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What Is a Passport?

A passport is a travel document issued by a country’s government to its citizens that verifies the identity and nationality of the holder for the purpose of international travel.

Passports are small booklets that typically contain the bearer’s name, place of birth, date of birth, the date of issue, date of expiry, passport number, photo and signature. There are several types of passports depending on the status of the bearer in their home country.

Types Of Passport

What Is an Official Passport?

An official passport, or service passport, is a type of passport that is issued to government employees. Its purpose is to let officials in the destination country know that the bearer is entering the country on official business, representing their country in an official capacity. Holders of official passports are not typically granted any special privileges.

What Is a Diplomatic Passport?

A diplomatic passport is granted to diplomats who are travelling for official business and representing their home country abroad.

Diplomats are appointed by the government to conduct official business abroad and maintain political, economic and social relations with other countries. Their passports typically grant them certain privileges and immunities, such as exemption from prosecution and taxes in the host country.

What Is an Emergency Passport?

An emergency passport, or temporary passport, is issued when you’ve lost your passport or had it stolen and you don’t have time to apply for a new one. For example, if you left your passport on the plane by accident and therefore cannot board your connecting flight, you may call your embassy and be issued an emergency one-way passport that will get you home.

What Is a Collective Passport?

A collective passport may be issued to a group, such as schoolchildren, travelling abroad together. However, children are typically encouraged to travel on their own passports.

What Is a Family Passport?

Family passports are issued to one member of the family but may be used for all family members for travelling purposes. However, the official passport bearer must be travelling as well. Family passports are quite rare these days.

What Is an ePassport?

An epassport, or electronic passport, is a regular passport booklet that contains an electronic chip in the cover. This chip contains the passport bearer’s information and provides an extra layer of security against passport fraud.

Why Do I Need a Passport?

Passports are necessary if you’d like to travel abroad as they verify your identity and nationality. They grant the bearer safe passage and protection in a foreign land.

You typically must present your passport several times at the airport if you are flying, and at the border if you are travelling by car. Additionally, you may also need a visa in order to enter your destination country.

Do I Need a Passport for Domestic Flights?

No. Typically you do not need a passport for domestic flights as other government-issued photo identification is acceptable. However, be sure to check your country’s travel regulations to find out what documents you need for domestic and international travel.

Can I Use My Passport as My ID?

Yes. You can use your passport as identification outside the airport. However, it is not recommended to carry around your passport on a daily basis or for a night out, as replacing a lost passport can be costly and time-consuming.

What Does a Passport Look Like?

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Doc 9303 “Machine Readable Travel Documents,” passports are size 3 travel documents that must follow specific regulations for their construction, layout and contents.

Size 3 travel documents must take the form of a booklet with at least eight pages and a data page. The information on the data page must be in specific locations and zones that allow it to be electronically read. In addition, the ICAO mandates various security features on passports to prevent counterfeiting and fraud.

Where Can I Travel With a Passport?

Possession of a passport doesn’t necessarily guarantee entry into the country you’d like to visit. However, passports are necessary for international travel. You may need to apply for a travel visa beforehand in order to be allowed entry into your destination country.

Before embarking on your journey, make sure to visit Passport Index to find out how many countries you can travel to visa-free with your passport and which countries require you to apply for a visa first.

For How Long Must a Passport Be Valid When I Travel?

Passports must usually be valid for at least six months from the start of your travel date. Your destination country may not let you enter if there is a risk that your passport will expire while you are travelling.

Each country has different requirements for how long your passport must be valid. Be sure to check with your destination country’s government website before embarking on your journey.

How Many Blank Visa Pages Do I Need in My Passport to Travel?

Passports must typically have two to four blank visa pages for international travel. The airline may not let you board or your destination country may not let you enter if there is no space for the entrance visa to be stamped into your passport.

Each country has different entry requirements for the number of blank visa pages required. Be sure to check with your destination country’s government website before starting your travels.

Do Children Require Passports?

Yes, children and babies require passports.

Do I Need a New Passport If I Change My Name?

Yes. If you have officially changed your given name or surname then you must apply for a new passport. It is important that your travel documents accurately reflect your identity.

When applying for a new passport due to a name change make sure to include official proof, such as a marriage certificate, of the name change.