Sparkles on passports create unexpected travel nightmare

There's nothing quite like that moment when you realise a seemingly innocent decision might strand you thousands of kilometres from home. One American mother recently discovered this the hard way when her daughter's creative passport 'improvements' nearly derailed their family holiday in Bermuda.

The incident serves as a stark reminder that your passport isn't just a travel document—it's a government-issued legal document with serious consequences for tampering, particularly here in Australia.

A glittery disaster unfolds

New Jersey realtor Miriam Osherovitz thought she was sharing a simple travel tip when she posted a now-viral Instagram video showing herself desperately scraping small gems off her daughter's passport with a thin spatula. What started as a young girl's attempt to 'bedazzle' her travel document nearly turned into an international incident.

'We got stopped in the airport in Bermuda and customs almost didn't let (my daughter) fly home because my daughter bedazzled her passport,' Osherovitz explained in her video.

The gems had been attached with super glue, making removal particularly challenging. 'I'm just praying that I don't do more damage because if I damage this in any way then I'm still stuck back on getting her a new passport,' she said.

The serious legal reality in Australia

While the bedazzling incident might seem like a harmless mistake, Australian law takes passport tampering very seriously indeed. Under Section 34 of the Australian Passports Act 2005, damaging or interfering with an Australian travel document carries a penalty of imprisonment for 10 years or 1,000 penalty units, or both.

This isn't just bureaucratic overreach—it's about maintaining the integrity of documents that facilitate international travel and serve as proof of identity and citizenship.

Australian passports are designed to meet internationally agreed standards for biometric travel documents set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), ensuring they're secure and work across border systems globally.

The eye-watering cost of replacement

For Australian travellers, the financial implications of passport damage are particularly steep. Australia has the most expensive passport in the world, with a 10-year adult passport now costing $412 as of January 2025.

This represents an increase from the previous year, cementing Australia's position at the top of the global passport price rankings.

Compare the Market's Executive General Manager Adrian Taylor notes that travel insurance can often be cheaper than overseas replacement costs, explaining: 'No one goes on holiday anticipating that they'll lose or damage their passport, but as many as 30,000 Aussie passports are reported lost or stolen every year.'

What to do if you've damaged your passport

If you find yourself in a situation similar to the bedazzling mother, you have several options, though none are particularly convenient or inexpensive.

You cannot replace your passport if it's lost, stolen or cancelled—you must report your lost or stolen passport by contacting the Australian Passport Office. However, if the passport is damaged but still in your possession, you may be eligible for a replacement.

If your passport has more than 2 years' validity, you may be eligible for a replacement. If your passport has less than 2 years' validity, you'll need to apply for a new passport.

The process requires completing a B-11 form explaining when, where and how the damage occurred, along with the standard passport application requirements.

Prevention is better than panic

The simplest solution is avoiding passport damage in the first place. Here are practical steps every traveller should take:

Many travel retailers sell attractive passport covers that allow for personalisation without damaging the actual document. These covers can be as decorative as you like while keeping the official document pristine.

The travel insurance safety net

Given Australia's position as having the world's most expensive passports, travel insurance becomes even more valuable for document protection. As Adrian Taylor points out: 'Given that our passport is the most expensive in the world, it's likely not a cost that Australians are factoring into their travel budget.'

Quality travel insurance policies typically cover the cost of emergency document replacement overseas, which can be a significant relief when dealing with damaged or lost passports far from home.

Learning from others' mistakes

The online response to the bedazzling incident was mixed, with some users critical of the mother's oversight while others showed more understanding. One commenter noted: 'I'm in a travel group on Facebook and people literally make mistakes with their passports all the time. Not sure why people are being so mean like you or your daughter are the first people to ever make a passport mistake.'

This sentiment rings true—passport mistakes are more common than many realise, and the consequences can be both financially and emotionally costly.

Whether it's bedazzling gone wrong, water damage from unexpected weather, or simply wear and tear from frequent use, passport problems can derail travel plans and create expensive headaches.

The key lesson from this sparkly travel saga is simple: treat your passport with the respect it deserves as a crucial legal document. Save the bedazzling for items that won't potentially strand you in a foreign country, and invest in proper protection and insurance for peace of mind.

Have you ever had a close call with passport damage while travelling, or do you have tips for keeping travel documents safe? Share your experiences and advice in the comments below—your wisdom could save a fellow traveller from a glittery disaster.