Passport Damage

kisuke47

I put my passport in the washing machine and the front cover is a little damaged, nothing else seems to be hurt just some spots on the front cover can I still use it?

scherbchen

I used to work with passports a lot and I have seen way, way worse than that and still being used heavily for travel. As long as the data page with personal data is undamaged and there still is a way to affix visas and stamps you are fine.

Local H Jay

Mine looks worse at this very second

zepherin

That’s fine as long as the official markings and personal data is intact.

From department of state
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/passport-help/faqs.html

If your passport has been significantly damaged, especially the book cover or the page displaying your personal data and photo, you will need to apply for a new passport. Damage that might require you to replace your passport includes water damage, a significant tear, unofficial markings on the data page, missing visa pages (torn out), a hole punch, or other injuries.

Normal "wear and tear" of a U.S. passport is expected and likely does not count as "damage." For instance normal wear includes the bend of a passport after being carried in your back pocket or fanning of the visa pages after extensive opening and closing.

Quid

scherbchen wrote: »

I used to work with passports a lot and I have seen way, way worse than that and still being used heavily for travel. As long as the data page with personal data is undamaged and there still is a way to affix visas and stamps you are fine.

To add on to this, I have put my own passport through the washing machine three times so far. It looks much worse than that but Canada still high fived me on the way in.