An Australian traveler discovered another problem with the durability of the new Australian passports after travelers complained about the covers curling.
The woman took to social media this week to explain that the seams on the spines of the passports, which were redesigned in 2022, can come loose.
Many people have complained online that the Australian passport – which is the most expensive in the world at $398 after a 15 per cent price increase in July – should have a build quality worthy of its high price. .
‘Our passports that we bought in May 2023 live in this passport wallet. “We take very good care of them because they are our ticket to travel the world and this is what they look like when they come out,” the woman said in a TikTok video.
‘It is simply unacceptable. They bend, they twist. The only safe place to keep them is between two gigantic encyclopedias.
This passport is even starting to show seams. That’s just horrible.
‘Our other passports, the ones that had expired, are in perfect condition.
“This is clearly a design error, and I don’t know what they’re going to do about it, but I doubt we can get 10 years out of these passports.”
One traveler took to TikTok to point out that Australia’s new R-series passport may also have a design issue that causes the seams along the spine to come loose.
The Australian passport currently costs $398, up from $346 in 2023, and there is likely to be another price increase from January 1 as fees are reviewed according to the consumer price index each year.
Many Australians shared similar problems with their passports.
“Double the price and half the quality,” said one.
“Ours are the same, first time we opened them and the pages started to separate from the spine,” said a second.
‘Yeah!!! “I’ve literally been keeping mine in between books,” a third agreed.
A fourth shared: ‘I was very happy that my renewed passport was in my postbox within a week, however it was taken out of the package and did not come in its plastic sleeve. “I was mortified by the cost.”
“An overzealous border agent might reject them because they look tampered with,” commented a fifth.
Natalie Vellozzi, 28, from Sydney, recently shared a video comparing her old and new passports and accusing the government of skimping on quality.
The new R-series Australian passport is thinner than previous ones and folds outwards (new passport is pictured)
“The quality definitely does not match the price of this passport,” he said.
When comparing both passports side by side, the difference can be seen immediately: the cover of the new one is curved upward.
‘This is my old passport that I have had for 10 years. It’s definitely better quality,” Ms. Vellozzi said.
‘This new one looks like it was literally printed at Officeworks. I’ve had it for a day and it’s already deforming, it’s already bending.’
Australia’s new R-series passport costs a staggering $398 after a 15 per cent price increase in July, making it the most expensive in the world.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) trumpeted the new passport at its launch last year, boasting that it was made in Australia.
“The next generation passport is packed with advanced security features designed to keep Australians’ identities safe,” the department said.