International travel can be stressful enough without having to worry about the state of your passport, but damage to the document can cause a world of headaches, as one Bali-bound couple found out.

Sean Ferres and his partner Brooke were stopped aboard a Virgin Australia flight from the Gold Coast to Bali because of a coffee stain on the page of one of their passports, according to media reports around the globe.

Staff at Virgin’s check-in claimed the passport was “unreadable” and told the couple that they could take another flight for no extra cost if they could get a hold of an emergency passport.

But they were later told they would have to pay for a new flight, according to Ferres.

Instead, they paid $3000 for a Jetstar flight.

“Virgin Australia decided that this microscopic coffee stain on Brooke’s passport made it “unreadable” and denied us boarding our flight to Bali,” Ferres said in a Facebook post.

“Funnily enough, Jetstar didn’t have an issue with the passport, just like the 100+ other flights we’ve taken with it.”

He said that after booking their Jetstar flight and landing in Bali, they were able to enter without issue.

“We self-check in three seconds and go to the gate without interacting with a single human. We go to the gate and board our flight with no hassle,” Ferres said.

“Absolutely blows my mind that 25 years after the invention of the internet – in an age where even a $500 phone has advanced facial recognition – we STILL rely on a flimsy ass piece of paper to leave the country.”

Caring for your passport

The “microscopic coffee stain” nearly derailed one couple’s holiday, but they aren’t the first — and won’t be the last — to be affected by a damaged passport.

The “microscopic damage” that nearly derailed the couple’s holiday. Photo: Sean Ferres

Smartraveller, the Australian government’s travel advice website, said that even minor passport damage can stop you from boarding your flight or entering your destination.

“Well before you travel, check your passport for signs of damage like rips, marks, stains or missing pages,” Smartraveller said.

“In particular, make sure the photo page and Machine-Readable Zone are free from damage.”

People can even be detained “if the damage leads local authorities to suspect passport fraud”.

The most likely damage that could derail travel includes tears or cuts on pages, especially the photo page, marks across the machine-readable zone at the bottom of the photo page, removed pages or alterations.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said “damage that might require you to replace your passport includes water damage, unofficial markings on the data page, missing visa pages or tears”.

“Some countries won’t let you enter if your passport shows any signs of damage. This means a small rip, mark or water stain can ruin your overseas holiday,” DFAT said.

“Don’t let this happen to you! Check your passport for signs of damage before you travel.”