Passport Cover Sticker Removal: The Easiest Way

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

When you take your passport after security control, you might sometimes notice that the officers at the airports have put some stickers on them.

These are usually used for security measures, so as you pass through all the scanners and security checks, the officials at particular stands would know that you have passed every step correctly.

So, can you safely remove the stickers from your passport cover after you are done with your flight, and what is the correct way to do that? 

You can remove the stickers from your passport, but you will need to do it very carefully. First, you will need to remove the stickers with your nails or a plastic card, so the top layer will come off. Then, you will need to rub some olive oil on it so the sticky adhesive can be entirely removed.

Passport

If you want to keep your passport neat and in a good condition, you will need to learn a proper way for removing the stickers from its cover.

  • If you do not follow the steps, you might scratch the cover of your passport and cause some damage to it.

To avoid that, read and follow all the steps and different ways that I have provided in the article, so you will get rid of the stickers in the easiest and safest manner.

How To Remove Custom Stickers From A Passport Cover? (Are You Allowed)

Before I start explaining the different steps for removing passport stickers, you should know that removing them is absolutely allowed since you do not need them once you are done with your flight.

As you might have noticed, not all airports put stickers on the passport, meaning that some of them have this technique to have better control of the security checks.

Therefore, you are allowed to take them off your passport services once you arrive at your destination since they do not mean anything for your travel in the future.

Sometimes, the glue that sticks the stickers on the passport cover is not so strong so you might be able to get rid of them only by taking them off without any additional tools.

However, sometimes, the residue of the glue might be left on your cover, making your passport sticky when you carry it and hold it in your hands. In order to remove the adhesive remains, you might try different techniques that will help you remove the stickers entirely without damaging the cover of your passport. 

Below, you have several ways that might help you achieve this. 

Removing Stickers From A Passport Cover Using Olive Oil

Removing stickers using olive oil is really basic and comes in a few simple steps. Usually, this method works, so you won’t need to try anything else.

If you do not have olive oil at your disposal, you can try baby oil since they work in a similar way. 

Follow these steps to safely remove stickers and adhesive residue from your passport cover. 

  1. Using your fingernails or a plastic card from your wallet remove the stickers as much as you can. This way you will get rid of the bigger parts of the stickers, i.e. their top layer. 
  2. Once you have taken away the main parts, dab your finger in olive oil. You need only a small amount of oil which needs to be rubbed on the residue that has left from the sticker. Cover the whole surface where there are sticky remains.
  3. When you are done with the previous step, get a paper towel and wipe off the remains. This will leave your passport cover smooth and neat as it has been before. 

Here’s a quick video that walks you through the process.

Removing Stickers From A Passport Cover Using Kitchen Washing Supplies 

If you want to try a different way of removing stickers, you can do so by using the washing supplies you use in your kitchen along with some vinegar.

This is also a simple method that works in most cases. Since the cover of the passport is basically plastic, this technique should do the trick. 

Just do the steps carefully one by one, and you will be able to get rid of the stickiness from your passport. 

  1. Get a small container or a bowl of hot water where you can make some mixture. 
  2. To the bowl of hot water, add a cup of white vinegar that you use for cooking. 
  3. After that, add one tablespoon of dishwashing soap that you use for cleaning your dishes. 
  4. Stir well through the bowl so you would get a good mixture. 
  5. Get a towel or a napkin and soak it in the mixture. 
  6. Start wiping off the adhesive residue from the cover. Make sure that you do this step gently and slowly. 
  7. In the end, you may use your fingers, so you would make sure that the sticky remains are removed entirely. 

Removing Stickers From A Passport Cover Using Alcohol

Alcohol is a good way of removing sticky residue from your passport cover. If you do not have clear alcohol, vodka could be a good substitute. Rubbing alcohol on adhesive surfaces may really help you achieve your goal. 

These are the steps:

  1. First, remove the sticker with a card or your fingernail. 
  2. Take a paper towel and apply some alcohol, or vodka to it. 
  3. Dab the paper towel gently on the sticky residue, or you may want to leave it for a couple of minutes so the residue will soften. 
  4. Rub the alcohol gently over the surface, and the residue should start disappearing. 

You have seen several ways that might help you get rid of the residue from stickers that you might get on your passport cover while traveling.

All of these methods are proven to work, however, sometimes one might be more effective than another depending on the glue that has been used on the stickers.

Whichever method you choose, make sure that you do it gently since you do not want to damage your passport as passport processing times and the application status can take up to 6 weeks unless you use an expedited service. 

FAQ

Can I remove the sticker on the back of my passport

Yes, you can remove the sticker on the back of your passport. However, the U.S. Department of State recommends keeping it on as it provides quick and easy access to their website. If you do remove the sticker, be sure to do it carefully to avoid damaging the passport. (source: U.S. Department of State)

How to remove sticker residue from passport

To remove sticker residue from your passport, you can use rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or olive oil. Here are the steps:

  1. Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or olive oil to a cotton ball or soft cloth.
  2. Gently rub the affected area with the cotton ball or cloth.
  3. Continue rubbing until the sticker residue is removed.
  4. If necessary, repeat the process using a fresh cotton ball or cloth.
  5. Once the residue is removed, wipe the passport with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue or cleaning solution.

Affiliate Disclaimer

As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties.