Jakarta, ThedailyID — A Malaysian woman had to cancel her flight and pay additional travel costs after immigration officials ruled her passport invalid because of dinosaur drawings made by her three-year-old child.
According to local reports, the child drew dinosaurs on several pages of the passport after gaining access to the document. Although the drawings appeared harmless, authorities classified the passport as damaged.
The woman shared her experience in a Threads post earlier this month. She explained that she became concerned after discovering the drawings and decided to visit the immigration office in Putrajaya before her scheduled departure.
Her concerns proved justified. After examining the document, an immigration officer determined that the passport was damaged and no longer valid for international travel.
As a result, officials barred her from boarding the flight. Because she could not obtain a replacement passport immediately, she had to postpone her trip and arrange new travel plans.
The disruption also came with a financial cost. The woman said she paid an additional US$146, or about Rp2.6 million, to reschedule her journey.
“My heart wanted to cry,” she wrote in the social media post.
Meanwhile, the incident sparked discussion online about the importance of keeping travel documents in good condition. Many users expressed surprise that children’s drawings could invalidate a passport.
However, immigration authorities in many countries treat passports as official government documents. Even minor markings, notes, or drawings can lead officials to classify them as damaged or altered.
The case serves as a reminder for travelers to store passports carefully and keep them out of children’s reach. Otherwise, a seemingly harmless doodle could lead to costly travel disruptions.
