How To Keep Your Passport Safe
Tips, Tricks, and Hacks for How To Keep Your Passport Safe When Traveling.
![How To Keep Your Passport Safe – Worn Passport](https://i0.wp.com/blog.minaal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/How-To-Keep-Your-Passport-Safe-%E2%80%93-Worn-Passport-1.jpg?resize=324%2C438&ssl=1)
Here’s a fairly worn passport. Mine was much worse.
How to Keep Your Passport Safe From Damage
Focus on collecting passport stamps, let your passport protector collect the battle scars. I wish I had. Dirt, grime, weather and humidity (rain, waves, waterfalls, sweat… ick… beer and wine) will damage the pages of your passport. All are easy to avoid. A simple, nondescript passport protector makes your passport less likely to attract attention (and keeps your nationality low key, Agent Bourne). Bonus points if it’s waterproof, especially if you don’t think you can abide by the ‘no swimming’Get The Right Gear To Keep Your Passport Safe
![How To Keep Your Passport Safe - Lockable Zippers](https://i0.wp.com/blog.minaal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/How-To-Keep-Your-Passport-Safe-Lockable-Zippers.jpg?resize=970%2C647&ssl=1)
Use the locking zippers to keep your passport safe.
Keep Your Passport In Its Place
![How To Keep Your Passport Safe – Passport Pocket](https://i0.wp.com/blog.minaal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/How-To-Keep-Your-Passport-Safe-%E2%80%93-Passport-Pocket.jpg?resize=970%2C647&ssl=1)
The passport pocket is hidden in the document sleeve of the Carry-on 2.0.
You Might Be Asked To Show Your Passport When:
- On trains (even if you’re not crossing national borders)
- Exchanging money
- Entering bars
- Checking into hotels
- Making large purchases or transactions
- Collecting VAT
- Seeking medical coverage
- Buying mobile phones
- Applying for visas
Make Copies Of Your Passport AND Visas
Passport copies are your salvation. They cut down on greasy fingerprints, keep you from having to hand over your actual passport and serve as backup on the off-chance that something happens to your original documents. Keep a copy of your passport at home and make sure your emergency contact has one. Even though we go paperless as much as possible, actual printed passport copies are handy when you’re on the move. Rather than leaving your passport with the front desk clerk, a copy will often suffice. Keep a copy or two crisp in the document holder of your bag. If you have more than one bag, stash one there as well. That way even if some of your gear goes missing, you’ll still have backup.![How To Keep Your Passport Safe – Document Holder](https://i0.wp.com/blog.minaal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/How-To-Keep-Your-Passport-Safe-%E2%80%93-Document-Holder.jpg?resize=970%2C545&ssl=1)
DeviceNest™ suspension system on the left, document sleeve and passport holder on the right of the Daily.
How To Make A Secure Digital Copy of Your Passport
Passports are sensitive documents containing your personal information. Having a digital copy you can access right away can help ease the hassle of timezone differences that could slow the process of getting replacement documents. If you choose to go this route, use the secure notes feature of a password manager like LastPass to protect your digital copy. For an alternative USB method of digital storage, check out Expert Vagabond, Matthew Karsten’s post over here.Passport Cards and Second Passports
Passport cards are credit card-sized versions of a passport intended for frequent land and sea border crossings. While they may not be recognized as valid where you’re traveling, they will be recognized by your own embassy should you need to get your passport replaced. If you’re constantly on the move, and filling passports fast, obtaining a second passport from your home country might be an option. Keep in mind that you always want to enter and leave a country on the same passport. When departing a country, immigration will look for your entry stamp. However, you can present a second passport for entry at your next destination. A second valid passport can also make travel smoother between nations that have political tensions with one another. The most common case for obtaining a second passport is when you need to travel internationally while a foreign visa is being processed. Depending where you’re from, certain visas can take weeks or even months to process (‘sup, Turkmenistan!). Again, while it’s not recommended that you show your second passport for official purposes (unless it contains the entry stamp for the country you’re in), it could help speed the replacement process along at your own embassy.Do I need to carry my passport at all times?
Travelers are divided on this issue and each country has its own laws. Let’s start with the basics: You must be in possession of a valid passport throughout the entire duration of your stay in a foreign country. Otherwise, you won’t be let in at all.Quick but important note:
To enter most countries, your passport **must not expire until six months after your visit.** If your passport is nearing the end of its natural life, get it renewed before you set out to be on the safe side (NZ fam renew here). Some travelers insist that this means you must keep your passport glued to your person at all times, others feel entitled to walk around with a copy and leave their original documents behind if they aren’t likely to be needed. Neither strategy is a total winner. It’s not too practical to have your passport on your person while you’re splashing around at the beach, but you’ll avoid a hassle if you’re stopped by law enforcement. If you’re carrying your copy instead of an actual passport, you may be escorted back to your room to produce the original and depending on the location you could be threatened with a fine. It’s often wise to enlist the help of the front desk or your host to help clear things up and negotiate on your behalf if a ‘fine’ need be paid.How to Keep your passport safe at your hotel or Airbnb
![How to Keep Your Passport Safe – Use the Hotel Safe](https://i0.wp.com/blog.minaal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/How-to-Keep-Your-Passport-Safe-%E2%80%93-Use-the-Hotel-safe-1.jpg?resize=999%2C665&ssl=1)
To keep your passport safe, lock it up at your hotel.
How to keep your passport safe on your person
If you want maximum security, make sure to lock your passport in your bag. Just make sure you don’t leave it unattended. Otherwise, keep it in a front (or hidden) pocket that will be difficult for thieves to access.![How to Keep Your Passport Safe – Passport in back pocket](https://i0.wp.com/blog.minaal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Depositphotos_47706931_m-2015-1.jpg?resize=999%2C662&ssl=1)
There’s so much awesome going on here we hate to criticize… but in spite of what stock photo sites would have you believe, this is definitively *NOT* how to keep your Tongan and Israeli passports safe in your pockets.
Back In The Little Beige Room
![How to Keep Your Passport Safe – Interrogation Room](https://i0.wp.com/blog.minaal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/How-to-Keep-Your-Passport-Safe-%E2%80%93-Interrogation-Room-1.jpg?resize=970%2C546&ssl=1)
Note: Not the actual ‘little beige room.’
![How to Keep Your Passport Safe – Hilarious Passport Guy Stock Photo](https://i0.wp.com/blog.minaal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/How-to-Keep-Your-Passport-Safe-%E2%80%93-Hilarious-Passport-Guy-Stock-Photo-1.jpg?resize=970%2C644&ssl=1)
Stumbled across this stock photo gem and had to share. Not the author nor his passport, but a parting shot for the ages.