UKC

Left my passport in my trousers and put in washing machine - doh etc. Doesn`t look too bad after drying it out but will this have trashed the bit that's scanned (its a recent one) and require a new one? Anyone else done this and what happened?

In reply to Chris H:

I did this a few years ago.

It still scans OK, although it looks a bit battered around the edges.

The first time I used it, post "wash", I explained why it looked so battered to the Heathrow passport control officer. He just grinned and said "we always like to see a clean passport!"

In reply to Trangia:

Thanks - sounds hopeful !

In reply to Chris H:

Your passport is not valid if it is not in a condition to be accepted as proof of identity, which includes the following:
• Details are indecipherable.
• The laminate has lifted enough to allow the possibility of photo substitution.
• Discoloration to the biodata page.
• Chemical or ink spillage on any page.
• Missing or detached pages
• The chip or antenna shows through the endpaper on the back cover for the new style e-passports.
• The chip has been identified as damaged following investigation.

The chip should be fine if it's just had a bath.

In reply to nniff:

Thanks that`s really helpful. If I turned up at an airport and the chip wasn`t working but I could still be identified would I still be allowed to travel?

In reply to Chris H:

Been there done that, not had any troubles, apart from me trying to read when and where I'd been places.