Data errors on passports can have you wondering if you can travel internationally. What happens when your name is wrong? Or your passport gender marker is different from that on your travel documents? Maybe even the date of birth is incorrect. Is traveling with wrong birthday on passport legal? And if so, how does it work?
Traveling With Wrong Birthday on Passport
The good news is that data errors are not as grave as they seem. However, it depends on where you wish to travel and the airlines you will use. For example, you can skip using the passport book when traveling to Canada and other places where you can use other documentation. But when traveling to some stricter regions, you may need to correct your details. In this case, you will have two options:
- Correct Your Details Before Leaving the U.S.: If the wrong date of birth can hamper your travel plans owing to airline restrictions, you may need to get a new passport before leaving.
- Correct Your Details Upon Return: If the date of birth will not interfere with your travel plans, you can hold off on changing it. Once you return to the U.S., you can apply for a new passport.
Thus, traveling with wrong birthday on passport depends on your situational assessment.
Wrong Birthday on Passport: The Correction Process
While most people can still travel with the wrong dates of birth, such oversights can cost you during official transactions. Thus, it is best to apply for a correction by getting a new passport as soon as you notice the error. You will need the following documents:
- A Complete Form DS-5504,
- Two recent passport photos,
- Supporting documentation that shows the correct date of birth, and
- The passport with the incorrect date of birth.
You will not pay correction fees if the passport is still valid. Instead, you will only incur TVP processing fees and should have a new passport within a few days. Once you receive the new passport, check if the details are correct. If everything checks out, you can sign it.
