Passport predicament: Aussies face ‘bendy’ issue with costly new travel document
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Australians are known for their love of travel, and with borders reopening and the world beckoning once again, many are dusting off their luggage and dreaming of distant shores.
However, for those who've recently shelled out $398 for the latest Australian passport, the dream is being tarnished by a surprising defect that's causing quite a stir.
The new R series passport, which has taken over from the P series, has been met with a wave of disappointment from Aussie travellers.
The main gripe? The passport's cover seems to lack the robustness expected of such a critical travel document, with many reporting that it bends far too easily, raising fears that it won't withstand the rigours of a decade of globetrotting.
This concern is particularly poignant given the recent price hike that has made the Australian passport one of ‘the world’s most expensive’.
In January, the cost jumped from $325—which has stayed for over 10 years—to a hefty $346 when standard indexation was applied.
Then, from July 1, a 15 per cent increase or $50 increase followed, raising the price to $398, leaving many questioning the value for money, especially in light of the apparent quality issues.
According to Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham, the price of the Australian passport now eclipses that of many other nations, including Mexico, which costs A$346, the United States, where a passport costs a comparatively modest $252, and Singapore, whose powerful passport comes with a price tag of just $78.
Even our Kiwi neighbours across the ditch pay a mere NZD$206 (around A$185) for their travel documents.
Given the new design's ‘poor quality’, Australians are naturally concerned about preserving the shape of the ‘flimsy R series passports’, which are meant to last up to 10 years.
While many are seeing the new designs for the first time, the R series has been in circulation since September 2022.
The previous P series passports remain secure travel documents and can still be used until they expire.
Aussie woman Greta recently expressed her excitement about ordering a new passport, describing its ‘epic’ design that showcases iconic landmarks.
However, just days later, she shared a video noting that it was already starting to lose its shape, even though she hadn't left the country yet.
‘I recently got the new Australian passport. I was very excited. But then I had a few people tell me I had to put a paperweight on it because it bends,’ she explained.
‘You're not wrong, she remarked upon noticing the cover's ‘curving’ shape. ‘This passport is brand new. It has not seen a different country. This passport is 10 years old, it's been around.’
‘Considering this is one of the world's most expensive passports, what happened?’ Greta questioned.
Many commenters voiced concerns about the passport being ‘rejected’ at airports, as the ‘bendy’ cover might easily be seen as ‘damaged’.
In the past, Australian travellers have been denied entry to some countries due to minor passport damage.
For instance, Sydney woman Madelaine was turned away from her $2,000 Bali trip because of a small tear in the stitching.
The Australian Passport Office stated that serious damage can prevent travel. However, its website stated, ‘Normal wear and tear should not be a problem.’ Australian travellers were advised to keep their passports ‘intact and in good condition’.
However, in response to concerns about ‘curling’, the passport office stated on its website that there is no need for worry.
‘You may notice a slight curling on the cover of your R Series passport. This occasionally occurs due to changes in humidity,’ it explained.
The same problem has been observed with certain New Zealand passports, likely made from the same material.
‘It's not a manufacturing defect and doesn't affect the validity of your passport,’ the passport office continued.
‘Keeping your passport tightly secured will help prevent this curling. For example, you can use an envelope or passport holder to store and protect your passport between use.’
Previously, other travellers shared Greta's concerns, including an Australian living in Ireland who complained about his new passport.
One person described it as ‘a bit of a joke’, while others found it ‘disappointing’.
‘After having it for a while, the cover is extremely flimsy,’ the Aussie in Ireland shared. ‘[It's] gotten irreparably bent on both the front and back cover as well as many of the pages being bent as well.’
He commented that ‘the front cover isn’t as rigid as I’d like it to be’, adding, ‘for such a new passport, I expected a bit better’.
Despite concerns about the new Australian passport's design, travellers remain interested in how their country's passport ranks globally.
As debates over the durability and quality of the R series passport continue, it's worth exploring how Australia fares on the list of top passports for 2024.
This comparison sheds light on the strengths and weaknesses of Australian travel documents in the context of international standards.
Have you encountered issues with the new R series passport? Do you have any advice for fellow travellers on how to best protect this vital document? We encourage you to share your experiences and tips in the comments below on how to keep your passport safe and intact.
However, for those who've recently shelled out $398 for the latest Australian passport, the dream is being tarnished by a surprising defect that's causing quite a stir.
The new R series passport, which has taken over from the P series, has been met with a wave of disappointment from Aussie travellers.
The main gripe? The passport's cover seems to lack the robustness expected of such a critical travel document, with many reporting that it bends far too easily, raising fears that it won't withstand the rigours of a decade of globetrotting.
Many Australians have complained that the new R series passports have ‘flimsy’ covers that bend easily. Credit: Shutterstock
This concern is particularly poignant given the recent price hike that has made the Australian passport one of ‘the world’s most expensive’.
In January, the cost jumped from $325—which has stayed for over 10 years—to a hefty $346 when standard indexation was applied.
Then, from July 1, a 15 per cent increase or $50 increase followed, raising the price to $398, leaving many questioning the value for money, especially in light of the apparent quality issues.
According to Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham, the price of the Australian passport now eclipses that of many other nations, including Mexico, which costs A$346, the United States, where a passport costs a comparatively modest $252, and Singapore, whose powerful passport comes with a price tag of just $78.
Even our Kiwi neighbours across the ditch pay a mere NZD$206 (around A$185) for their travel documents.
Given the new design's ‘poor quality’, Australians are naturally concerned about preserving the shape of the ‘flimsy R series passports’, which are meant to last up to 10 years.
While many are seeing the new designs for the first time, the R series has been in circulation since September 2022.
The previous P series passports remain secure travel documents and can still be used until they expire.
Aussie woman Greta recently expressed her excitement about ordering a new passport, describing its ‘epic’ design that showcases iconic landmarks.
However, just days later, she shared a video noting that it was already starting to lose its shape, even though she hadn't left the country yet.
‘I recently got the new Australian passport. I was very excited. But then I had a few people tell me I had to put a paperweight on it because it bends,’ she explained.
‘You're not wrong, she remarked upon noticing the cover's ‘curving’ shape. ‘This passport is brand new. It has not seen a different country. This passport is 10 years old, it's been around.’
‘Considering this is one of the world's most expensive passports, what happened?’ Greta questioned.
Many commenters voiced concerns about the passport being ‘rejected’ at airports, as the ‘bendy’ cover might easily be seen as ‘damaged’.
In the past, Australian travellers have been denied entry to some countries due to minor passport damage.
For instance, Sydney woman Madelaine was turned away from her $2,000 Bali trip because of a small tear in the stitching.
The Australian Passport Office stated that serious damage can prevent travel. However, its website stated, ‘Normal wear and tear should not be a problem.’ Australian travellers were advised to keep their passports ‘intact and in good condition’.
However, in response to concerns about ‘curling’, the passport office stated on its website that there is no need for worry.
‘You may notice a slight curling on the cover of your R Series passport. This occasionally occurs due to changes in humidity,’ it explained.
The same problem has been observed with certain New Zealand passports, likely made from the same material.
‘It's not a manufacturing defect and doesn't affect the validity of your passport,’ the passport office continued.
‘Keeping your passport tightly secured will help prevent this curling. For example, you can use an envelope or passport holder to store and protect your passport between use.’
Previously, other travellers shared Greta's concerns, including an Australian living in Ireland who complained about his new passport.
One person described it as ‘a bit of a joke’, while others found it ‘disappointing’.
‘After having it for a while, the cover is extremely flimsy,’ the Aussie in Ireland shared. ‘[It's] gotten irreparably bent on both the front and back cover as well as many of the pages being bent as well.’
He commented that ‘the front cover isn’t as rigid as I’d like it to be’, adding, ‘for such a new passport, I expected a bit better’.
Despite concerns about the new Australian passport's design, travellers remain interested in how their country's passport ranks globally.
As debates over the durability and quality of the R series passport continue, it's worth exploring how Australia fares on the list of top passports for 2024.
This comparison sheds light on the strengths and weaknesses of Australian travel documents in the context of international standards.
