Passports are often seen merely as travel documents, but they hold a wealth of fascinating facts and obscure details that many may not realize. Understanding these hidden facts can enhance our appreciation for these essential documents and the role these small documents might play in global travel and identity verification.
Ten Facts of Passports You Didn’t Know
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Multiple passports with multiple names:
Having multiple passports with the same picture and biometrics under different names is legal and within the rule of law. Countries including the United States, Italy, Russia, and Mexico allow for a legal name change. For instance, in the US, you can change your name if you aren’t doing so to evade law-bound responsibilities or defraud others. However, the process can be complex and requires a court order in most cases. While holding multiple identities in various jurisdictions is lawful and possible, the practical challenges are significant. Being a chameleon comes with obstacles, mainly passport and travel complications, financial hurdles, and potential inheritance disputes on your behalf. Maintaining a new name requires planning, complete consistency, and appropriate timing.
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Emergency Passport
A temporary or emergency passport is provided when your original passport has been lost or stolen, and there’s not enough time to apply for a replacement. It is usually valid for one year or less and cannot be extended. It is issued under specific and limited circumstances. For instance, if you accidentally left your passport on a plane and are unable to board your connecting flight, you can contact your embassy to receive an emergency one-way passport to facilitate your return home.
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Presenting the same passport upon entrance and exit
It is crucial to follow the rules and present the same document at the entrance to the country and exit from it. Immigration authorities track travelers’ movements using passport details. If you enter a country with one passport and attempt to exit with another, it can create discrepancies in their records. This may raise red flags, cause delays, or even lead to being detained for questioning, as it could appear suspicious or suggest identity fraud.
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Using national passports in the home country
Many countries enforce strict rules regarding how their citizens must enter and exit the country, particularly if they hold a second passport. These rules are designed to uphold national security, immigration control, and proper tax and legal obligations. Even if an individual holds passports from different countries, they are often required to use their national passport when dealing with their country’s immigration authorities. By asking citizens to use their national passports, countries can better enforce their laws, track their citizens’ movements, and ensure they are accountable to national obligations such as taxes or military service.
The United States mandates that its citizens use a US passport when entering and exiting the country, even if the individual holds another nationality and passport. This ensures that the individual is subject to US laws, including tax obligations and other legal responsibilities, and it helps US authorities maintain accurate records of its citizens’ travel. Countries such as the UK, Australia, Russia, France, South Africa, and Brazil, encourage dual nationals to use their national passports when entering or exiting their borders, as using a foreign passport may complicate their entry.
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Can I Travel with a Damaged Passport?
If your passport is damaged, your best option is to apply for a new one. A passport is considered damaged if the details are unreadable, the laminate has lifted enough to suggest a possible photo substitution or the bio-data page is discolored.
Types of damage also include water exposure, tears, and unauthorized markings. There’s a strong chance that border security at your destination will deny your entry or won’t be allowed to board your flight if you present a damaged passport. According to the Government of Canada, a passport is considered damaged if it shows signs of alteration or if the identification of the holder is compromised. Passports are official documents and should be handled with care at all times.
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Uniforms and Accessories Not Allowed
Wearing uniforms including military or law enforcement attire in your passport photo is prohibited. Additionally, hats, caps, sunglasses, and hairstyles that obscure any part of your face are not permitted. The only exception to this rule applies to commercial employees, such as pilots or flight attendants, who may seek approval to wear their uniforms if it’s part of their job while traveling. The photo print should be clear and with continuous-tone quality. It should have a full face, front view, and eyes open. The photo should present a full head from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin.
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Passport Validity and Blank Pages
You could be denied boarding if your passport lacks sufficient blank pages or is close to expiration. Many countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond your intended travel dates. As a rule, ensure your passport has at least six months of validity remaining when traveling internationally, as most countries will not allow entry if your passport is set to expire within three to six months of your final day abroad.
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First passport: Back to the Bible
The concept of passports dates back to ancient times, with the earliest known reference found in the Bible’s Book of Nehemiah. Around 450 BC, Nehemiah, serving as a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I of Persia, received letters requesting safe passage to Judah.
This letter requested that “the governors beyond the river” grant him safe passage through Judea. Artaxerxes I, who ruled as the sixth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire from 465 to 424 BC, was the third son of Xerxes I. Modern passports as we know them emerged in the early 20th century. The first British passport, issued in 1914, included personal details such as complexion and facial features. In 1920, the standard “old blue” passport was introduced, remaining until replaced by the European version in 1988.
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Unique passport for Vatican citizens
Citizens of Vatican City, the world’s smallest country, have their own national passports. However, there are no immigration controls or border checkpoints around the Vatican, which is situated within the city of Rome, Italy—so you can’t get your passport stamped when entering. Pope Francis holds the prestigious Vatican passport number one.
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Mummy of Ramses has a legal Egyptian passport
When the mummy of Ramses II was sent to France in the mid-1970s, it was issued an official Egyptian passport. Ramses II became the first, and likely only mummy to receive a passport. The document included a photo of Ramses II’s face and humorously listed his occupation as “King (deceased).” In 1976, Ramses II’s mummy left Egypt, and upon arrival in France, it was welcomed at Paris–Le Bourget Airport with full military honors, a tribute fitting for a king.