Forgotten clothes or toiletries can always be bought on the road, but every traveler knows that a passport is the most important item to pack for an international trip. It's the one thing you simply can't replace. However, even experienced travelers can sometimes make simple mistakes with their passport, which can cause unnecessary stress or cost them money. If you commit these passport no-no's, it could prevent you from boarding a plane, entering a foreign country, or even returning to certain destinations. Here are the top 6 passport mistakes that travelers should avoid. Let's get to it!
Passport problems: what could go wrong?
Source: nappy/Pexels
1. Collectible stamps
Your passport can be like a scrapbook of your travels around the world. Along with the standard immigration stamps, some destinations offer a special souvenir stamp as well. While this may seem like a fun way to remember your trip, these unofficial stamps can actually cause problems. Some airlines might not let you fly if you have these types of stamps in your passport, as they are considered "alteration or mutilation," according to the 5th page of every United States passport. Not every airline will have an issue with these novelty stamps, but it's better to play it safe and collect them in a journal or a special passport designed for stamp collecting instead.
2. Impaired passport
Experiencing some normal wear and tear on your passport is no big deal, but you might run into issues if your passport is significantly damaged. Airlines may refuse to let you board the plane if your passport has water damage, a large tear (especially on the cover or the page with your personal info and photo), any unauthorized markings on the information page, missing or torn pages, or a hole punch. If any of these problems apply to your passport, you'll want to apply for a new one well before your trip to make sure you can board your flight without any hassle.
3. Nearing expiration
It may seem logical that an unexpired passport is all you need to travel, but that's not always the case. Many countries have rules that require your passport to be valid for several months beyond your planned trip. The specific requirement can vary, with some countries needing the passport to be valid for 3 months after your return, and others requiring 6 months. So, even if your passport hasn't expired yet, it may not be accepted if it's too close to the expiration date. The best thing to do is check the passport validity rules for each destination before you travel. If your passport is too close to expiring, you could be denied entry to the country or face a fine when you try to come back home. It's important to stay on top of your passport's expiration date and make sure it meets the requirements for wherever you're going.
Source: Kit/Unsplash
4. Insufficient blank pages
Many countries have requirements for the number of blank pages needed in your passport to gain entry. Some may demand as few as 2 blank pages, while others require up to 4. This allows immigration officials enough space to stamp both your entry and exit. In addition, certain airlines may refuse to let you board if your passport doesn't have the necessary blank pages. It's best to research the specific entry requirements for any country you're visiting, as they can vary.
In the past, travelers could apply to have extra pages added to their passports if they were running low on space for stamps and visas. However, this is no longer an option as of 2016. If you're a frequent traveler, you may want to consider applying for a "large book" passport, which comes with 52 visa pages to accommodate your needs.
5. Exceeding visa duration
Staying in a country beyond your visa's expiration date will most likely cause trouble when you try to leave. You could face a fine or even be deported. In more severe cases, the immigration authorities might ban you from reentering the country for a certain period. The moral of the story is: check your entry stamp to see how many days you were allowed to stay, count the days on the calendar (the day you got the stamp is day one), and make sure to leave on or before the last day of your visa's validity.
6. Improper signature
A United States passport must be signed with either blue or black ink to be valid. Adults should ensure their own signature is on their passport before traveling. However, you shouldn't sign your child's passport. There are specific guidelines for validating the passport of a child under 16. The parent should print the child's name on the signature line and then sign their own name next to it, indicating their relationship to the passport holder.
Travel ready in minutes: book convenient airport parking with ParkingNearAirports.io!
Source: Jeffrey Czum/Pexels
Along with our ultimate travel guide, we would like to share an additional valuable suggestion. This advice will prove beneficial for individuals who opt for air travel.
If you get to the airport by car, you always need to find a good parking space for your vehicle to leave for the period of a trip. In most cases, airports have special on-site parking for that purpose. However, such a parking lot is pretty costly most of the time, and people aren't ready to spend a lot of money at the beginning of a trip. So is there any solution?
The best way to solve this problem is to choose off-site parking. Why, you may ask? We will explain.
There are many reasons which can prove the benefit of this parking type. Here are some of them:
- Affordable Rates. Depending on the duration of your trip, you can choose between short-term and long-term airport parking. Anyway, an off-site airport parking is much cheaper, so you can save your money and spend the most considerable amount on things you really want to see or try while traveling.
- Fast Service. In contrast with on-site airport parking, which can take quite a long time, off-site parking offers you the convenience of driving directly to the entrance and having a staff member pull your luggage out of your vehicle and load it into the shuttle. Then they will park your car for you. After your baggage is loaded, you can take your seat in the shuttle, which will bring you and your bags to the airport. It's a hassle-free option that is usually faster.
- Convenience. When people travel, they may be stressed about making it to the airport on time. If you use off-site parking, you will definitely make your travel experience more convenient, as you use the service of a private company. Even though you may be able to park on-site at the airport in a short-term or long-term airport parking lot, consider using an off-site parking lot service.
Source: Oleg Laptev/Unsplash
We are glad to say that our booking platform, ParkingNearAirports.io, offers travelers online reservations for parking just outside airports that are convenient and affordable. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing travelers parking options at over 100 airports in the US and Canada. The app allows customers to search and compare parking rates at up to 70 percent savings compared to the cost of on-site parking at all major airports.
With our platform, it only takes a few clicks in the app to reserve a parking spot. Guests receive a booking confirmation and a guaranteed parking space upon arrival at the off-airport parking. In addition, the app helps customers locate the most convenient lots to the airport. Cancellations are easy if plans change with hassle-free, refundable cancellations.
Besides this, we also offer services for top cruise ports in Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas.
Now, let's imagine you're planning a trip to a popular destination. No matter your departure point, you can always find the best deals on our official website. With ParkingNearAirports.io, you can find affordable and convenient off-airport parking solutions for all your needs. Explore a wide range of airport parking deals, compare domestic airport parking charges, and learn more about parking options near US and Canadian airports. Have a nice trip!
