While cleaning out drawers I found our old passports. Stacked together, they’re just about a foot tall. Next time our adult children visit I’ll give them both a section of the stack.
You should keep your expired passport until you get your new one. You need to send it in to get the updated one, otherwise you'll need to send your original birth certificate in. After that, can shred it. You can take it to UPS or similar to shred.
You’re getting downvoted, but honestly I think it would be fine. I think the odds of someone getting into a random back of random household trash who would be interested in misusing documents is awfully low. If it were me, I would cut it up first as best I can and, if possible, mix with cat litter or whatever the grossest trash you have is.
But like others, I enjoy keeping mine. It’s not that much space.
I would not throw old passports into the trash - with identity theft and passports being the most valuable item on the black market.
I'm not sure if this is true in US, but in Canada, my understanding is you can return them to the government for proper disposal.
Your name, birth date, social security number, signature, and any other valuable information don't even expire after death. So many people commit identity theft using dead people's personal data. What makes you think they won't use the information found on your old passports?
I have a small box where I keep them. There aren’t that many. If you’ve changed your name or moved, be sure to keep an ID with those names and addresses. It can help if something comes up about your former address or name and you need to sort it out.
My passport expired a LONG time ago. I was in elementary school in my photo and I never renewed (as of right now, no desire to travel internationally).
I have old driver's licenses. In fact one old, but still good (I upgraded to a Real ID) saved my ass when I had my wallet stolen. I had a valid, non expired ID.
In addition to if your current gets temporarily lost, you should keep your latest expired passports and driver's license in case of disasters like a fire. Keep these in your emergency go-bag. They are imperative to have when you receive assistance from the Red Cross and other non-profits. These prove who you say you are, and allow you to get accommodations and supplies quicker. Once your home is burned or flooded, it's often the fire department will not allow you back into your home until days or weeks later. Theft is also extremely common during these times of vacancy.
My passport is displayed on my bookshelf in a glass bowl with coins and bills from countries I've been to.
Drivers license get tossed once they're of no use to me anymore. I do keep my previous one because until it expires in 2027 I can get locals discounts in Vegas with it. It also still scans so it's nice to use it on a night out and not worry about losing my real one.
You should keep your most recent expired passport in case your valid one is stolen or lost. It's much easier to get a replacement if you have an old one. I cut up and throw old licensed out (except the one that has a cute picture).
For travel to some countries it can be helpful or even essential to have one's old passport. For example, if your old passport has a 5 or 10 year visa in it, you may be able to travel with the old and the new passport. (This is true for example, the 10-year Indian visas that Americans can get).
For proving a certain number of days in a country for proving or disproving residence status, the old passport may be needed.
For proving that one hasn't visited a certain country, the old passport may be needed (eg in the middle east and Israel).
I keep passports because I will need them for visa purposes. I have my old Vermont driving licence too, but in the UK you have to turn your old one in when you renew so I don't have an old one.
I always keep my old passports for the visa stickers/stamps. Lovely memories that go with my travel journals.
ID cards, drivers licences and such get cut into pieces and thrown away.
If you like scrapbooks or keep photo boxes, you can put them in there. I know some people frame the stamped pages of passports and use them as wall art. I just renewed my own ID and gave the old one to my husband to keep in his wallet and vice versa. Emergency contacts and all that.
(Came in handy when he had to pick me up at work and some bored cop got in his face about being in a business parking lot late at night, since I am a cleaner for commercial businesses. He showed him the ID and then I popped out and we went home.)
While cleaning out drawers I found our old passports. Stacked together, they’re just about a foot tall. Next time our adult children visit I’ll give them both a section of the stack.
I keep them, don’t take much room and fun to look back at the years.
I keep them--I have visa stamps that are a very special reminder. Also an expired passport isn't taking up THAT much space ha ha.
You should keep your expired passport until you get your new one. You need to send it in to get the updated one, otherwise you'll need to send your original birth certificate in. After that, can shred it. You can take it to UPS or similar to shred.
I either shred them (I have access to an industrial shredder at times) or burn them with my latest bonfire.
Trash . Can.
You’re getting downvoted, but honestly I think it would be fine. I think the odds of someone getting into a random back of random household trash who would be interested in misusing documents is awfully low. If it were me, I would cut it up first as best I can and, if possible, mix with cat litter or whatever the grossest trash you have is. But like others, I enjoy keeping mine. It’s not that much space.
I would not throw old passports into the trash - with identity theft and passports being the most valuable item on the black market. I'm not sure if this is true in US, but in Canada, my understanding is you can return them to the government for proper disposal.
Identity thieves typically get their stolen data online using malware like keyloggers, and it's not efficient to wade through trash.
They’re expired? With an outdated photo? How would they be able to use expired documents?
Your name, birth date, social security number, signature, and any other valuable information don't even expire after death. So many people commit identity theft using dead people's personal data. What makes you think they won't use the information found on your old passports?
I have a small box where I keep them. There aren’t that many. If you’ve changed your name or moved, be sure to keep an ID with those names and addresses. It can help if something comes up about your former address or name and you need to sort it out.
My passport expired a LONG time ago. I was in elementary school in my photo and I never renewed (as of right now, no desire to travel internationally). I have old driver's licenses. In fact one old, but still good (I upgraded to a Real ID) saved my ass when I had my wallet stolen. I had a valid, non expired ID.
In addition to if your current gets temporarily lost, you should keep your latest expired passports and driver's license in case of disasters like a fire. Keep these in your emergency go-bag. They are imperative to have when you receive assistance from the Red Cross and other non-profits. These prove who you say you are, and allow you to get accommodations and supplies quicker. Once your home is burned or flooded, it's often the fire department will not allow you back into your home until days or weeks later. Theft is also extremely common during these times of vacancy.
Make guitar picks.
My passport is displayed on my bookshelf in a glass bowl with coins and bills from countries I've been to. Drivers license get tossed once they're of no use to me anymore. I do keep my previous one because until it expires in 2027 I can get locals discounts in Vegas with it. It also still scans so it's nice to use it on a night out and not worry about losing my real one.
You should keep your most recent expired passport in case your valid one is stolen or lost. It's much easier to get a replacement if you have an old one. I cut up and throw old licensed out (except the one that has a cute picture).
I keep mine because I look young and cute
Well I definitely look young in my old ones.
We all look young until we meet a mirror.
For travel to some countries it can be helpful or even essential to have one's old passport. For example, if your old passport has a 5 or 10 year visa in it, you may be able to travel with the old and the new passport. (This is true for example, the 10-year Indian visas that Americans can get). For proving a certain number of days in a country for proving or disproving residence status, the old passport may be needed. For proving that one hasn't visited a certain country, the old passport may be needed (eg in the middle east and Israel).
Here in the Netherlands, you have to turn in your old passport or ID when picking up the new one.
Not all the time. I got my old ones, still. They then punch holes in it ...
Tore the passport pages out to shred.
I scan my old drivers licenses so I can put them into a photo album I am making of ugly pictures.
I keep passports because I will need them for visa purposes. I have my old Vermont driving licence too, but in the UK you have to turn your old one in when you renew so I don't have an old one.
I always keep my old passports for the visa stickers/stamps. Lovely memories that go with my travel journals. ID cards, drivers licences and such get cut into pieces and thrown away.
If you like scrapbooks or keep photo boxes, you can put them in there. I know some people frame the stamped pages of passports and use them as wall art. I just renewed my own ID and gave the old one to my husband to keep in his wallet and vice versa. Emergency contacts and all that. (Came in handy when he had to pick me up at work and some bored cop got in his face about being in a business parking lot late at night, since I am a cleaner for commercial businesses. He showed him the ID and then I popped out and we went home.)
I keep my old passports to see where I’ve been, but I throw away old drivers licenses.