What is classed as “damaged” / “tampering” Passport

Coreylewis23

Hi all.

Following on from my previous thread...

To summarise I am from the UK, I have a SMALL tear at the bottom of my passport photo page (rest of the passport is fine) but the tear is at the bottom of the page in the middle in between two numbers of the MRZ.

I have spoken to EasyJet on Facebook and Twitter they said it “should” be fine. I have spoken to 2 friends who work for EasyJet they said “They have seen miles worse” and “I’m worrying about nothing”.

Which is right, I worry about the SLIGHTEST THING and I am refusing to get excited about my holiday until I am in my hotel in Italy.

My question is today what is classed as “tampering” is every type of “repair” on the passport classed as tampering or is there a way I can fix it?, my girlfriend put a tiny bit of clear cello tape on the back and you can no longer guess that there is a rip. Presuming that this is tampering?.

Any advice??

soolin

Why have you asked the same question again? You have replies on your previous thread, your additional question about tampering can just be added to,that thread.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5840128/mrz-slightly-tore-but-still-readable-please-help-holiday-in-6-days

eDicky

Coreylewis23 wrote: »

I have spoken to EasyJet on Facebook and Twitter they said it “should” be fine. I have spoken to 2 friends who work for EasyJet they said “They have seen miles worse” and “I’m worrying about nothing”.

Why ask for advice, then refuse to accept it?

Tampering is a different thing to repair, even when that is unnecessary.

Your focus is misdirected. The problem is not in your passport but in your mind, that's where repair is needed.

Placitasgirl

Corey,

Nobody here can tell you definitively whether the tear in your passport will be an issue during your trip. Nobody who works for an airline and has "seen far worse" can give you the absolute reassurance that you seem to be seeking, even if they had seen your passport.

Surely in the time since your original post the most sensible thing to have done would have been to seek "official" advice and guidance from the Passport Office and to have applied for a fast track replacement if deemed necessary or advisable?

With your date of travel now so close you really have no choice but either to delay or postpone your travel or to wing it and hope for the best. It sounds like you'll have a dreadful journey worrying about whether you'll be allowed to enter Italy on arrival and that's a real shame as seeking advice from the right people in time could have prevented this situation and tying yourself up in knots over it.

Westin

The OP also posted on Trip Advisor!!!8217;s Air Travel forum before posting the original thread on MSE (this the second thread on here). He/she received lots of views and answers on the TA thread before coming on the MSE. OP has also been in to Post Offices and what appears a random travel agency to seek advise.

I think Placitasgirl has summarised well.

Pollycat

Corey
What you want is for everyone - here, Tripadvisor, travel agents, Post Office, Easyjet, friends, aquaintances, the bloke down the pub - all to reassure you that your passport will be fine.

It's simply not going to happen because nobody can do that.

You have tampered with your passport.
You have put sellotape over a tear.
Whether the only people that matter i.e. Immigration officials notice that is something that will or won't happen.

As another poster has said, it's too late for you to do anything at this stage (it was too late when you first posted) so you have to go with your damaged, tampered-with passport and hope for the best.

As I posted on your other thread:

Pollycat wrote: »

Seriously - what are your options?
You either travel on your damaged passport and hope for the best or you postpone your holiday (if that's even possible).

Trying to get reassurance from random strangers on t'internet isn't going to do any good.

FWIW, I think you'll be OK.
Other posters have said they think you'll be OK.
That really is the best you'll get.

Have a great time.
And try to stop worrying - it's not going to make any difference.

Reading this might help:
It's from GOV.UK and is guidance for examiners when damaged passports are sent for renewal - so not what Immigration officials class as damaged:

4. Definition of a damaged passport

A damaged passport is one which isn’t in a condition to be accepted as proof of identity. Damage may include the following:

• details are indecipherable
• the laminate has lifted enough to allow the possibility of photo substitution
• discolouration to the bio-data page
• chemical or ink spillage on any page
• missing or detached pages
• the chip or antenna shows through the end paper on the back cover for the new style e-passports
• the chip has been identified as damaged after investigation

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/damaged-and-faulty-passports/damaged-and-faulty-passports-policy

smudge56

Passport is damaged. Fill out a new form. Enclose a statement detailing how the damage occurred. End of.

jackieblack

smudge56 wrote: »

Passport is damaged. Fill out a new form. Enclose a statement detailing how the damage occurred. End of.

OP is travelling in the next couple of days (going by their other thread) https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/74262615#Comment_74262615

I wonder whether they'll come back and let us know the outcome?

Pollycat

Indeed, Jackie.


The OP posted on 8th May that he was 'flying in 7 days from today' - which is today.
So there's no way, he could get a replacement passport at this stage. :cool:


One week to replace a damaged passport was pushing it anyway.
He could only have used the '1 week Fast Track' service, not the 'Premium Service'.