New passport : Photo page is paper thin. Is this new style?

[quantumscience]

Hi

My wife received her first adult passport today. End of her journey into British Citizenship it's a great feeling.

Anyway, the new passport is quite different to the old ones of the likes of mine and my daughter's.
I think the new design is to improve security, which is very good.

But that said, the photo Id page is extremely thin - as thin as a A4 page thin

Is this a new design IPS have introduced? has anybody travelled with this and not had any issues with abroad immigration control or other port authorities trying to swipe it through their machines?

I ask this because if in a port they try to swipe this photo Id page in their swiping machines, I think the page will simply tear or get damaged easily they have designed it that thin.

I am sure there must be a reason for this too from IPS, but if that page won't stand or be strong enough for the machine swiping action of that page, what is the point? Would we end up getting a new passport replacement very often?

Maybe they don't swipe the new design passport photo id page? Does anybody know about this?

Thanks.

[Jambo]

This design has been around for almost three years now. It supposed to include enhanced security features to prevent fraud.

No one swipes passport anymore. They just read the chip (which is embedded in the cover as opposed to being visible in the previous style).

[Ayyubi72]

The new passport is lightweight. Could this be a problem? Is the photo page water proof? Can one strengthen the thin photo page by sticking cardboard at the back?

[SoHopeful]

I received my son's 2nd child passport earlier this year and wondered how durable this new paper photocard is. I know security has stepped up, but will the photo page last general wear and tear? Maybe a child's 5 year passport is ok, but not sure about an adult's...

[Ayyubi72]

Japanese are well known around the world for the reliability of their goods. Perhaps issuance of passports should be outsourced to Nissan.