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One passenger said that cosmetic surgery on his face caused unexpected confusion at the airport as it no longer resembled his passport photo.
Tomi Grainger, who describes herself as “Australia’s craziest drag queen”, revealed on TikTok how her trip to Japan was interrupted.
The Australian was traveling from Sydney International Airport to Tokyo when he was detained at immigration. Although the travel documents were worn out, the drag performer had used the passport for eight years without any problems, the New Zealand Herald reported.
“That’s when I realized, after all the plastic surgery I’ve had, I don’t look like the person in that photo anymore,” Grainger said in a TikTok video.
To prove how much has changed since their passports were issued, they shared a photo of their 21-year-old selves that was used on their documents.
Mr Granger told News.com.au: “It was fun but also very nerve-wracking.” I have used the airport many times and have never had such a problem. My heart was racing and I thought I might miss my flight. That would have been a nightmare. ”
Grainger said he was only allowed to pass after explaining that he had recently undergone cosmetic surgery. The Australian said he would feel anxious every time he went through a border check with his current documents.
“I think it’s time to change your passport,” Grainger added.
Earlier this year, a Ukrainian actress and model was stopped from entering Malaysia because her face without makeup looked too different from her passport photo.
Passport photo rules vary around the world. British passport holders are required to renew their passports if their appearance has changed to the point that they are “unrecognizable from their passport photograph”, with the UK government’s website citing plastic surgery as an example.
However, if you’ve “changed your look a bit by dying your hair or growing a beard,” you don’t need to order a new one.
