Your passport is still valid but you were denied boarding? Beware of 5 small problems that may prevent you from entering the country

Customs is never a relaxing place, and even if everything goes smoothly, the whole process can still be stressful. If you encounter passport problems again, the situation may quickly deteriorate, and you may even be denied boarding or unable to enter the country.

According to Yahoo News (Yahoo), many people don’t know that even if their passport is still valid, it may be stopped because of some seemingly insignificant details. Here are a few common but easily overlooked passport issues that you must pay attention to before departure.

{99 9} 1. Even minor damage

coffee stains, water damage, torn pages, worn passport covers, and warped plastic films. These seemingly innocuous damages may cause the passport to fail to be scanned by the machine, or be deemed to have been "altered," resulting in the passenger being denied clearance.

Some countries (such as Indonesia) have particularly strict requirements on passport integrity. According to a 2023 AeroTime report, at least three passengers were denied boarding by airlines on their way to Bali due to minor damage to their passports.

Professional advice: Put your passport in a protective case to avoid scratches and wear.

2. The remaining validity of the passport is less than six months.

Many countries stipulate that the passport must be valid for at least six months when entering the country. In other words, even if your passport has not expired and is only valid for three or four months, it may still be refused by airlines or customs officers.

Most countries such as the United States implement a "six-month validity policy" and will publish a list of exceptions on the government website.

3. Inconsistent names may also affect boarding

If you have recently changed your name due to marriage or other reasons, please ensure that the name on the ticket and passport are exactly the same. For example, a passenger changed his spouse's surname to book a ticket after getting married, but his passport still used his old surname. As a result, he was rejected when boarding the plane.

Some airlines accept applications for name change due to marriage, but each airline has different policies and usually requires additional documents and processing time.

4. Wrong position of passport stamp

The entry and exit stamp should be stamped on the designated page of the passport. If the stamp is placed in the wrong place (for example, on the photo page, visa page or back cover), or if the passport no longer has a blank page, border officials may be confused and may even suspect that the document has been forged or altered.

There was a family that was almost unable to leave Ireland smoothly because an official mistakenly stamped the entry stamp on the photo page of a little girl. Although the problem was eventually eliminated, the process was quite stressful.

If you find that the wrong page has been stamped, please report it to the official on the spot so that the stamp can be replaced or a certificate can be obtained as soon as possible.

5. Unofficial stamps or marks may render the passport invalid

Some travelers like to collect commemorative stamps (such as theme parks, military posts, equator lines, etc.) in their passports, or put stickers and take notes. However, only border or diplomatic personnel have the authority to mark passports.

These unofficial marks will be regarded as "damaged passport" or "unauthorized alteration" in some countries, and may be grounds for denial of entry. Customs agencies in many countries, including the United States, have issued warnings about this.

Sometimes, a small detail is enough to make you miss your flight or be blocked at the border. If you have any concerns about your passport, you may wish to get a new document in advance to ensure a smooth journey.