Counting down the months and then days till your overseas holiday can be what gets you through your working day. And we always recommend having something to look forward to in the future. But it’s important to check your passport when you are at the planning stage, as a simple passport slip can turn your vacation into a staycation. So get that passport out of your draws and take some time to check for the following.
Check for damage.
Even minor passport damage can stop you from boarding your flight or entering your destination. You could even be detained if the damage leads local authorities to suspect passport fraud.
What you need to look for is signs of damage like rips, marks, stains or missing pages. In particular, make sure the photo page and Machine-Readable Zone are free from damage. And always keep your passport somewhere safe, dry and secure, at home and while you’re travelling.
https://www.passports.govt.nz/lost-stolen-or-damaged-passport/
Check the expiry date.
When you book your flights through the Zest4Travel team, we will always ensure your passport is valid and this is one of the many reasons we ask for copies of your passport when the initial trip planning stage is underway.
This is because some countries won’t let you enter if your passport is due to expire in 6 months or less. And if you are doing that big Europe trip over a couple of months, you need to make sure the expiry fits the criteria on all countries you arrive at on your great escape.
So if you aren’t booking your flights through us, please check your passport expiry date before you travel. Make sure there are more than 6 months between the expiry date and the date you leave your destination.
https://www.passports.govt.nz/travel-information/
Leaving it too late to apply or renew.
So you have checked the passport expiry and oh deary me, it has expired or doesn’t have the 6 months expiry criteria for your trip. Don’t delay and put the passport back in its secure dry location in your house, make sure you’ve got enough time to get a new one.
While most passport applications are processed in 5 weeks plus postage, some do take longer. This includes first-time adult and child passports. For New Zealand passport holders it is good to be aware that an Emergency Passport Application although takes 3 working days, costs twice the price of a standard application.
https://www.passports.govt.nz/passport-costs/passport-timeframes/
Having too many stamps is an issue.
Although an issue we would love to have as that means you get to travel a lot, if you travel overseas frequently your passport may have a lot of visa stamps. Some countries won’t let you enter unless you have at least 2 to 4 blank pages in your passport. So please check if you have enough free pages.
Also, it’s a good idea to check for unauthorised stamps such as souvenirs or tourist ones. You don’t want your passport to become invalid thinking it is all a bit of fun.
Falling for a scam
A reality we wish didn’t happen but something to keep in mind. If you need to renew your passport or apply for one, make sure you use the official website. Scammers sometimes set up fake websites or send messages pretending to be from a trusted government department. If your identity is stolen or misused, you may need to cancel your passport.