Be careful – a 'slightly dirty' passport can cost you $1500 in Bali!
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Travelling overseas is one of the most exciting experiences a person can have. Sadly, though, the international journeys we like to embark on require preparation and an enormous amount of paperwork.
You need travel insurance and the right kind of visa, and of course, you can't leave home without the main access pass to any country – your passport.
Bali is one of the go-to destinations for Aussies, especially for those looking to get away from the winter gloom and onto sunny shores.
As eager as we may be to set off on our long-awaited getaways, Australians are now being warned that they should make not only sure their passports are up to date but also that the passport itself is in perfect condition.
Unfortunately, Melbourne woman Monique Sutherland learnt the hard way that Bali is stringent on its passport requirements after an official made her sign a blue form when she was checking in at the Melbourne airport because her seven-year-old passport was slightly dirty.
This wasn't technically a problem until Monique attempted to enter Bali—at which point things took a turn for the worse.
As Monique described: 'I was asked if I was alone and if I were a regular traveller (which I'm not) ... then I was taken into a small interrogation room. Officials continued to come in and out and question me for over an hour.'
The 28-year-old was informed that she needed to be deported as a result of her 'damaged' documentation. Unless she was willing to pay the $1,500 fine.
'My passport was actually accepted and already stamped for visa entry, and it wasn't till I handed them the blue form that I was picked on,' Monique said.
At this point, her elderly mother was dragged into the situation and pressured to pay the sum so that Monique wouldn't be held in custody any longer.
The ordeal was an understandably traumatic experience for Monique, who found out post-arrival that her document was already accepted when presented at immigration.
This means that what may have started off as an innocuous smudge or watermark on her passport was no longer considered proportional to an outrageous amount of money.
In fact, border security in Melbourne later said that the entire affair roused several red flags and that this could've been a fraudulent case of targeting tourists for the sake of money.
It seems this is an ongoing issue, too; another traveller was recently stopped from boarding a plane to Bali at Sydney Airport, as their passport included some 'water damage', which according to officials, made it look 'dodgy'.
The moral of the story? Even if your passport has become a little bit scuffed or grubby over time, ensure it's properly looked after and take extra precautions before you take it anywhere as your only form of ID.
So, take a good hard look at your flight requirements to make sure you don't fall victim to any unfortunate passport blunders. Good luck, and safe travels, everyone! Have you ever had blunders in the airport as well? Share your stories with us in the comments section below!
You need travel insurance and the right kind of visa, and of course, you can't leave home without the main access pass to any country – your passport.
Bali is one of the go-to destinations for Aussies, especially for those looking to get away from the winter gloom and onto sunny shores.
As eager as we may be to set off on our long-awaited getaways, Australians are now being warned that they should make not only sure their passports are up to date but also that the passport itself is in perfect condition.
An Aussie woman is warning fellow travellers bound for Bali after she was slapped with a hefty $1,500 fine for having a 'dirty' passport. Credit: Shutterstock.
Unfortunately, Melbourne woman Monique Sutherland learnt the hard way that Bali is stringent on its passport requirements after an official made her sign a blue form when she was checking in at the Melbourne airport because her seven-year-old passport was slightly dirty.
This wasn't technically a problem until Monique attempted to enter Bali—at which point things took a turn for the worse.
As Monique described: 'I was asked if I was alone and if I were a regular traveller (which I'm not) ... then I was taken into a small interrogation room. Officials continued to come in and out and question me for over an hour.'
The 28-year-old was informed that she needed to be deported as a result of her 'damaged' documentation. Unless she was willing to pay the $1,500 fine.
'My passport was actually accepted and already stamped for visa entry, and it wasn't till I handed them the blue form that I was picked on,' Monique said.
At this point, her elderly mother was dragged into the situation and pressured to pay the sum so that Monique wouldn't be held in custody any longer.
The ordeal was an understandably traumatic experience for Monique, who found out post-arrival that her document was already accepted when presented at immigration.
This means that what may have started off as an innocuous smudge or watermark on her passport was no longer considered proportional to an outrageous amount of money.
In fact, border security in Melbourne later said that the entire affair roused several red flags and that this could've been a fraudulent case of targeting tourists for the sake of money.
It seems this is an ongoing issue, too; another traveller was recently stopped from boarding a plane to Bali at Sydney Airport, as their passport included some 'water damage', which according to officials, made it look 'dodgy'.
The moral of the story? Even if your passport has become a little bit scuffed or grubby over time, ensure it's properly looked after and take extra precautions before you take it anywhere as your only form of ID.
So, take a good hard look at your flight requirements to make sure you don't fall victim to any unfortunate passport blunders. Good luck, and safe travels, everyone! Have you ever had blunders in the airport as well? Share your stories with us in the comments section below!
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