URGENT advice needed on passport water damage

[mixandmatch]

Hi all - yesterday my 17yo son's passport got some water spilled on it. He's travelling again next week so no time to guarantee replacement and can't risk the 1- week service. Passports can't be processed in a day in this situation apparently, so he's going to have to risk it.

This is the situation with the passport:

Cover and binding fine
Laminate details page fine and lamination fine, no bubbles etc.
No pages torn.
Very slight wrinkling to the paper pages (it's been under a book so a lot better than it was but you can still see slight crinkling)
One old visa stamp slightly bled/replicated on opposite page but still 100% readable.

Can anyone with any airport/customs experience or other relevant knowledge please let me know how likely it is that he'll be fine. He's travelling to Europe.

Oh and we ran in through one of those chip-checking apps and the chip/electronic ID still works fine.

I travelled back from an island in the south atlantic via south africa with a similar passport. When it was actively wet leaving the island got asked why said swimming costume let through. Arrival in south africa still wet got asked why said swimming costume. Asked how long staying said 1 night. Let through and no proof asked. Next day dry but pages a bit wrinkled through south africa and into UK fine. Since got replaced. Think he will be ok but change when you can.

I’m no expert but I think you will be ok as the laminated page seems to be ok.

have you tried ironing the pages? With a tea towel in between

I'm really reluctant to risk messing with it further by ironing it.

Ok fair enough. I’d be prepared to be asked how it got crinkled. Just have your truthful answer prepared.

They are a LOT stricter now than they used to be so these lovely stories about people just being asked are just that! You need to book onto the 1 day emergency passport and tell them the passport is destroyed as they will class it as that at the airport!

One thing my DH always does is have the passport open at the photo page and that might help. Also if there was a choice in which passport officer to go to I went to the one who was letting people through fastest. I was told by one as the photo page and 1 by it was fine it was OK though would get it changed as if you ever get a very strict one you've lost the money.

@Nearly50omg It is not possible to do the 1-day appointment for damage, only renewals. He has no choice but to travel with this passport.

It was 2025 when I got through fine before. We also got through to France several times fine on it.

I would be very polite and apologetic if questioned but I think he will be OK. Though change as soon as you can after this.

He is travelling with friends, not with me - but yes, he would be honest, polite and apologetic if questioned obviously

Tell him to hand it over opened on the photo. They won’t care about a bit of crinkling if the photo page is okay and no tears etc

If you do iron It put a clean white t towel over it as a barrior and empty out tge water. Its all biometric now so should be fine.

won’t he use the e gates anyway?

if your close drive to an airport and ask at security if it’s ok.

Yes I would assume he will check in first and use the egates. But I’ve no idea what the system will be at the other end.

I think it is the airlines that often stop damaged passports. They are fined if they make mistakes so err on the side of caution. Your son should do what previous posters have suggested, but I would also give him a Plan B in case his passport is rejected (like how to get back home).

I’d not iron - heat could affect the laminated pages and that would be more of a problem. I can’t see that he’ll have a problem if it’s just pages slightly crinkled. I’ve had a pretty dog-eared passport until recently.

DHs passport got wet when a water bottle leaked over it on the plane on way home from holiday. It wrinkled pretty badly and he was warned by the passport control it wouldn't be accepted. We figured we'd nothing to lose trying to flatten it out under some weights. It took several weeks but it did flatten and he never had any issues, used it for another few years. I guess you don't know til you try, but it is a gamble and if they don't accept it, it would be very inconvenient

I wouldn't mess with it any more, might make it worse. Agree with the advice to have it open at the photo page.

I recently received stern words on arrival back i
to the UK because apparently the chip in my passport no longer worked - it had been temperamental at e-gates for a while. I was told to get a new one asap. As your sons chip is still working, should be OK but get a new one sorted after this trip

I will definitely get a new one sorted after this trip. Just trying to assess likelihood of it being an issue on the trip itself

Not to leave the UK. Possibly when he arrives where he is going and almost certainly when he comes back.

@mixandmatch It would be helpful if you could come back with the outcome. Good luck for his trip.

I will definitely update on return. I've spent the last 24 hours reading threads about water on passports and it's always reassuring when someone comes back and says it was fine.