On March 6, 2016, a female Canadian citizen was denied boarding when she attempted to check in on a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flight to Toronto with an expired Canadian passport.

The passenger who was holidaying in TT insisted she could travel as she had a valid Canadian citizenship card, notwithstanding the expired passport.

CAL representatives advised the passenger that she must have a valid passport and recommended that she apply to the Canadian High Commission in Port of Spain for a new passport – a process that normally takes approximately five business working days.

The passenger then surprisingly presented a valid Jamaican passport as she had dual citizenship of both Canada and Jamaica. She was then informed that travelling with a Jamaican passport effectively means that, as a Jamaican citizen, a Canadian non-immigrant visa is required according to Canadian immigration laws. The matter became further complicated because, in this circumstance, the application had to be made at the Canadian High Commission in the country of citizenship, which in this case was Jamaica.

The passenger pleaded her case on social media which evoked numerous sympathetic responses and pledges of assistance. However, at the end of it all, the passenger had to remain in TT until a new passport was issued by the Canadian High Commission.

Whenever travellers arrive in foreign countries without valid travel documents, the passengers are deemed "inadmissible" and the airlines are liable to hefty fines.

In addition, the airlines are required to transport the passengers back to the points of origin and bear the cost of return travel and other incidentals such as hotel accommodation, security, ground transportation and meals.

[caption id="attachment_1022299" align="alignnone" width="1024"] JET-SETTING: Travellers form a queue at the check in counter at the Piarco International Airport. FILE PHOTO -[/caption]

A travel document is an identity document issued by a government in accordance with international agreements that authenticates the bona fides of a traveller.

Airlines are required to scrutinise all travel documents such as passports and visas to ensure their relevance and validity for satisfying international border control requirements.

The most common travel document is a passport which is an official travel document issued by a government that certifies a person's identity and nationality for international travel.

Passports are issued in booklet form to allow other governments to place visas, when required, as well as entry and exit stamps into them.

A passport allows the bearer to enter and temporarily reside in a foreign country, access local aid and protection, and obtain consular assistance from their government.

In addition to facilitating travel, passports are key mechanisms for border security and regulating migration. It also serves as official identification for various domestic purposes such as when conducting financial transactions.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) sets stand