Passport Question - Front And Back Page

[stevenjm]

This is probably here somewhere but cannot find anything on it.

Have an Australian passport but its only got about 1/3 page left, maybe enough for a few stamps. At the front and back there are blank pages but they do not have the watermark numbers but apart from that they have identical background and patterns to numbered pages and are completely blank. Anybody know if these pages can be used for full page visas or stamps? Passport valid for another 5 years.

thanks

[visarunner]

Can NOT not be used.

Any Immigration is only stamping the pages with VISA mark.

[wpcoe]

Does Australia insert more pages upon request? I know the USA embassies around the world do it for free, but I know some other countries don't.

[stevenjm]

Does Australia insert more pages upon request? I know the USA embassies around the world do it for free, but I know some other countries don't.

Thanks guys. No, not they I know of, the australian passport is a pretty basic softcover with only 32 numbered pages besides which mine is so tattered and water damaged that half the stamps are unreadable and that they often run it through ultraviolet etc so probably best to get new one. I just thought that maybe they could stick the full page type visas on these blank pages because once in place you cannot see page numbers anyway. Also wanted to hit the road asap and replacements can take some time.

[mahjongguy]

Unfortunately Australia does not add pages to existing passports. If you travel frequently, you may consider applying for a frequent travelers passport, containing 64 pages (double the ordinary passport size of 32 pages).

[stevenjm]

Just another thought, my passport has a bit of water damage and some stamps are almost completely gone and totally unreadable am thinking maybe I can remove coresponding full page stickers (old ones) to give more space. Can this be done and any tips on how to get them off?

I mean ones from countries I am not likely to revisit anytime soon.

Edited September 12, 2007 by stevenjm

[PeaceBlondie]

No, I assume that any removal of stamps would be tampering with the passport. You need a new passport. You can expect to lost that last third of a page on the way out of Thailand; how would you ever get a stamp into the next country? Get a new one.

[mr_hippo]

Just another thought, my passport has a bit of water damage and some stamps are almost completely gone and totally unreadable am thinking maybe I can remove coresponding full page stickers (old ones) to give more space. Can this be done and any tips on how to get them off?

I mean ones from countries I am not likely to revisit anytime soon.

Of course, you can remove them - if you want to be detained by Immigration in the next country you land in, possibly a spell in the detention centre and on the next available flight home.

[lopburi3]

For a US passport it comes under Alteration or mutilation of passport and makes you subject to prosecution under Title 18, US Code, Section 1543.

Source: Cornell University Law School

1996—Pub. L. 104–208 substituted “imprisoned not more than 25 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of this title)), 20 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 929 (a) of this title)), 10 years (in the case of the first or second such offense, if the offense was not committed to facility such an act of international terrorism or a drug trafficking crime), or 15 years (in the case of any other offense)” for “imprisoned not more than 10 years” in last par.

[stevenjm]

For a US passport it comes under Alteration or mutilation of passport and makes you subject to prosecution under Title 18, US Code, Section 1543.

Source: Cornell University Law School

1996—Pub. L. 104–208 substituted “imprisoned not more than 25 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of this title)), 20 years (if the offense was committed to facilitate a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 929 (a) of this title)), 10 years (in the case of the first or second such offense, if the offense was not committed to facility such an act of international terrorism or a drug trafficking crime), or 15 years (in the case of any other offense)” for “imprisoned not more than 10 years” in last par.

Thanks, will get a new one. Just figured if stickers were removed nobody would know because the coresponding stamps are unreadable and was only going to do it for countries I will not be going back to, also they only seem to ultraviolet the pic and sig page. Also wanted to go asap and not wait for new one.

[Goinghomesoon]

Easy to get a new one, fill in the renewal form at the website www.passports.gov.au print it and take it with you to the embassy with your current passport plus photos and money. No need to muck about with multi-page applications like before. 2 weeks later brand new passport.

[mr_hippo]

Passport valid for another 5 years.

Your passport is valid until the expiry date or until there are no more pages left.

[stevenjm]

Easy to get a new one, fill in the renewal form at the website www.passports.gov.au print it and take it with you to the embassy with your current passport plus photos and money. No need to muck about with multi-page applications like before. 2 weeks later brand new passport.

Thanks for that. Last time I got a renewal in Aus it took over six weeks and actually took longer than my gf's at the time who had never even had a passport.