IMO, these small details are what makes the story. These are not own own subplots or anything of that sort. Details like the passports are part of the main story and interesting points that the characters must deal with.
If we gloss over these points there really is no story. TTT, didn't you say that the characters fight too much without interesting problems or "road blocks?" This is one of the many examples of problems the team might face while going on a mission.
