Because of their design, new Canadian passports are more prone to bending.
A spokesman for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told CTV News in an email that new Canadian passports are sensitive to heat and moisture due to the way they are manufactured.
“The previous generation of passports included an extra layer (in the cover) to protect the electronic chip,” IRCC said.
The polycarbonate electronic chip is located on the data page of the new passport, making the cover thinner.
Stephane Lapensee learned this the hard way when he traveled to the Netherlands with his daughter. His passport is forged.
“It looks like something out of a washing machine,” lamented the former Ottawa resident.
Stephane Lapensee works at the European Space Agency. In a way, he represents Canada abroad. He believes that even if the defaced passport is valid, the situation is unacceptable.
“I find it a bit embarrassing to have to show such a passport to officials or shops,” he said.
According to IRCC, as of August 23, nearly 15,600 next-generation passports had been issued and only three official complaints had been received about a bent envelope.
Other countries like Australia have recently changed their passports and their citizens have reported similar problems with the envelopes.
The IRCC recommends keeping the passport in a cool, dry place for better storage.