Traveling the World with Different Types of Passports

Everyone knows that in order to travel internationally, you need a passport. But did you know that there are different types of passports?

Different types of passports are issued either to a specific type of person or for a specific purpose. What type of passport is best for you?

Passport Standardization

Even though certain types of passports have been around for hundreds of years, passports from different countries began to resemble each other around the time of World War I.

Several governments began to worry about the possibility of spies infiltrating their country, which was one of the reasons passports were modified. Photography was beginning to become more accessible, so passports from different countries began to include photographs and descriptions of the passport holder.

In 1920, the League of Nations held a conference on passports, which included guidelines for what should be included on passports and how they should be issued.

Further standardization of passports came from follow-up League of Nations conferences in 1926 and 1927, a United Nations travel conference in 1963, and rules set by the International Civil Aviation Organization in 1980.

Today, different countries have varying laws regarding what information is issued on a passport, what languages a passport is issued in and whether a passport needs to be translated.

Different Types of Passports

These types of passports are generally available in almost every country around the world. The conditions, length of validity and number of pages often vary by country.

Ordinary Passport

Also called a “regular passport” or “tourist passport,” this is the most frequently issued type of passport. It is issued to citizens of a country and allows for international travel.

In the US, ordinary passports are usually valid for 10 years if the passport holder is 16 or older, and five years if the passport holder is 15 or younger.

US Passport Card

The US passport card is an alternative to an ordinary passport for US citizens. While it is not valid for international air travel, the card will allow US citizens to cross land and sea borders with Canada, Mexico and several countries in the Caribbean.

Many of these countries did not previously require any type of passport for a US citizen to visit; now, with stricter laws stemming from the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, an ordinary passport or passport card is required. Passport cards are cheaper than regular passports — especially after the recent hike in passport fees — and ideal for those who are not planning to travel far.

Official Passport

Official passports, also called “service passports,” are issued to government employees and their spouses and dependents for the purpose of work-related travel. These types of passports are generally valid for only five years from the date of issue.

Diplomatic Passport

Diplomatic passports are issued to diplomats residing overseas or nationals who travel abroad for diplomatic work. Diplomatic passports can also be issued to eligible dependents of diplomats.

It should be noted that diplomatic passports do not mean that a diplomat can travel visa-free. The correct diplomatic visas must be obtained. The diplomatic passport also does not guarantee diplomatic immunity.

Emergency Passport

Emergency passports are issued to people whose passports were stolen or lost and who do not have time to replace them. They are usually valid for about a year, and emergency passport holders are encouraged to replace them with regular passports at their earliest convenience.

Family Passport

Family passports are sometimes issued to a nuclear family — a father, mother and any children. This type of passport allows the one passport holder — usually one of the parents — to travel alone or with any of the family members. A family member who is not the one designated passport holder may not use the family passport for solo travel, however.

Collective Passport

A collective passport is a type of passport that is issued for a group of people traveling together, such as a school group. Collective passports are rarely issued.

Refugee Travel Document

When a person seeks asylum from their home country, they are often unable to obtain a passport, and passports cannot be issued to non-citizens. Refugee travel documents work as a type of passport that will allow people seeking asylum to travel internationally.