Travel
fromTravel + Leisure
9 hours agoCan You Fly With a Damaged Passport? Here's What You Need to Know
Minor passport damage can prompt airlines or immigration officers to deny boarding or entry.
According to the U.S. Department of State, damage includes "stains from a liquid, a significant tear, unofficial markings on the data page, missing visa pages (torn out), or a hole punch." In practice, what counts as "damage" isn't always clear-cut, and different countries may have different standards. A mark that one border agent ignores might lead another to reject your document entirely. That uncertainty makes souvenir stamps risky since you never know how they'll be interpreted next.