This Minor Passport Error Could End Your Vacation

"Just as many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your return date, they also mandate a minimum number of blank pages for entry stamps and visas. According to Dr. Mohanjeet Brar, M.D. of Gamewatchers Safaris, this detail is one of the most frequently overlooked. "While most travelers remember to check expiry dates, blank pages for entry stamps and visas are often forgotten," he said. "Airlines can refuse boarding, and border officials can deny entry, leaving travelers stranded before the holiday even begins.""

"The issue becomes especially thorny on itineraries that span multiple countries. Namibia, for example, requires three blank pages. "The entry stamp alone takes almost an entire page, and if you need an extension permit, that's another page," Dr. Brar noted. If Namibia happens to be the final stop on a multi-country tour of Southern Africa - where neighboring countries often require at least two blank pages themselves - things can unravel quickly."

""It's so situationally dependent that it's hard to know given all the variables," one Reddit user wrote on a forum dedicated to the issue. "Some countries absolutely will not admit you if you don't have the requisite number of blank pages. I've seen it happen." "In the U.S., a lot of the time they catch it during check-in and won't let the traveler board the plane," they added. "That's ideal, since they aren't forced on a long flight back home after being denied""

Many countries require a minimum number of blank passport pages for entry stamps and visas in addition to passport validity requirements. Travelers frequently overlook the need for blank pages, which can lead airlines to refuse boarding and border officials to deny entry, stranding travelers. Namibia requires three blank pages; an entry stamp can occupy almost an entire page and extension permits require additional pages. Southern African itineraries that include multiple countries can quickly use up pages when neighboring states require two pages. Enforcement varies widely, and some airlines or border agents will enforce the rule while others may be lenient.

Read at InsideHook