Washed Passport In Mallorca, Oops

[Tim330]

On holiday this week in Mallorca and have just put girlfriends and my passport through a 40c cotton wash. Can't really see the photos on either but can read the text fine. We are both UK citizens with photocard driving licences with us. We are scheduled to return home Saturday. What is the best course of action? I note there is an embassy here, will call in the morning.

[JustinP1]

is it a newish chip one?

[Cyberprog]

In theory the photocard should be enough, but the airlines can be damn fussy about what they will accept.

[Tim330]

JustinP1 said:

is it a newish chip one?

Yes, they both are. Mine had two years till it expired. GF had recently renewed.

[JustinP1]

Tim330 said:

JustinP1 said:

is it a newish chip one?

Yes, they both are. Mine had two years till it expired. GF had recently renewed.

Then you've got some hope that they can scan the chip at the UK border. That's a lot more difficult to fake than the paper bit.

There's some positivity there.

I'd still get some advice from the embassy though.

[photosnob]

I've never washed a passport. But I have personally lost one abroad. And I know of a mate who's partner set fire to his. I was in Canada, and he was in Aus.

The embassy can give you an emergency travel one. That's if you need one for europe.

[covboy]

DIY Holiday or Package. If package then Tour Company should know what to do

[JustinP1]

covboy said:

DIY Holiday or Package. If package then Tour Company should know what to do

Good point. That's what you pay for. They can at least shepherd you through their own airline if there's an issue.

I'd hedge my bets with the embassy too.

Edited by JustinP1 on Sunday 20th September 22:57

[mybrainhurts]

You'll never escape...byeeee...

[Mill Wheel]

Did somebody tell you that you needed a clean passport to enter the UK?

I hope you were better at the money laundering....

Edited by Mill Wheel on Monday 21st September 00:44

[Pistom]

Are you serious?

Have you not heard passports are no longer required?

There are over 200000 who have wandered into Europe this year without any documents at all so I wouldn't worry.

[BobSaunders]

Travel company / insurance company to ask what to do first - it is what they are there for. More than likely they will refer you to the embassy locally but may support you in the process (taxi's, delayed flights etc).

Do you have a photo or scan of the passports? I always keep a photo of travel documents (passport, insurance, flight information, etc) saved in an email. It may be useful to produce for ID short term to hotel, flights, embassy staff etc.

[ging84]

just stay

[Tim330]

JustinP1 said:

Tim330 said:

JustinP1 said:

is it a newish chip one?

Yes, they both are. Mine had two years till it expired. GF had recently renewed.

Then you've got some hope that they can scan the chip at the UK border. That's a lot more difficult to fake than the paper bit.

There's some positivity there.

I'd still get some advice from the embassy though.

The chip is still in my passport, girlfriends passport page with the chip dissolved.

[Tim330]

JustinP1 said:

covboy said:

DIY Holiday or Package. If package then Tour Company should know what to do

Good point. That's what you pay for. They can at least shepherd you through their own airline if there's an issue.

I'd hedge my bets with the embassy too.

Edited by JustinP1 on Sunday 20th September 22:57

We DIY'd. Prefer an apartment to a hotel. I'll call the embassy after 9 and ask their advice.

[Jasandjules]

Oh my - hopefully the embassy will get it fixed for you in a hurry!

[Tim330]

BobSaunders said:

Travel company / insurance company to ask what to do first - it is what they are there for. More than likely they will refer you to the embassy locally but may support you in the process (taxi's, delayed flights etc).

Do you have a photo or scan of the passports? I always keep a photo of travel documents (passport, insurance, flight information, etc) saved in an email. It may be useful to produce for ID short term to hotel, flights, embassy staff etc.

Fortunately we both have scans in email for work visa reasons so can produce a copy.

[Hol]

Tim330 said:

Fortunately we both have scans in email for work visa reasons so can produce a copy.

The hotels normally take a copy for their records too.

[Tim330]

All sorted. Appointment booked Wednesday at the embassy to get an emergency travel document. Cost £95 each but appears to be covered by the travel insurance. Will never forget to check pockets before washing again!

[jbswagger]

As you're returning home, will the airline still need your passport?

In 2007, my wife and I had our passports stolen the day before we were due to fly home from Vancouver.

The embassy in Ottawa were closed for the weekend, and anyway had a recorded message saying that lost passports were not an emergency. A new passport would take too long for us to get our flight.

We decided to go to Vancouver Airport to see what the airline (Air Canada) would advise. The airline had all our passport details on their system from the outbound flight. The guy at the airline phoned immigration at Heathrow, to ask if they would accept two passengers, without passports. The person at Heathrow asked us a few questions what had happened, crime number from police report, dob, address etc. Upshot was Heathrow would accept, us without passports. The airline guy gave us a reference number to give to immigration at Heathrow.

We were expecting loads of grief at Heathrow but at passport control the guy just said they had been advised that there would be two passengers on our flight without passports.

Not sure if it would have been different if we weren't UK citizens returning home?

Edited by jbswagger on Monday 21st September 15:00