There are several dos and don’ts when it comes to safe air travel. While much attention is paid to comfort and convenient , many of us forget that documents, like a passport, are equally important. This is why any tampering with it could render it invalid, and officials may question its authenticity in India under the Passports Act, 1967. Experts assert that passport pages must not be tampered with or torn because it can invalidate the document, such that it is considered ‘damaged’, raising suspicion of fraud. It can lead to travel problems or legal consequences. “The document’s integrity ensures it is recognised as a legitimate travel document, allowing for smooth border crossings and visa processing,” said Colonel Rajgopalan, founder, Aviation Training India.
Tampering in any form, such as tearing pages, altering, or mutilating the pages, can change the information or damage its security features. “A passport, issued by the government, serves as an official citizenship and identification document accepted internationally for . It also contains several crucial security features like watermarks, holograms, and microprinting. Modern passports also use advanced technology like MRZ (Machine Readable Zones), biometric chips for faster and accurate processing,” said Dhairyashil Vandekar, an aviation expert and analyst.
Even wet, stained, scribbled, missing pages or unofficial/memento stamps endorsed on the passport are considered damaged. “This may not just result in denied entry but may also cause inconvenience by way of legal repercussions,” said Vandekar.
In fact, if there are detached pages on which the binding has come off, you need to apply for a passport reissue.
According to the PassportIndia.Gov.in website, the definition of a damaged passport is:
Damaged passport is classified further based on the extent of damage, i.e.:
*Damaged Passport – Passport number is readable, name is legible, and photo is intact
*Damaged beyond recognition
Notably, the Passports Act, 1967, is the primary legislation under which passport issuance and travel in India takes place. “Maintaining the integrity of one’s passport is an important responsibility of every citizen. It must be ensured that passport pages must not be tampered with, torn, overwritten, damaged, or defaced by putting stickers on the national emblem on it, as this will attract legal action under certain sections of the Passport Act, 1967, and Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita,” said Vendekar.
A passport with torn pages are considered a form of damage and a new one needs to be issued under the “Re-issue” category with the reason “Lost/Damaged passport”.
“Duplicate passports are not issued; however, a new passport with a different passport number may be issued with fresh validity. The applicant has to apply in re-issue category with reason as Lost/Damaged passport,” according to the PassportIndia.Gov.in website.
Here’s why passport integrity is crucial:
Authentication
According to Rajgopalan, tampered or torn pages can be evidence of forgery or , making the passport invalid and raising suspicion among immigration authorities.
Visa and stamp application
Most countries require a certain number of blank pages for visas and entry stamps so that damaged pages can prevent travel.
Legal consequences
Tampering with a passport can be a crime, leading to legal penalties.
Security
Protecting the passport from damage and alteration helps prevent by others for illegal activities, such as identity theft or fraud.
International recognition
A valid passport is a crucial travel document, and tampering undermines its international recognition, said Rajgopalan.
