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Original poster

DS signed passport in black Sharpie!

121 replies

Compotesandcakes · 21/07/2023 21:24

Hi there,

The signature looks nice and neat and is at the right place, and it's not too thick for a Sharpie, but it's supposed to be with a ball-point pen. We travel on Sunday so no time to do anything about it but now I am panicking that we will be turned down at the airport and I was wondering if anyone ever travelled with a signature in the wrong ink/pen fully and still got through? Or not?

Thank you so much!

OP posts:
calimali · 21/07/2023 21:34

Where has he signed it? I don't understand why he is signing on the actual document. If you mean the signature on the forms and he now has his passport then it is clearly fine.

MillicentBystandr · 21/07/2023 21:35

Yeah my new British passport has my signature preprinted on it.

ThrappleApple · 21/07/2023 21:38

I renewed my passport in February and had to sign it by hand

DS signed passport in black Sharpie!
QuillBill · 21/07/2023 21:38

You sign them now. My friends son signed his in enormous writing and she had to get another one!

In your case I wonder if it's because they scan them like exam papers. You can only write in certain pens for GCSEs.

YourNameGoesHere · 21/07/2023 21:39

I would think he wouldn't be able to use it. I'm sure mine said I had to sign it in a ballpoint pen.

Original poster
Compotesandcakes · 21/07/2023 21:40

Now you receive your new passport then sign it. Everything else is correct apart from the fact that it is felt tip not ball-point pen.

OP posts:
KateyCuckoo · 21/07/2023 21:40

MillicentBystandr · 21/07/2023 21:35

Yeah my new British passport has my signature preprinted on it.

No the new ones have a line for you to sign with a pen.

Tulipvase · 21/07/2023 21:41

Thanks for this, my son hasn’t signed his. Perhaps it’s a good thing his school trip was aborted! Would this mean you can’t travel, if it’s unsigned?

Tulipvase · 21/07/2023 21:42

Also he’s 12, he doesn’t have a signature……

calimali · 21/07/2023 21:42

Ah I didn't realsie that. I just looked at our passports - mine has a pre scanned signature on it and my husbands has signed hi as it is newer. Sorry OP I didn't realize. aI would have thought havingit in blue would be more of an issue because blue ink does not always photocopy well.

KateyCuckoo · 21/07/2023 21:42

calimali · 21/07/2023 21:34

Where has he signed it? I don't understand why he is signing on the actual document. If you mean the signature on the forms and he now has his passport then it is clearly fine.

She didn't say form, she said passport. You dont understand why someone would sign their passport despite the instructions telling people to sign their passport...

User56785 · 21/07/2023 21:43

Where has he signed it?
On the line.

I don't understand why he is signing on the actual document.
Ok.

If you mean the signature on the forms and he now has his passport then it is clearly fine.
She says he signed the passport.

calimali · 21/07/2023 21:44

Jeez ok - I didn't realise!!! I knew I hadn't signed mine. I didn't know they changed that. I already apologised!

dementedpixie · 21/07/2023 21:44

I'm sure it'll be fine. It's the photo they will be more concerned about

holamamma · 21/07/2023 21:45

I've just travelled to Spain with my family of 6 and not one of us has signed the passport.

JeandeServiette · 21/07/2023 21:47

I imagine you'll be okay. I travelled through three countries in sister's passport by mistake once.

You don't have time to do anything so you might as well go to the airport with your fingers crossed.

YourNameGoesHere · 21/07/2023 21:47

holamamma · 21/07/2023 21:45

I've just travelled to Spain with my family of 6 and not one of us has signed the passport.

I think that would be less problematic though as if they noticed they would have got you to sign it and it would be fine. The OPs son might get someone who checks the signature and refuses it because of the pen type and if they do there is nothing he can do to fix the issue.

Original poster
Compotesandcakes · 21/07/2023 21:48

I think I am getting a bit paranoid because I have had to travel for hours to get this passport and everything was fine until this.
I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be too much of an issue but I was wondering if anyone had been refused to board on a plane due to the wrong ink, or if it is just a recommendation from the passport office.

OP posts:
Original poster
Compotesandcakes · 21/07/2023 21:50

@JeandeServiette thanks. Absolutely love the name! 😂You're right there isn't much I can do at this stage.

OP posts:
Gowlett · 21/07/2023 21:52

Could you sticker a new signature over it?
Or, would that a bit dodgy, now I think…

QueSyrahSyrah · 21/07/2023 21:54

holamamma · 21/07/2023 21:45

I've just travelled to Spain with my family of 6 and not one of us has signed the passport.

Are they new 'blue' passports though? Old EU red ones didn't require signing, new ones do.

Farmer98755 · 21/07/2023 21:56

I travelled to spain twice and forgot to sign mine. Only noticed when home from the last hol

YoSof · 21/07/2023 21:58

Do they actually scan them or not?

It could be a problem if they scan, other posters are saying theirs weren’t checked but is that since the new passports came in?

Swearwolf · 21/07/2023 21:58

Tulipvase · 21/07/2023 21:42

Also he’s 12, he doesn’t have a signature……

For a child's passport you don't have to sign, just the adult ones.

Swearwolf · 21/07/2023 21:58

I'm guessing it's because you can apply online now and the online form has nowhere to upload a signature. Might be different if you use the paper application form.