Is Your Passport at Risk of Mold This Rainy Season?

A passport may be one of the most important documents your family owns, and with the recent weather conditions in the country, keeping it safe from rain and humidity can be a challenge.

Photos of moldy and water-damaged Philippine passports have recently circulated on social media, raising an important question for traveling families: What happens if your passport gets damaged?

The safest answer is: Don’t assume that you can.

According to the Department of Justice’s IACAT departure guidelines, tourists leaving the country must present a valid passport, and passengers with fraudulent, falsified, or tampered travel documents may not be cleared for departure.

There does not appear to be a published rule saying that minor water or mold damage will automatically be rejected at immigration. However, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) may treat damaged or mutilated passports as a separate category requiring replacement.

Traveling with a visibly damaged passport carries a risk. In other words, don't wait until the airport to find out.

The DFA specifically provides a procedure for mutilated or damaged passports. A damaged passport is treated as a new passport application, rather than an ordinary renewal. Applicants must submit an Affidavit of Explanation and surrender the damaged passport. The DFA also lists a ₱350 penalty fee for mutilated or damaged passports.

For children, the same rules apply, with the Affidavit of Explanation signed by the parent, legal guardian, or authorized person accompanying the minor.

If your family discovers mold before a trip, contact the DFA or book a passport appointment as soon as possible rather than attempting to clean, scrape, laminate, or otherwise alter the passport yourself.

If the passport has been soaked, don't use heat to dry it. Let it air-dry naturally in a clean, dry environment and avoid separating pages or damaging the cover. Photographing the damage for your own records may also be useful.

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The best solution is prevention, and here are practical tips to prevent the accumulation of mold on your passports and important documents:

Avoid leaving passports in bathrooms, kitchens, near windows, or inside cabinets that regularly become damp. Instead, find a relatively cool, dry place, such as your bedroom. Be sure to check that these areas don’t get wet as well, so checking them from time to time would be great.

A good holder can protect against accidental splashes and everyday handling, although it still isn't a substitute for proper storage. There are many passport holders available online, or you can opt for a plastic cover envelope from your nearest bookstore.

Keep passports in an airtight document container or dry box with fresh silica-gel packets or another appropriate moisture absorber. There are a variety of options to choose from, such as charcoal deodorizers and portable dehumidifiers. It is important, however, to make sure that you replace these moisture absorbers regularly.

If a passport or travel document becomes damp, separate it from other important papers immediately; this will help prevent contamination.

During the rainy season, parents can make a quick passport check part of their family's document routine and look for unusual smells, discoloration, spotting, warped or loose pages, or visible mold.

It’s important to check whether your passport is damaged months before an international vacation. Check every family member's passport well before departure and make sure it remains in usable condition.

The simplest rule is this: keep your passports dry, cool, clean, and away from Philippine humidity. A passport may survive years of travel, but a little prevention during the rainy season can help ensure your family's next trip doesn't begin with an unexpected visit to the DFA.

Read this if you're taking your or your child's passport photos for some tips from celebs.