Passport Retention

Renfrew · Veteran Member

For all tourists travelling overseas, it is advisable to request from your travel agent, cruise company, airline and/or accommodation whether your passport will be withheld by them, duration & means of identification should an incident arise.
A recent cruise was more than upsetting when our passports were requested prior to mounting the gangplank. When asked for an explanation, we were advised "a requirement of the Indonesian Government & if you do not comply, you will not permitted to board the P&O ship."

Upon inquiry to Dept of Foreign Affairs & Trade, the following advice:-

"The Australian Passport Office advises that you should keep your passport secure at all times. It is a document accepted internationally for identity purposes and should be kept in your possession while travelling overseas. We would suggest you enquire with P&O, or any future tour company as to whether you could provide a copy of your passport so that you can retain your physical passport in your possession."

Make this part of your Travel Insurance Plan.

grahamg · Senior Member

sorry I don't understand, where did this happen? where did you board the ship and why would it have anything to d with Indonesian Government

Clare46 · Senior Member

In June I did a cruise from Singapore to Brisbane and visited Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and we had to hand our passport in when we boarded. The ship needed them to arrange visas. It would be impossible for each passenger to do it the self when disembarking.

-- Edited by Clare46 on Sunday 16th of August 2015 11:29:02 AM

Renfrew · Veteran Member

"The Australian Passport Office advises that you should keep your passport secure at all times. It is a document accepted internationally for identity purposes and should be kept in your possession while travelling overseas. We would suggest you enquire with P&O, or any future tour company as to whether you could provide a copy of your passport so that you can retain your physical passport in your possession."

Renfrew · Veteran Member

Seems we were on the same cruise.

We organised & paid our visas prior to boarding, weren't advised that passports were to be withheld for over 10 days & had very little identification when required, most upsetting.

The following post I have highlighted, direct from our own Australian Passport Office,.

There advise cannot be ignored & should be followed to the letter.

first timer · Senior Member

We have just returned from a cruise Sydney to Perth where we called into port at lombok. On leaving Broome to go to Lombok the ship asked for all passports to be handed over so that Indonesian imigration officails could check and stamp them and issue visas and also charge us $35 american for our visa to enter Lombok. Our passports were returned after we left Lombok.
I was a bit unsure about this procedure but apparently its done to save us loosing passports through theft while in Lombok.
Ashley

Woody n Sue · Guru

Just emailed my travel agent regarding Indonesia and that is standard practice and a requirement to enter Indonesia by boat whoops I mean ship .
Much as I wouldn't like doing that but if I were informed prior to the trip it wouldn't be so bad as if it were just sprung on me while on the ship. Didn't ask but maybe you could get your own visa before sailing and then keep your passport .

TommyG · Senior Member

It's pretty hard to argue with them after you have paid for the cruise and as you are boarding the ship they say "Gime your passport or I'll chuck you overboard" or whatever it was the bloke said to my wife. I asked her what did he say? She said "Give him your passport and don't argue. Then you notice everyone else is doing this so you turn into a sheep too. Whether that's the right thing to do or not is a good point but pretty pointless at that time.

Plendo · Guru

I am sure the same thing probably happens the other way as well, the people smugglers probably ask for passport as well.

A least the Indonesian government lats you land, ad leave!