Quick answer
Short answer
You should not plan to travel with a damaged passport. Airlines and border officials can refuse a passport they consider damaged even if it has not expired, and that decision is made at the counter.
What counts as damage
Ordinary wear is fine. These are not.
- Water exposure or staining
- Torn or detached covers and pages
- Unofficial writing or stickers on the data page
- A chip that no longer reads
Why people get caught out
The passport still opens, the photo is still there, and it still shows a future expiration date. None of that matters if the inspecting officer calls it damaged.
Replace a damaged passport
Answer a few questions and see which passport route still fits your travel date.
XpressPass is a private passport assistance service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of State or any other government agency. Government passport fees are separate from XpressPass service fees. Passport issuance decisions are made solely by the U.S. government.