Passport – it’s an essential document that enables individuals to travel across the borders of nations around the world. It is also an important document for identification. But, have you ever wondered why your passport is the color that it is? Well, we have the answer for you.
According to Hrant Boghossian, the Vice President of Arton Group, which runs the interactive passport database Passport Index, the shades of each nation are derived from just four main colors, namely, red, blue, green and black. Within these color hues, however, there can be many variations.
While the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) dictates how the passport must appear in size and format, the governments around the world have the liberty to choose the color and design of their passports. The reasoning behind the color can have many scenarios. Mostly, it’s the matter of national identity.
RED PASSPORT
The passports of countries within the European Union usually tend to be of burgundy color.
Businessman with luggage and passport Source: Cultura RF
“Some could argue red is due to the past communist history,” said Mr Boghossian according to .
calls this a “branding exercise”. The Swiss passport, in true Swiss fashion stands out in bright red color and matches its flag.
The passport of Turkey was changed to burgundy in the hope of joining the EU.
BLUE PASSPORT
The blue color passports are symbolic of the New World for countries of North America, South America and Oceania. Customs union of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguya, Uruguay, and Venezuela, known as Mercosur, India, all boast blue passports. The United States’ passport, however, only became navy blue in 1976, to match the shade found in the American flag. Before that, it was red in colour.
Banknotes of various countries and U.S. passport Source: Image Source
GREEN PASSPORT
For some countries, the colour of the passport holds religious significance. For example, countries like Morocco, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have their passports in different shades of green because of the importance of the colour in their religion. Green is believed to be the favourite colour of the Prophet Muhammad and signifies nature and life. The national flags of countries like Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan have green colour in them as well.
Source: Getty Images/oneclearvision
BLACK PASSPORT
Black passports are less common and are used for diplomatic business. There is another, far more practical interpretation for selecting passport colour. Dark colours show less dirt and tend to look more official. For example, Republic of Botswana, Zambia and New Zealand – though for the latter, black is also considered one of the country’s national colours.
Source: Wikipedia
Ultimately, we can infer as much as we want about the colour of the passport, but passports represent something much greater than geo-political and economic ties. Passports belong to people. While to some they are barriers, to others, they are a right to passage. For instance, both US and Syria issue blue passports, but a Syrian passport is one of the worst ranking passports in the world allowing access to only 32 countries around the world, whereas the US passport is the third best ranking passport in the world.
Some countries choose a certain colour to distinguish itself and reflect their unique identity, such as Switzerland, whose passport is bright red. Singapore’s passport bears a bright orange/reddish cover, while Canada’s temporary passport book for travellers in need of emergency travel documents has a white cover.
A few Britons are believed to hold a unique Queen’s Messenger passport in Britain, which are said to be issued only to individuals relaying important messages or information to British consulates and embassies around the world.
Selection of passports, computer illustration. Source: Science Photo Library RF
Swiss passportClick here for more photos from Switzerland. Source: iStockphoto
