How to tell if a damaged passport needs to be replaced?

[myfavouritescar]

My passport was in my backpack whilst caught in a downpour. It was quite wet but has since dried out. This happened while I was in the USA. I then entered Canada, re-entered the USA and flew home. I know the chip is not damaged. All of the entry and exit stamps and intact. I currently have a visa for the UK which is also undamaged. The only problem is the photo has changed colour and the part that says Holder's Signature and Place of birth (in French) is blurred, the english is not affected. The lamination on the photo page is intact. The back of the photo page has purplish ink that has come through in the shape of my face. I've rung APIS who advised I could take it into the Passport Office in Sydney to be looked at but couldn't provide me with an appointment time. I'm currently at home recovering from an appendecectomy and am unable to travel into Sydney currently. I need to travel in 5 weeks to - USA - Canada - USA - Mexico - USA - UK. I know with the USA they just scan it and look at the details stored in the system. What would you do? It's only a few hundred dollars to get a new one plus filling in a stat dec to report how it got damaged but it's still $300 I'd rather have in my pocket considering the damage may not even be noticable. It's also maintaining the validity of the visa I'm concerned about.

Prior to damage - Post damage

Thanks for any opinions. I'm going to be keeping my passport in a zip lock bag from now on!

 

[flyingfan]

IMHO I would get a new passport. Damage of the level you're describing might raise red flags at border controls and I don't know if the biometrics would be affected but I personally wouldn't take the chance and would really want to avoid the grilling and tine wasted as they'd likely subject you to to confirm it's not a bodgy passport.

 

[Mal]

My passport is in worse condition - my face has a couple of large green marks where ink has bled through, and some of the text is also smudged (so pretty similar to yours, although mine is much more obvious).

It's been that way for a couple of years at least. Due to my UK Visa, I don't want to replace it (yet), but will replace it eventually.

Have had no issues with it, apart from one Australian immi officer suggesting I get it replaced, a few quizical looks from immi staff overseas, and some airline staff giving it a closer inspection.

I've entered the UK numerous times on it without any comment, The US four times without any comment, Canada once. And numerous entries to countries in Asia and Europe.

I think these days that with chipped passports, they rely on the photo on the chip more than the front page photo to check for tampering.

However - there's never any guarantee that all immigration agents will accept the passport...

(As an aside, I think the passport was poorly constructed. The photo page should be completely laminated and protected from potential water damage ... Like many other passports are. )

 

[mrsmajor]

The front outer embossing on my passport has all but disappeared after much use, have had one query at an immigration desk as to "how come no cover?" but other than that no problems - YET!

 

[albatross710]

Given that it is a document that can have up to a ten year life fair wear and tear must be expected.

Think of how much people change over time.