I take a lot of tech with me when I travel for work or pleasure. It's a perk of the job, but also a bit of a pain sometimes. Usually at the very least a couple of phones, a laptop, a camera. I usually take a different gadget each trip, so I'm used to things going wrong with the technology I carry when I'm on the road. But one thing I've learned not to muck around with is my passport.

My passport is navy blue. My family members' passports from other countries are a deep forest green, maroon or navy blue also. Thinking about it now, I don't think I've ever seen, say, a hot pink passport. It turns out there's a good reason for that, but it isn't what you think.

In a move that sounds convenient and a little terrifying, international travellers to Australia may not need a passport by 2020. Instead, our border security is looking to implement a biometric system that recognises faces, irises and/or fingerprints in place of printed IDs.

Depending on the passport you hold, it can be a breeze to visit another country, or it can be a maddening process that takes months of paperwork, clearance, visits to consulates or embassies and the risk of getting denied anyway. Passport Map can help you figure out what you're in for before you plan a trip.

If your passport is set to expire soon and you have travel plans, you'll want to watch out for the "six month rule". Many countries require a six month buffer on your passport's expiration date.

Before you head off for that international trip, make sure you check the expiration date on your passport. Even if it's past the date of your return, you still might not be allowed to travel, depending on the country you're visiting.

Besides making sure your passport is valid for at least six months before travelling internationally, make sure it's not too full. Some countries require you have several blank pages before you leave home.

It is feasible -- with a little luck and some manners -- to get a very rapid Australian passport renewal. Here's how I did it, and the larger lesson it taught me about customer service and planning.

The SmartGate customs processing system generally works well and millions of us use it, but it isn't perfect. An analysis by the Australian National Audit Office notes that around eight per cent of people who use the gates end up having to see an officer anyway. What goes wrong?

There's always a lot to organise before you head overseas: itineraries, accommodation, your packing list, and filling your device with entertainment for the flight. But in the rush, you shouldn't forget to notify some key organisations about your plans. Here are the five most important.

Dear Lifehacker, You recently discussed travelling with multiple passports, and I have a particular version of that issue. I have an Australian passport and Canadian permanent residency, which I obtained in September 2006. The permanent resident (PR) card expired in October 2011. I lived in Australia from November 2006 to April 2011 before going back to Canada. But I recently travelled to the US and found it difficult to return to Canada.

Dear Lifehacker, My husband and I both have Australian and EU passports. Next February we are traveling to Brazil, where Australian passport holders need a visa, but EU passport holders do not. Can we leave and enter Australia using our local passports, and use our EU passports to enter and leave Brazil, thus not needing visas? Cheers, Visa Value