Defective passport

A defective passport can cause problems at borders or airports.

Please take care of your passport, and be careful to avoid folds and creases (e.g. by putting your passport in your pocket), as this may render the chip in the passport unreadable.

When a manufacturing defect is confirmed after examination, the passport will be replaced free of charge!

Only a passport containing a manufacturing defect can be replaced free of charge.

If you think your passport has a manufacturing defect, you can have this checked.

Contact your local authority directly (or your embassy or consulate if you live abroad).

Important to know before submitting your request

  1. The defect must be an alleged manufacturing defect. Self-caused damage (intentional or accidental) does not entitle the user to a free replacement.
  2. A passport that is damaged or contains a manufacturing defect will not be returned to you, as it cannot be used without risk. The passport will be destroyed.
  3. If the passport does contain a manufacturing defect, you will receive a new passport with the same validity (= same start and end date), free of charge.



  • you had to postpone your departure or cancel your trip;
  • you had to interrupt your trip and return home.


What conditions apply?


How can you submit a request?

Complete the  request for compensation form (PDF, 170.91 KB).
Gather the following documents:


Send all the above-mentioned documents to the following address:

FPS Foreign Affairs
Travel and Identity Documents Department
Logistics and International standards (C2.1) 
Rue des Petits Carmes 15
1000 Brussels

How long do you have to file a request?

You may submit a request up to 3 months after you become aware of the production defect.

What happens next?

