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 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 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.

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.

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.

What Should I Do If My Passport Is Lost or Stolen?

If you lose your passport or it is stolen you must report it to the authorities immediately. Contact the local police as well as your country’s passport authorities or embassy to report what happened. Your passport will invalidated to ensure that it cannot be used fraudulently and you may be issued a temporary passport with which you can travel home. You must then apply for a new passport.

Can I Travel With a Damaged Passport?

Probably not. If your passport is damaged in any way your best bet is to apply for a new one. It is possible and highly likely that the border security at your destination will refuse you entry to the country if you present them a damaged passport.

According to the government of Canada a passport is considered damaged if it appears to have been altered in any way and if identifying the bearer is hindered in any way. Types of damage include exposure to water and humidity, tears, and unauthorized markings.

Passports are official documents and should be taken care of at all times.

Can My Passport Be Revoked?

Yes. Your passport may be revoked for several reasons, such as if you lose your citizenship, if you have been charged with a crime, or if you provided false information of your passport application. The passport-issuing authority reserves the right to refuse or revoke your passport if they feel they have sufficient grounds for doing so.  

What Kinds of Security Features Do Passports Have?

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Doc 9303 “Machine Readable Travel Documents,” passports must have certain security features to prevent counterfeiting and fraud.

Some of the security features include holograms that light up under UV light, an electronic chip with the bearer’s information, optically variable ink, which changes colour under different light sources and anti-scan patterns.

Passport-issuing authorities are encouraged to use a variety of security features in order to make it as difficult as possible to forge their passports.

How Are Passports Made?

Passports are made by passport-printing companies. These companies ensure that all passports follow the standards set out by the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Doc 9303 “Machine Readable Travel Documents”. Doc 9303 sets the standard for how passports should be made and what kinds of security features they should include in order to avoid attack.

Passports are made with special paper bound together using secure sewing technology. Passport booklets include several empty visa pages, ready to document your travels, as well as a biodata page that features your photograph, personal information, and in some cases, a digital copy of your signature. They may also include holograms, special font types, and an electronic chip. Each part of the passport is built with various security features.

Do Passports Include Addresses?

No. Passports do not include your address. Passport data pages, or biodata pages, only include your name, passport number, nationality, date and place of birth, your sex, and the passport’s date of issue and date of expiry.

Should I Sign My Passport?

Yes. Passports typically have a signature page that tell you exactly where you need to sign it. Some passports may also include a digital copy of your signature on the biodata page. It is important that you only sign your passport in the appropriate space on the designated page. Marking up your passport in any other way will invalidate it.

What Do I Do With the Passport of a Deceased Family Member?

If you are in possession of the passport of a deceased family member be sure to check your government’s website for the proper procedures for returning it to the government.

Typically if the passport is still valid, as in it has not yet passed the expiry date, the passport must be returned to the proper authorities. However, if the the passport has already expired it may not need to be returned.

Do US Citizens Need a Passport to Visit the Bahamas?

Yes. US citizens must have a valid passport when travelling to the Bahamas as it is required for re-entry into the US.

Which Passport Is the Best in the World?

According to the Passport Index, the passport of UAE is the strongest in the world as it allows visa-free travel to 116 countries and visa-on-arrival travel to 57, for a total mobility score of 173 countries.

How Many Passports Can One Person Have?

There is no real limit on how many passports a single individual can have. However, the citizenship laws of your home country may include provision about dual citizenship. Some countries do not allow their citizens to hold dual or multiple passports and require them to give up their current nationality for a new one. Other countries do allow dual or multiple citizenship with varying conditions. For example, if both countries end up in a war against each other, your passport for one may be revoked if you take up arms against it.