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The passport cover is something that seems to make it into just about every travel gear shop on the planet, but its real benefit has been something I’ve questioned over the years.
In this post, I take a look at the pros and cons of passport covers and whether they are something we’d recommend to our HPL readers.
What is a passport cover?
A passport cover is sort of like a book cover for your passport.
Typically, both ends of your passport cover will slide into pockets on each side, and just like a book jacket, you have a fancy new look to your passport. It’s protected better from normal wear and tear.
Passport covers can be made of plastic, leather, fabric, and so on.
Pros of Using Passport Covers
- They protect your passport from normal wear and tear, and getting liquids spilled on them. If you use your passport a lot, then this can be a very good thing.
- They help you quickly identify the passport in your luggage or bag. A dark blue cover doesn’t always make itself known in a dark bag.
- They can look super fashionable or sleek if that’s what you’re going for.
- They can add extra organization. Some covers contain extra pockets inside for money, ID’s, vaccination proof, or other random ticket slips.
- Some protect your digital information. Since most passports worldwide include an RFID chip in them, the passport covers that include RFID blockers can keep your personal information from getting into the wrong hands.
Cons of Using Passport Covers
- They add an extra step. At passport control, the officer will usually have to remove the cover from the passport, or you will have to do the same.
- Some add extra bulk. Not much, mind you, but the fewer extras you include in your packing, the better, right?
Are Passport Covers Worth it?
Personally, I find the cover to be a bit useless.
I used one on a 6 week trip a couple of years ago, and while it was super cute, I was annoyed at having to remove the cover at every airport stop. Instead of putting the passport back in the cover properly, I tended to just slip it back loosely (inside the cover, but not actually connected to it).
Not only that, but for RFID protection, I have other gear that offers the capability, like a pocket in my Pacsafe Slingsafe 300 GII.
And who doesn’t want their passport to show a little wear and tear? The only good passport, in my opinion, is a used passport!
But then again, that’s just me. I love the feeling of being organized when I travel, but I also hate extra steps at those busy times, like trying to get through security.
The need to keep my passport looking nice and neat is not super important to me; it might be for you. In that case, a passport cover can add a bit of pizzazz to your travel style while keeping your passport, and possibly your passport’s information, safe.
Verdict:
The passport cover is not an essential piece of travel gear, but for some it may be useful if looking for the following perks: keeping the passport looking sharper longer, protecting the digital data on the passport, or classing up your travel ensemble.
Alternatives to a passport cover
If you want to keep your passport protected and remain organized, here are some alternatives you can check out.
Fossil Passport Wallet
This is a good compromise between keeping your passport in good condition while making it easy for you to slip it in and out of the cover when going through immigration.Â
RFID Blocking Passport Holder
This travel wallet can keep everything organized for you. You can have your passport secured in its own sleeve while keeping your cards, currencies, and other documents in one place.
It also has an RFID blocker, so your data is secured.
Travelon Travel Essentials Set
This set is great if you are traveling multiple countries and dealing with several currencies. It is slim and does not add too much bulk inside your bag. It is also water-resistant.
If you’re getting this, make sure to register the item so it is covered by Travelon’s warranty.
Valante Premium Family Travel Document Organizer
Traveling with kids can be stressful. Here’s a way to make it easier: keep all your important documents within easy reach with this travel document organizer.
It has:
- slots for 6 passports
- 2 pockets for boarding passes
- 2 zippered pockets for cash
- 2 letter-sized slots for documents
- a zippered pocket for your mobile phone
- slots for your cards
- a key ring holder
- pen holder
- sim and memory card slots
- removable wristlet and cross-body strap
It is also water-resistant and RFID blocking and comes with a 1-year warranty and 60-day money-back guarantee.
Zoppen Multi-purpose Travel Passport Wallet
Here’s a cute travel wallet that sure to fit your style and budget. This multi-purpose travel organizer comes in a multitude of colors and can hold your passport, a pen, cards, currency, and even your mobile phone.
Do you use a passport cover? Why or why not?
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I never use a passport cover. But i usually keep my passport in my money belt the whole time, and it can get pretty gross in there on an active, hot day. So I do keep my passport in a ziplocs once I’ve arrived at my destination.
I use the pacsafe RFID passport travel wallet for big trips. it serves the purpose of not losing my passport in my bag, but also as a wallet, document carrier, change holder, ticket sleeve, and pen holder.
I used to have just a regular old cover, but it became a hassle to always remove it, and it wasn’t large enough to hold tickets and other documents. At leas the Pacsafe wallet is multipurpose!
I see three good reasons…
1. As you mentioned, the RFID protection
2. Keep it from getting as damaged when in a wet environment (ie, my money belt)
3. To hide your country of origin… when I traveled to some places, I didn’t want people to know I was a US Citizen right off the bat and a cover hides the passport better than my hand.
Ah yes, I was wondering if anyone would mention the hiding of citizenship point 🙂
I think for that purpose you could buy a cover from another country’s passport, like you could buy the Canada cover for your US passport. What the hell they’re the same colour anyway and most places the actual getting through passport control it makes no difference in how they treat you. The world thinks it’s “one and the same” anyway.
The passport is RFID protected when it is closed. I don’t see the need to have this.
I’ve never used a passport cover, but I have used a passport carrier. I think it works well as my passport can easily slide in and out, and the one I use regularly has extra pockets for additional ID and money… it’s like a thinner and more useful wallet! Plus, since it’s attached to a string meant to go around your neck, it’s easy to keep on hand when going through airport security, and otherwise I’ll tie it to a certain space inside my backpack so it doesn’t get jumbled around with my other belongings.
I have a passport cover that I love. It was a gift so there is sentimental value but I love not having the wear and tear on my passport. My previous passport had so much damage that I got questioned about it going through immigration (sorry, don’t remember the specific country). It made me worried enough that now I try to prevent any damage so immigration has no reason to question me.
I would never have bought one. However I had a five hour delay on Singapore Airlines and as a token they gave every passenger a wrapped gift that ended up being a passport wallet.
I like mine. I use it to hold not only my passport but my frequent flyer membership cards. I also stuff my claim ticket when I check baggage inside the pocket.
Aren’t your passports issued with a cover? They are in Oz, not quite like the one you described but with each side having a plastic cover, open at the top. I keep my closed passport in one side, easy to slide out and open, and many random things in the other side at different times. A little local currency, baggage claim tickets, receipts, phone numbers I need to keep handy, business cards and many other things. I don’t know what I would do without my cover and it’s simple storage. This passport has done some hard travel, tbe more protection I can give it the better!
I too have strated using a passport cover primarily to disguise my country of origin. Especially as I am about to get my “official government travel” passport for an international military move, I will DEFINITELY be keeping tha one in a cover. You don’t exactly want everyone knowing you’re traveling for military reasons. I am pretty good at hiding my affiliation, but that one is a dead give away and my safety matters more than my convenience.
But — I have a thin one with a cute design and plastic outer. It is essencally as this as the clear one you pictured. Fits perfectly in my RFID money belt and helps with the poisture protection.
Please excuse my awful grammar and multiple mistakes! I will try to proofread being posting next time 🙂
I bought a leatherette one from Daiso in South Korea for like $3–it was a total impulse buy but it’s held up surprisingly well. I like the element of personalization, plus it has pockets to keep my boarding passes handy while I wait in airport lines.
I used to have a passport cover but like you observed, they do add to the bulk and the only thing they really do is protect the passport from looking old and worn–but old and worn passports are fashionable right? 😉
I love old and worn passports!
Yeah good luck with ‘old and worn’ now; most gate agents on international flights leaving from the US to ANY country, ESPECIALLY mexico, will deny you boarding passes if a passport looks ‘used’, SOUTHWEST especially, they are not playing games. Trust me on this one.
Nice to know for people from countries whose passports cost a small fortune to replace and keep. looking “new.” Fortunately for me and my Irish one it never gets “worn out” because it keeps getting confiscated or stolen. Confiscated because authorities don’t think I ‘look Irish” or outright stolen.
I personally find mine really handy – I always keep my EHIC card with my passport plus any boarding passes etc I might have.
Thanks for sharing! I was wondering the same thing. I found it annoying to always be taking the passport out at the airport whenever I have my luggage with me. I have this cute floral one but decided to ditch it this last trip and found it easier to manage. Instead I was using a leather fanny pack for my passport and it worked out very well, especially since I upgraded to using a Travel backpack so I was hands free. I do like that the passport cover included space for credit cards, boarding pass, and my passport but did not see it as a wise item to use as a wallet during my days out in a country as I rather leave my passport at the hotel.
I don’t care if my passport sees a bit of wear but I do like the organization that a passport wallet provides!!
I can keep all the passes I need in one spot without having to dig through my bag looking for each one. For me, a passport wallet is more of a travel wallet. I keep my passport accessible for removal. Without a wallet, I get annoyed when my boarding pass has slipped out of my passport or my ticket for the next leg is loose in my bag. I also like to have some currency that I’ll only use in airports tucked into it just in case.
I got one as a present from my daughter, so of course I have to use it. I do rather like it though. The design is a map of the London Underground, so no disguising my nationality 😉
The safest way is to either carry everything safely in one place, or only bring the essentials. I got both the Travel Wallet and Carry Out Wallet from Bellroy, and I bring either depending on where I’m traveling.
I think it depends on the passport cover. I have two really cheap black ones that I got as a bundle with passport photos from Walmart several years ago, and I keep lending them out to people because I find them to be awesome! They have a little folder on the front to slip your boarding pass in, and have a clear window on the inside so that you can always have your passport open to the picture page. Yes, the security people sometimes take it out of the cover for authentication, but I just fix it once I’m boarded on the plane. There’s a few card holder sleeves on the inside as well, but I find using all of them and making it a wallet makes it too bulky, I’d rather it have a zipper at that point. I have travelled a couple of times without the passport cover and haven’t been bothered (I use my boarding pass to “bookmark” the picture page of my passport) and when I do use it I enjoy the organization without feeling like it is time-consuming.
I never really saw a use for a passport cover but found a really cute one one time and I sort of went into a coma and bought it 😛 It has full size pockets on each side so it’s great for keeping my husband’s and my passports together in one neat bundle (I’m the only one organised enough to be trusted with our travel documents) so it has actually turned out to be really useful.
As somebody who was stopped leaving the country, and then attempting to reenter based on a wear and tear (even a small amount) please do not think that is a great thing. Passport damage can prevent you from travelling, and it was made clear to me that I was VERY LUCKY to have been allowed to leave the country, and reenter, and that it absolutley needed to be replaced upon arriving back home. There is an incredible amount of naiveity in that statement.
Your passport in an incredibly important document – it’s not only the thing that allows you to travel abroad, it’s the one thing that lets you return home when your done. And if the thing is damaged – it can stop you from being allowed back home, and leave you stranded in a foreign country. Do not travel on a damaged one because it shows you are “well travelled”, it’s “fashionable” or any other such reasons. Keep it in a good condition, and replace it if you notice damage appearing.
Thanks for the honest post! I keep seeing passport covers on gift guides, and, to me, they just seem unnecessary because of what you said: You will have to remove it anyway. And to be honest, for those of us traveling on very good passports, it’s actually better if the agent can immediately see the country it belongs to. Sorry, but it’s true.