Determining if a passport is too damaged for travel often comes down to the opinion of a border authority. "Some tourist attractions will have their own 'passport stamp,' but since these are not official government agencies, they could invalidate your passport," Diehl said. Loose bindings and frayed edges are common reasons a passport is deemed too damaged for travel. "Authorities may question the authenticity of a damaged passport," he said, which could cause them to "detain you or send you home." Keeping your passport in good condition is keyDiehl said that the easiest way to avoid being turned away at the airport for having a damaged passport is to keep it safe.

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Persons: —, that's, Business Insider's Monica Humphries, Jake Burton's, Eve, Steve Diehl, Diehl Organizations: Service, Business, US Department of State's, Consular Affairs Locations: Alicante, Spain