Removing sticky luggage label residue from back cover of passport has removed some colour - problem?

NormalforNorfolk

My blue passport had really stubborn luggage label residue on the back cover which was proving difficult to remove. Someone suggested nail polish remover which has worked but it has lifted some of the colour from the cover and left a white patch. Is that a problem when travelling -would it count as damage and make it ineligible for use? As I said, it is the back external cover so none of the pages which are scanned are affected.

la531983

They only care about the inside, stickers on mine have left a right mess.

Woodstok2000

The back of my last passport got bleached (don't ask), and it never caused an issue.

grumpy_codger

Next time use white spirit, not acetone. The latter can even dissolve some plastics.

greyteam1959

WD40 for removing any sticky residue

ThorOdinson

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82135152#Comment_82135152

Tempted to do mine. I hate the new black ones. Maybe I can dye it burgundy.

shunsumaker

@NormalforNorfolk At one point, my old passport also looked pretty battered. I didn't use any nail polish remover, though. One spot on the front was really faded ... I have no idea what caused it. Apparently, no one at border control noticed it, or at least there was never any comment about it.

I wouldn't smear anything else on it now. The stain looks noticeable at first, but you might end up dissolving even more colour with the next attempt. I definitely wouldn't go near it with nail polish remover again anyway.

However, if there is a tear or something is peeling off the front, I'd be worried. Especially if the chip is affected. Just because of the light spot alone, I definitely wouldn't have stressed myself out back then.

If you have time, send a photo and ask if the passport is OK like that. Then at least you'll have an answer beforehand.

NormalforNorfolk

Thanks for the responses. Just to clarify some of the comments asked in response to my post - the only part of the passport which is affected is the outside back cover where the luggage tickets had been stuck by someone on check in. There is no damage to the front cover nor the inside pages with the photos/signature. I definitely won’t be putting anymore nailvarnish remover on the cover again!

la531983

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82143937#Comment_82143937

As well meaning as that last line is, what is "OK" for someone at Heathrow may not be OK for someone in Bangkok. Just a general point.

diveunderthebonnet

When we travelled in September from Newcastle airport the Jet2 staff stuck the luggage labels on the printed boarding passes ,they said they are not allowed to stick them on the passports now.

la531983

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82166489#Comment_82166489

When plenty of airlines (including Jet2 themselves) now have paperless boarding cards, either by choice or compulsory, thats not a system that can ever be universal.