An Aussie traveller has discovered another issue with the durability of Australia’s new passports after travellers complained that the covers curled.
The woman took to social media this week to explain the stitching on the spine of the passports – which underwent a redesign in 2022 – can pull loose.
Many people have complained online that Australia’s passport – which is the most expensive in the world at $398 after a 15 per cent price hike in July – should have a build quality worthy of the hefty price tag.
‘Our passports that we bought in May 2023 live in this passport wallet. We take excellent care of them because they are our ticket to travelling the world – and this is what they look like when they come out,’ the woman said in a TikTok video.
‘It’s just unacceptable. They bend, they twist. The only safe place to keep them is between two gigantic encyclopedias.
‘This passport here has even got stitching starting to come up. That’s just awful.
‘Our other passports, the ones that had expired, they’re in perfect condition.
‘This is clearly a design fault, and I don’t know what they’re gonna do about this, but I doubt we’re gonna get 10 years out of these passports.’
A traveller has taken to TikTok to point out Australia’s new R series passport can also have a design issue that causes the stitching along the spine to pull loose
Australia’s passport currently costs $398 which is up from $346 in 2023 and there is likely going to be another price hike from January 1 as the fees are reviewed in line with the consumer price index each year.
Many Aussies shared similar issues with their passports.
‘Double the price and half the quality,’ one said.
‘Ours are the same, first time opening them and the pages started to separate from the spine,’ a second said.
‘Yes!!! I have been storing mine literally between books,’ a third agreed.
A fourth shared: ‘Was very pleased that my renewed passport was in my post box within the week however it was bowed out of the package and didn’t come in its plastic sleeve. I was mortified at the cost’.
‘An over-zealous border agent could reject those as they look tampered with,’ a fifth commented.
Natalie Vellozzi, 28, from Sydney, recently shared a video in which she compared her old and new passports and accused the government of skimping on quality.
The new R series Australian passport is thinner than previous ones and bends outwards (pictured is a brand-new passport)
‘The quality definitely does not match the price of this passport,’ she said.
When comparing both passports side-by-side, the difference could be seen straight away, with the new one’s cover curving upwards.
‘This is my old passport I have had for 10 years. It is definitely better quality,’ Ms Vellozzi said.
‘This new one looks like it was literally printed at Officeworks. I’ve had it for one day and it is already warping, it’s already bending.’
The new R series Australian passport costs a staggering $398 after a 15 per cent price hike in July, making it the most expensive in the world.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) trumpeted the new passport upon its launch last year, boasting it was manufactured in Australia.
‘The next-generation passport is packed with advanced security features designed to keep Australians’ identities safe,’ the department said.
