delilah26 asked:
I’m going on holiday in a couple of days and I want to use a passport cover that has a clear window inside to disguise where the laminate is peeling up ( The photo is intact but is peeling all the way up at the corner so am starting to panic!!) Am I going to get asked to remove it or will it be ok if they can see the details and the photo through the clear plastic window. Does anybody have a passport cover and have you been asked to remove it?
I’m going on holiday in a couple of days and I want to use a passport cover that has a clear window inside to disguise where the laminate is peeling up ( The photo is intact but is peeling all the way up at the corner so am starting to panic!!) Am I going to get asked to remove it or will it be ok if they can see the details and the photo through the clear plastic window. Does anybody have a passport cover and have you been asked to remove it?
I’ve always removed mine first, so that they do not have to ask. Of course they will remove it from the cover. It is one of the first things they look at for a fake passport – the laminate lifting is a sure sign. That’s why I got a new passport when mine decided to do exactly the same thing.
My brother recently came back off holiday and he was asked to remove the cover….sorry!
Check-in are unlikely to remove the cover as they just want proof of ID. Customs are also unlikely as they’re more interested in what you’re carrying rather than who you are – but if you are carrying something undesirable then your passport could be checked.
Where you could have a problem is at immigration / passport control. These people check your passport very carefully and signs of tampering will be looked at closely. They may also need to remove the cover in order to scan the photo page using an electronic reader – the slot is quite thin so a cover could make the passport photo page too thick.
To avoid problems, get your passport renewed – though it’s too late for you now. I saw an episode of Airport (real life documentary of Heathrow) and a man was arrested because his photo was suspect (cover peeling away). He was held overnight while more queries were made – and then released when they found out he was genuine – but he was advised to get a new passport before travelling again!
On entry to the UK customs require you remove the passport from its cover. Possibly similar on entry to US. Its so they can scan the security details automatically.
Most other places I’ve visited recently don’t mind.