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Can my wife enter Thailand with a slightly wet passport that is now dry?

passport condition Thailand immigration visa travel travel risks expat advice

September 27, 2024

3 days ago

Hernanda **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi, my wife will go to Bangkok next month and we worried about her passport that got slightly wet. Now the passport is completely dry. 

The identity page is having no issue. 

Can someone give us an advice about this? 

Can she enter Thailand border with her passport condition?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The inquiry regarding traveling to Thailand with a water-damaged passport led to varied opinions from the community. Many advised against taking the risk, suggesting that, while some have traveled successfully with similar damage, the potential for complications at immigration is significant. Key concerns raised included the visibility of visa stamps and potential damage to the biometric chip. Suggestions included replacing the passport if time allows, as emerging issues at immigration can lead to stress and inconvenience. Overall, the consensus leaned towards caution, emphasizing the importance of a valid and undamaged passport for peace of mind during travel.

Ian *********

they made me go bkk and get an emergency one when that happened to me.cost £100 then had to get a new one when bk in the uk.its a 1 use and they take it off u when u return to uk ,but its ok for travel around anywhere but uk.

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Mike *******

I found this on internet:

**************************************************************************************

*****

1/severity-of-water-damage-on-passport

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Mike *******

The Identity Page is the most important part!

Just go to your town hall and have your passport checked for validity and if in doubt, order a new one. Express passports are issued within a few days!

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Declan **********

if you have a bio chip passport. Both the Bio page and chip are just as important as each other. If the chip has corrupt data or cannot be read at all the passport is invalid because the chip cannot be cross checked with the bio page which could be a sign of tampering.

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Mike *******

@Declan *********

absolutely 👍. That’s what I meant by identify page. The biometric data is in/on that page. But for some reasons the “stamp” Pages (don’t know the correct term) could be also important for some immigration officials.

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Mike *******

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Den***

I had big problem with air Asia fly from Malaysia to Thailand once for same reason

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Billy *******

Agree with other posters get a new one if you have time.

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Paul ******

New passport not worth the chance get a priority order passport

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Patrick ****

Get a letter from respective embassy to certify the passport is a original true copy.

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Giorgio ******

why ask? be smart

get a new one . no risk

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John ******

Email the photos to thai customs before you go. I m sure thetll be OK

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Bob *********

Dont risk it get a new one quick and be certain

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Mike **********

Asking a question like this

Is a total waste of your time

Get a grip

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Jervis ***************

gambling pak. kalo emang bapak mau coba dan aman. aku ada VIP LINE

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Marc ********

My old passport was in worse condition.

Nobody ever said anything

I even pulled out some visas from Cambodia. The glue was still there and 2 pages sticking together.

Thai immigration looking little bit confused but didn't say anything😅

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Brian ********

Question have you thought about phoning a passport office and asking if they can see you ASAP to replace your water damage passport ?

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John ******

Get a new passport. Somebody here in Dublin was refused boarding to BKK as they had a tiny rip on an empty page.

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Bart **************

I would not risk it.

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Carlo ********

Is a Thai passport?

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Carlo ********

Last year I was I had my Italian passport ruin little bit from my dog I flu from bkk to Milan without problem a week after I want to fly from Milan to London at checkin they do not allowed to fly with that passport I had to make a new one and lost the ticket

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Ivan ************

it's Indonesian, they also have Garuda as their national symbol

************************************

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Ivan ************

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Prakash *******

Mine was a lot worse and never had a problem

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Scott *********

Tell her go see government office not Facebook

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Leo **********

I’d replace that as damaged passport. Smeared visa stamps.

I used to work at the passport office and that’s classed as damaged. Replace asap.

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Anthony *******

No problem.

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Scott *******

Iron it VERY carefully

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Eddie ********

Why take a chance and ruin your trip???? Get a new one so you have peace of mind during your trip.

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Brandon *******

Should get it replaced, the stamps being smeared is the issue they want to know where people have been. If you’re state side and east coast it may be worthwhile to go to Philadelphia to get a replacement if they still do that. If you’re abroad maybe check with the embassy or consulate but they can only do emergency replacements good to get you back to the states (I think).

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Karl ******************

If your a foreigner coming from France you don’t need one apparently 😅

I’m sure it’ll be fine

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Jo *******

Happened to my passport when my water bottle leaked. I was warned by an immigration officer to get a new passport after he let me through, which I did.

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Stephen ***********

As long as your last entry date and exit are readable you should be ok

Same happened to me a few years back

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Michael *******

Better to replace in home country than run into Issues whilst overseas then it’s a lot of grief.

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Michael ********

I would get it replaced to be safe

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Parijat *************

Very high chance of rejection

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David *******

Iron the pages carefully and my “opinion” is old stamps are irrelevant.

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Struyf *********

1 friend from my have bigg problems

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Struyf *********

Go to your embassy asked duplicate

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Graeme ********

Replace it if you can. You’re taking chances with it to be honest.

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Clare ******************

Friend got in on a P/P that went through washing machine. Stamp was still legible. Was told to get a new passport asap.

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Alan **********

Its a gamble

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Rhys *****

I just arrived 2 days ago, my passport is much worse - been in the washing machine about 3 times, used it

***

times to get into Thailand, Never had an issue.

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Jo **********

I have 3 passports for over 30 years and never damaged. Grow up and take care of your documents

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Rhys *****

😂😂😂 it’s not intentional, why are you so arsed - do you want a medal fella

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Rhys *****

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Mani ******

Faced same issue earlier all pages should be intact

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Mani ******

No problem go head

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Chris ********

I had similar and they insisted I got a new passport. They wouldn't budge. Although my extension of stay stamp was smudged you could still see the expiry date.....nope, they still wouldn't budge.

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Biitzy **********************

smile

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Barry ***********

I had a problem, a few years ago, because my passport got wet, nothing unrecognisable but the pages were dog eared, it wasn’t as bad as yours and had some real problems with passport control in a couple of countries. Get a new passports asap!

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Ian ***********

My one went through the washing machine about 4 years ago. Still using it today.

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David ***********

Hey, I know this is a bit "Too little - too late" but I bought one of these. I'm travelling by bicycle and often get caught out in the rain, so this was a super great investment - especially at this time of year.

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Adrian ******

@David **********

same here. Inside a small dry bag and then in my panniers.

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David ***********

It makes sense to keep the most valuable thing we're carrying well protected!

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David ***********

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Jo **********

@David **********

that’s BS I have 3 passports for over 30 years and never damaged. Grow up and take care of your documents

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David ***********

- That's exactly what I'm doing, genius.

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Jo **********

@David **********

obviously not ! you need plastic baggy over them. anyway I am joking 🙃 a bit

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Jo **********

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Simon *******************

I did about 3 border crossings on my water damaged passport. Then was told i would be declined an extension unless i got a new one at immigration. My advice is get a new one ordered ASAP. Mine only took 11 days but when i spoke to the UK office they said it could take up to 80 days.

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Douglas *******

Get a new passport. Pay for a rushed passport then no worries. Enjoy a stress free trip that way.

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Bobby *********

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Chrisna **********

New passport NOW.. you can show the receipt for application and HOPEFULLY that helps.. doubt it, but can try

. Apply NOW.

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Kev **********

Why ask on here? There is no right answer.

The Immigration Officer will decide. So just renew it.

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Vishnu ********

It takes just 4 or 5 days to get a new passport in India...Get a new one...in case u have any valid visas , this booklet will be stapled to the new one......

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Tony **********

Mine went through the washer. Older stamps list their date but have had no issues with recent stamps.

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David *******

@Tony *********

mine too. Were u pissed up too? Haha

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Tony **********

no, sent clothes to the laundry with it in back pocket! I don't need booze to be stupid on occasion!

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David *******

@Tony *********

at least I'm not the only numpty lol

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Tony **********

we're an international brotherhood!

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Tony **********

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Sandeep **************

There is no worries but tell her to Carry 20 k baht in cash hotel bookings Atleast 3 or 4 days rest if you any problems in Bangkok and pattaya can contact me

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Gerhard ***********

Screw the conflicting comments don’t take a chance and find out from officials or get a new ne if time permits and enjoy your trip instead of getting sent back. I know the people at immigration offices every time I go there even though Iam 99.9% prepared correctly they always find something new that’s not right!. Wonder whats next wrong color underwear or eye lashers not combed???

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Jo **********

@Gerhard **********

wow Mr Anger

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Andrew *******

@Gerhard **********

sock colour might be an issue 🤣

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Andrew *******

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Bertie *********

I would change it because in any case it’s illegal to tamper with this document. Legally this is tampered and the Immigration Officer is under his/her Rights to stop your wife from entering any Country.

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David *******

@Bertie ********

wrong. It ain't tampered. It has signs of exposure to moisture only. Tampered is when someone tried to replace the photograph or name etc. Mine went through full cycle of washing machine and was no problem. Actually an immigration officer in Kazakhstan queried it . Held me up twenty minutes but was accepted.

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Bertie *********

I mentioned what I will (to be on the right side of the law) do under such conditions.

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David *******

@Bertie ********

well Bertie you should check with the passport issuing authority. They alone determine what complies with the law and your opinion is worth Jack Sh1t. I was told by uk passport agency that washing machine cycle didn't invalidate mine. In fact it was much cleaner and smelled so fresh!

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Bertie *********

I am a World traveller and wouldn’t take a risk, in any case my Passport gets filled up between 2 and 3 years and I have to get a new one, currently I am on Passport # 13.

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David *******

@Bertie ********

I'm so impressed Bertie. Traveling the world hey. Where else is there to travel ? I paid extra £15 got another 20 pages in my passport. Doesn't need to fill up so quickly. Maybe you get so many stamps moving around as a drugs mule or chasing duty free?

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Declan **********

wtf are you smoking? It doesn't matter what your home country regards as a valid or an invalid passport. It's down to the country you are arriving in and what they deem acceptable and unacceptable and this varies country to country and even IO to IO

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David *******

@Declan *********

on that basis nobody can be totally confident their passport won't cause a concern to some over zealous pedantic IO. that's extreme. The uk passport agency knows what they're talking about. They could easily have said “replace it” but it's good to hear you know more about passports than they do. What a feckin arse u are.

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Declan **********

you were saying? 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

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David *******

@Declan *********

well they changed their advice. That's not the advice they gave me in 2010.

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Declan **********

it has been the same since I damaged my passport in 2006 and was told it needed to be replace. You were given bad advice and were lucky nobody was really that bothered back then, but now its at the point that if you have a bio chip passport and the data is corrupt or the chip is damaged and can't be read you'll be denied at check-in as the data on the chip cannot be cross referenced with the passport bio page and most, if not all passport controls will deny you entry for having a chip that cant be used as it could be a sign of passport tampering.

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Declan **********

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Peter ****************

Maybe a stupid remark, but if you have a new passport, the stamps will still be damaged. Okay, when also showing a brandnew passport, the chances at imm. will be better I think. Also a question pops up; Is it possible to have stamps in a Thai Embassy or some kind of letter ??

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Janelle *****

The real question is why isn’t it in a protective waterproof holder :(

Sorry this happened.

You should replace it the stamps and smeared so they won’t be able to read if any were overstays etc

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David *******

are u thick? All entries and exits are computerized. You really think the immigration office needs to check a passport physically to find entry and exit dates?

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Janelle *****

you’ve never been to Philippines then lol

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David *******

dozens of times. Even there entry and exit is in computer database. The only thing they obsess about is cash receipts for visa extensions because they don't place a new stamp in passport each time you extend. (They save on cost 25 stamps for 1 piso.) So gotta show cash receipts or risk being asked to pay again. Cash is king in PI diba

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Janelle *****

yes it’s king there but I use the diplomatic entry for there . But I have seen them criticize stamps

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Janelle *****

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Isi *************

I had the same, but my current stamp was ok. So when I was at the airport no one asked about either I had any problems

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Michal *********

Do you want safe advice? The most safest is staying inside of your home without leaving…

Reality

1. In this “correct and developed” countries some people are making more troubles than

2. In “poor” countries you will be okay

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Pertti *************

It's ok if asking me. Police have checked my passport when raining multiple times🤡

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Todd *********

@Pertti ************

lol. You are definitely doing something wrong

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Pertti *************

can't do these rain here nothing🤣

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Todd *********

@Pertti ************

I’ve never shown my passport to police. Nor would they ask for it.

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Pertti *************

passport is first what they ask us even we thai passport, license etc.. Here pattaya they check everytime first passport then other documents🙏

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Todd *********

@Pertti ************

they don’t check passport if you don’t carry it. Show drivers license and off you go

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Christopher ***********

They do at an all vehicle, all persons, all ID document roadblock check. Never experienced one of these yet in Thailand though.

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Todd *********

@Christopher **********

me neither

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Todd *********

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Damo ***********

Looks like a 'damaged' passport to me. You should consider which option you can afford to take:-

1. fix it now and get a new passport, or

2. deal with any issue/problem (if it actually eventuates) at Immigration point. Is the 'stress' now worth it?

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Rob ******

I washed my while in Thailand old stamps smeared some gone and I have been in and out a few time and got extensions as long as your ID page is ok 👌

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Jo **********

why did you that

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Rob ******

agreed

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Rob ******

well in Thailand your suppose to carry your passport with you at all times especially in Bangkok because there are sometimes random passport check points. I think it was law that foreigners have to have their passport on them. It might of changed but I have a Thai driver’s license now and a picture of my visa so I just keep it at home

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Jo **********

I live in the mountains near chiang mai. We drive around without a license or anything. Never take my passport with me within Thailand. But I am not normal.

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Rob ******

also this was when I lived in bkk

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Jo **********

I used to live in Chiang Rai, in my opinion best city on the earth

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Rob ******

well I live in chiang rai and it’s a little different here in the north

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Rob ******

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Rob ******

it was in my pants pocket when I did laundry

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Jo **********

Since I fly at least once a month I need my passport desperately. I have a protocol come home goes in a special draw

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Jo **********

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John **********

Change it, why take the risk??

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Rohit ********

in simple words no immigration officer will not allow to enter

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Neil ******

This happened to my mate but the passport was declined at Manchester airport on his way to Thailand, had to rebook flights and get a new passport, he had flown with it like that numerous times with no issues, it only takes one official to say it’s no good.

If you’ve got time then replace it

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Jo **********

yes but that is the UK in which those people will reject for any reason. And when those people were part of the EU they were not part of the Schengen Zone. Those people!

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Christopher ***********

Solid advice from experience!

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Christopher ***********

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Alan *********

Take a chance if you are happy with a rejection!

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David *******

who's gonna be "happy" with a rejection ? You have nothing useful to say so read what those who do have to say and shut TF up!

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Alan *********

“ who’s going to be happy with a rejection “ exactly so they need to renew the passport. But I suppose what I said goes straight over the head of PORK.

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Alan *********

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Mark ********

Mine got wet 4 years ago after I jumped into a pool with p/p in pocket. All pages wet. Some older stamps smudged a little. Ive never been stopped or asked at Immigration.."what happenned here"?

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David *******

i accidentally put mine in washing machine while pissed up in 2010. I panicked cos I used it every week flying back and forth to Germany. I called passport office and was told it's no problem ! I did my best to flatten it by placing it under heavy objects for 24 hours. Never had a problem. I learned not to load the washing machine without checking pockets while pissed up!

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Andrew *******

I know a couple of people who were worried because their passport got wet ....but in the end didn't have any problems .. depends on the immigration officer

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Andrew *******

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Maruf *********

get a new one in soekarno hatta airport, get it in just few hours.

************************************************

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Declan **********

Stamps are smeared, faded or gone. Bio chip could also be damaged.

You might get through but in my experinece must IOs will reject it, airline might even reject it too. Just replace it rather than risk it

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Radost **************************

@Declan *********

bio chip is not important

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Graeme ********

@Radost *************************

the bio chip is super important.

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Andrew ***********

@Radost *************************

then why do they put them if they not important ?

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Radost **************************

@Andrew **********

passport is still valid if chip is not working

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Declan **********

@Radost *************************

a lot of countries will now reject a passport with a bio chip that isn't working because the details can't be cross referenced with the actual physical passport and it could be a sign of tampering.

Even airlines can and will reject you for having a corrupted chip or chip that can't be scanned.

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Graeme ********

@Declan *********

exactly.

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Graeme ********

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Ian *****

Depends on immigration officer decision. And no one on FB can accurately predict what they might decide. Safe bet is replace it as then guaranteed no issues, or risk it and see what happens

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Greg ************

I second

on this 👍

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Louis ********

only correct answer in my opinion

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Louis ********

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Gareth ********

It looks fine and probably won’t have a problem. I’ve been fine with worse.

But! If you have time to get a new one then always get a new one.

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Brandon ************

If it was just the wavy pages I'd say it's okay, but those stamps are clearly smeared. I'd say it's highly risky to travel with this passport. Almost every immigration officer I've ever encountered flips through multiple pages and if they see that they're very likely to reject the entire passport as damaged.

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Brandon ************

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