It’s more-or-less common sense to keep your passport photos in good condition. A damaged passport photo can cause almost as much, if not as much, strife as a lost or stolen one – after all, your passport is considered to be government property. If it becomes damaged in any way, the passport could become invalidated and wreck your travel plans, as well as lose its status as proof of your citizenship. It could cost you entry into other countries – which creates an obvious hiccup in your plans – or cause any other number of inconvenient and just plain undesirable situations.
To keep your passport safe from damage:
1) Keep it in a designated passport holder
The few dollars you will spend upfront on a passport holder will pay off in dividends. Don’t just cram your passport into your pocket, briefcase, suitcase, or purse; this practically guarantees that the passport will crease, fray, and/or tear. Better yet, get a waterproof holder so that you aren’t worrying about your passport while enjoying the salty sea breezes on a cruise, or splashing about in the waves at the beach!
2) Keep your passport in a secure, dry place
When you aren’t carrying your passport with you, make sure that you’re storing it somewhere safe, such as a dark, cool closet shelf. Keep it out of bathrooms, locker rooms, and other places where moisture and bacteria gather, as these places are just begging for water, and eventually mold, to collect on your passport and destroy it.
3) Keep your passport pictures tucked out of sight
If you must carry your passport with you (optimally it will spend much of its time abroad locked securely in a safe), make sure that it is secured in your backpack, luggage or purse. Don’t carry it sticking out from your back pocket or crammed into the side pocket of a backpack, as that almost guarantees it will fall out or get stolen.
These are just a few precautions to take in order to ensure your passport is kept safe, secure, and in great condition.
