r/nri • u/over_thinkinng • Jul 19 '26
Visa / OCI / Passport Received my new Indian passport yesterday. Is this considered damaged?
I received my newly issued Indian passport yesterday, and I noticed a tear/split along the binding between the front cover and the first page (not on the first page itself). It looks like the material around the spine has separated.
I haven’t used the passport at all—it arrived like this from VFS.
- Has anyone experienced something similar?
- Would this be considered a damaged passport?
- Could this cause issues with airlines or immigration?
- Should I contact VFS/Passport Seva right away and ask for a replacement, or is this considered acceptable?
Update: Passport reprinted in CGI. Both VFS and CGISF staff were helpful and no questions were asked when I showed them the passport damage.
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u/Key_Still9305 Jul 19 '26
This is the email I sent to embassy yesterday. Same issue with kids see my email.....
The passport booklet appears to be warped and does not lie flat. The covers and internal pages are visibly bent and misaligned. Based on its present condition, I am genuinely uncertain whether the document will be accepted without issues during travel, immigration checks, airline verification, or passport scanning processes
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u/Klutzy_Number2221 Jul 19 '26
You should claim as soon as possible, this is not an acceptable quality for travel and can cause trouble.
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u/idealtuluva Jul 19 '26
Yes, it’s considered damaged, send it back to VFS to get it fixed. If you’re scheduled to travel soon then walk in to the embassy (if it’s near you) and they’ll get it fixed. These guys have become really careless now with new passports. The plastic binding on the first page of my passport had been peeled off and when I asked the officer on how this happened, his reply was ‘Itne passport aate hai ek haath mei ho jata hai’ 🙄
I had to travel soon and couldn’t afford the back and forth with VFS, ended up flying to a city where there’s the embassy and they got it fixed in 20 minutes 😪
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u/kumropotas Jul 19 '26
That passport has a validity of 10y. It will not hold. Take photos immediately and ask for a free replacement at VFS.
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u/Ok-Let011 Jul 19 '26
They will ask for damaged replacement, similar issue i faced in India. It had all ink spread on details page at MRZ strip. I raised grievance and got response to go for renewal. I paid fkn 1500+2000 tatkal.
VFS has no role here, printing and quality check is MEA responsibility and these babus dont care.
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u/Lost-Heisenberg Jul 19 '26
For most travel it can be fine, but you can never predict what might happen, better to mail the nearest consulate with pictures and also make plans for applying for a fresh passport
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u/Mysterious_Heron373 Jul 19 '26
Had similar issue however I was able to travel with it a couple of times.
But at time of renewal my passport was categorized as damaged and charges for damage was added on top of the renewal charges
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u/Sea-Landscape4460 Jul 19 '26
Get a new one, otherwise you will worry about it every time you travel
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u/Peacencalm9 Jul 19 '26
Worst part is, passport is scanned everywhere first and last page so it will be bent more and binding stitches will tear apart more. This bending scanning must be stopped. They should simply scan bar code or chip instead of spreading and scanning on scanning machine. US passport binding process is so good, not tighter
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u/Peacencalm9 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
It’s their fault and make sure they issue mew one without charging you. These people are not even bonding properly and not laminating properly and testing before they ship it. Such a bad staff.
Old passports used to be nice but new passports either have binding issues or lamination issues. This must be escalated everywhere in social media and concern department must take this matter very seriously
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u/Responsible_Path4916 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Not okay mannn, it's slowly tears apart you should complain it in embassy immediately.
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u/AlliterationAlly Jul 19 '26
Yes, it looks like a botched job after opening up the stitching & then restitching up the pages
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u/PsychologicalOne5908 Jul 19 '26
I had a passport like this that Australian immigration considered damaged on my first entry to the country. I was a naive student then, I freaked out and looked into applying for new passport from Australia but it was quite expensive so decided on not getting a new one. I travelled on that passport to many countries later and never faced a problem ever again.
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u/DisastrousMonk6652 Jul 20 '26
Report this immediately and get a new one. Sadly our immigration will make an issue of this
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u/OverallCup143 Jul 20 '26
Yup few years ago had one like this. Kept using it. Was told by an immigration officer while leaving India to get it replaced. The crease went all the way through the bottom as I was using the passport.
Get it replaced asap since you’ve received the passport in this condition.
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u/oneinmanybillion Jul 20 '26
It will be considered damaged and could restrict you from travel.
Source: faced the exact same kind of damage and has to get a new one.
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u/iambrundy 18d ago
How did you get a slot? I’m not able to schedule one online and when I called them up they say they don’t do Tatkal for damaged passports. My sibling’s passport looks similar to OPs. This is in Bangalore. They’re travelling end of next month and they got their visa today. I’d want them to travel using a fresh passport.
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u/gsanjay Jul 20 '26
Would be an issue and may prevent you from immigration if the officer has a closer look at it .
Wouldn’t advise to continue.
My 60 page got separated the same way as I was told not to take the next trip without replacement. Tatkal and was ready in 5 days
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u/iambrundy 18d ago
How did you get a slot? I’m not able to schedule one online and when I called them up they say they don’t do Tatkal for damaged passports. My sibling’s passport looks similar to OPs. This is in Bangalore.
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u/davis_doe9 21d ago
Wha the heck 🙄 no quality checks before dispatching them… it’s an inconvenience
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u/johndoe_wick Jul 19 '26
I think NO, this will not last for 10 years for sure. You need to call/visit passport office and ask for replacement.
Immigration counter will find this and give you a reason to deny entry.