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What to do if…
your passport is hole-punched, clipped, or marked by mistake and you are worried it may not be accepted

Short answer

Assume you could be refused travel and start a damaged-passport replacement or urgent service now. If you’re abroad and need to travel soon, consider the Emergency Travel Document route.

Do not do these things

  • Do not try to “fix” it (no taping, gluing, laminating, trimming, erasing, or covering marks).
  • Do not add any extra marks or let anyone stamp it except border officials.
  • Do not rely on check-in staff “making an exception” on the day — carriers can refuse boarding if a passport appears damaged or altered.
  • Do not throw it away; keep it safe for your application and any disruption handling.
  • Do not pay unofficial agents or “passport help” sites you found via ads/search results.

What to do now

  1. Check whether it matches HM Passport Office “damaged” signs. HM Passport Office will consider a passport damaged if, for example:

    • you cannot read your details
    • pages are ripped, cut or missing
    • there are holes, cuts or rips in the cover
    • the cover is coming away
    • there are stains on pages (including ink or water damage)

  2. Take clear photos for your own records (before anything else).

    • Front cover, bio-data page, and a close-up showing the hole/clip/mark.
    • Note your exact travel date/time and route so you can act quickly on urgency options.

  3. Start a replacement as a damaged passport (even if it was “by mistake”).

    • Use the GOV.UK service to replace a damaged passport as soon as possible.
    • Expect that you may be asked how the damage happened; keep your explanation factual and simple.

  4. If you’re in the UK and need it fast, use the current urgent services (if eligible).

    • GOV.UK urgent services include:
      • 1 week fast track (can be used to replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport)
      • 1 day premium (for renewing an adult passport only)
    • You cannot use the UK urgent appointment service if you’re outside the UK.

  5. If you’re abroad and need to travel within 6 weeks, check Emergency Travel Document (ETD) eligibility.

    • ETDs are for urgent travel when you cannot use your UK passport and cannot replace it from abroad in time.
    • They are usually valid for one single or return journey, and you can travel through a maximum of 5 countries.
    • You normally must have previously had a valid UK passport issued on or after 1 January 2006 (there are limited “exceptional circumstances” routes if not).

  6. If the hole-punch/clip looks like cancellation, treat it as high risk and act early.

    • Don’t plan to “argue it through” at the airport.
    • Prioritise a replacement/urgent service/ETD route so you are not depending on discretion at check-in.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether an airline “should” accept it — assume they might not and secure a valid document path.
  • You do not need to pursue complaints or refunds today; first focus on getting a valid travel document.
  • You do not need to solve your whole itinerary at once; your next best step is starting the replacement/urgent process.

Important reassurance

It’s normal to panic because the passport may look “mostly fine,” but small physical changes can trigger refusal. Acting early (replacement/urgent/ETD) is the most reliable way to reduce last-minute denial risk.

Scope note

First steps only: stabilise the situation and move you onto a valid-document route. It does not cover compensation disputes or complex multi-country planning.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Airlines and border authorities can refuse travel if a passport appears damaged, altered, or cancelled, even when the holder believes it was marked by mistake.

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