He wanted to fly to Larnaca with his ID taped shut. The trip ended at the airport.

A passenger bound for Cyprus was denied a flight to Larnaca because he presented a seriously damaged ID card during inspection. The document had numerous cracks and chips, and its owner attempted to salvage the situation by gluing it together with ordinary office tape. The Border Guard refused to allow him to cross the border.

The incident occurred on Thursday, August 20, before departure from Pyrzowice Airport for Larnaca. The ID itself was authentic. The issue wasn't its legality, but rather its technical condition, which prevented it from being considered a valid travel document.

To Larnaca with my ID taped shut

According to the Silesian Border Guard Unit, the document presented by the passenger was in very poor condition.

The ID card had numerous cracks and chips. So the man decided to tape it shut and presented himself in this condition at check-in for his flight to Larnaca.

The tape didn't help though.

The officers refused permission to cross the border, and the planned trip to Cyprus ended at the airport.

An important date on the ID card is not everything

This situation serves as a good reminder for those preparing to travel to Cyprus.

A damaged document may become invalid even if the expiration date on it has not yet passed.

The Border Guard explains that cracks, breaks, or other serious damage may make it difficult to verify the identity of the holder and the security of the document itself. In such cases, the document may be rejected during customs clearance or inspection.

You can fly to Cyprus with an ID card or passport.

Polish citizens traveling to the Republic of Cyprus do not require a passport. For stays up to 90 days, a passport is sufficient. a valid ID card or a valid passport.

The Polish Embassy in Nicosia, however, draws attention to something that is easy to forget before leaving: the document should not only be valid, but also in good technical condition and enable the identification of the owner.

Before leaving, it's worth checking not only the expiration date, but also the plastic itself: cracks, loose parts, or other serious damage can mean problems even before you get on the plane.

Got a damaged ID? Take your passport with you.

The Border Guard suggests a simple solution.

If the ID card is damaged, you should report the damage and apply for a new document. If there is little time left before departure and the traveler has valid passport, can use it instead of the destroyed evidence.

However, it is not worth trying to repair the document yourself.

Although adhesive tape can repair cracked plastic, it will not restore the document's validity needed to cross the border.

mID on your phone will not replace your ID at the airport either

In such a situation, the digital mDowód in the mObywatel application will not help either.

mDowód is a full-fledged identity document in Poland, but it is not a document used for international travel. When leaving Poland, you still need a physical ID card or passport.

This is especially important for people who practically never take their plastic document out of their wallet on a daily basis and only discover that it is damaged before their vacation.

It is better to check the document before going to the airport

The story of the passenger flying to Larnaca sounds unusual, but it carries a very practical warning.

Before flying to Cyprus, it is worth checking three things: the expiry date of the document, its technical condition and the compliance of the photo with the current appearance of the ownerIt is these elements that the Polish diplomatic mission in Cyprus is drawing attention to.

If the ID card is cracked or seriously damaged, it is safer not to check at the airport whether it will "still pass".

A passenger flying to Larnaca found this out in the simplest possible way: the plane took off without him.

Source: Silesian Border Guard Unit / Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nicosia