance treats as damage
HM Passport Office says a British passport must be replaced if damaged and warns that travel may not be possible. Examples include unreadable details, ripped, cut or missing pages, holes or tears in the cover, a cover coming away and stains such as ink or water damage.
Other issuing countries use their own standards. The question is whether the issuing authority and carrier consider it a valid travel document, not whether it still looks mostly acceptable.
Do not repair or alter the passport
Do not tape, glue, laminate, trim or repair a passport yourself. Alterations can obscure security features and make the document look tampered with.
Keep it dry and inspect the photo page, machine-readable lines, visa pages, binding and cover before booking.
If you notice damage close to travel
Contact the issuing authority immediately and check urgent replacement options. Do not rely only on an airline call-centre answer: the carrier assesses documents at check-in and the border authority decides admission.
If already abroad, contact your embassy or consulate. Emergency documents can have route and transit limits, so confirm every connection before rebooking.
Common mistakes
What to avoid
It scans on my phone
A home scan does not prove that a carrier or border system will accept it.
Trying to repair it
Tape, glue or lamination can create a tampering concern.
Checking only the photo page
Missing pages, cover damage and stains elsewhere still matter.
Quick answers
Common questions
Can I travel with a water-damaged passport?
Do not assume so. HM Passport Office lists water stains as damage and says a damaged passport must be replaced.
Is a small tear enough to stop travel?
The issuing authority decides. Seek official advice and replace the passport when in doubt.
Can I tape a loose page or cover?
Do not alter or repair the passport. Contact the issuing authority.
Source record
Confirm with the authority
These official pages informed this guide. Open the relevant source again close to travel.
Links checked 5th September 2026