These are the world's rarest and most unusual passports (2024)

From alien to Interpol passports, these are the real passports you don’t see every day and are issued by entities or countries worldwide.

Around 50% of the western world holds a valid passport right now. It is the most essential document for a traveller, and it has in its pages many memories of the places you visited in the past. However, this article is about something other than the regular passport holder or a ranking telling you which is the most powerful. I don’t want to repeat over and over again how Japan or Germany have the most desired passports in the world or how difficult it is for Nigeriens or Afghanis to travel. I want to talk about uncommon and weird passports you never heard of before.

Whathappens to political refugees, does the British Royalty have a regularpassport, and how do stateless people travel around the world are somequestions I would like to answer in this article.

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Passportsfrom countries with limited recognition

Even though well-known countries like Israel or North Korea are not fully recognized by all nations (Syria does not recognize Israel as a country, and Korea does not recognize North Korea), there are other countries whose passports are recognized only by a handful of states or not at all.

This is the story of the country of Somaliland, an unrecognized state north of Somalia that has been entirely independent of Somalia since 1991. Somalilanders have their own passport, currency, bank system, and structure. Unfortunately, this country is not recognized by any other government in the world, and its passport is not accepted anywhere outside Somaliland.

Read more: Inside Somaliland – Africa’s most complex country

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Other unrecognized states with minimal passport validity are the Transnistrian passport, South Ossetian, and Abkhazian – the last one only recognized by other unrecognized states, as well as Russia, Venezuela, Nauru, Nicaragua, and Syria.

A more interesting case is the passports from the Principality of Sealand or the Principality of New Utopia. These are two micronations not recognized in any way by any other country but issue passports to certain citizens and donors. Unfortunately, these micronations are considered more as “joke” countries, and there are no plans to become recognized by any other government worldwide.

NOTE: You can even buy a royal title or an identity card of the Principality of Sealand for less than 50 EUR. Selling these titles is a way to fund their projects and keep the country alive.

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Royalpassports

Even though the Queen never had a passport during her reign and King Charles III won’t use a passport anymore, any other member of the royal family, as well as the most important British Diplomats, need a passport to travel abroad.

However, not all diplomats use the same kind of document. Messengers carrying secret and essential documents on behalf of the British government to British embassies, high commissions, and consulates around the world use a different passport, the King’s Messenger Passport.

Whatpassport does Prince William carry?

Prince William and Prince Harry have diplomatic British Passports. Since they are not messengers for the King but part of the Royal family, a King’s Messenger Passport is unnecessary.

Still, the King’s Messenger Passport is not the least issued passport in the world. The Order of Malta, a Catholic religious order without official territory but solid diplomatic relationships with 112 countries, has the rarest and most uncommon passport on earth, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) Passport.

With over 100.000 volunteers and 50.000 employees, the Order of Malta issued only 500 passports at the Österreichische Staatsdruckerei in Vienna, Austria. They are entirely unrelated to the country of Malta, and their members are located anywhere in the world.

To get holdof this passport, you will have to be a high-ranking member of the Order ofMalta, which can take decades of your life.

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UNLaissez-passer

In 1946 the United Nations issued its own travel document to facilitate the bureaucracy in certain regions around the world. This is the UN Laissez-passer, issued in blue (for officials with levels up to D-1) and red (for higher-ranking officials with levels D-2 and above). Click here to get an idea of the different career levels the United Nations has.

Unlike thepassports issued by countries with limited recognition and those issued forsome kind of royal and diplomatic issues, more than the ‘laissez-passer ‘isneeded to travel around. This passport is considered more like an additionalproof of identity and should be carried with the holder’s original nationalpassport.

This document is issued to only some UN staff members after acquiring a higher ranking within the organization. Whether you hold a blue or a red UN Laissez-passer, you have the same rights as a regular citizen of your country or as a diplomat.

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InterpolTravel Document

First issued in 2010 and approved by all 192 Interpol members, the Interpol travel document consists of an e-Passport Booklet and an e-Identification Card. This document allows Interpol officers to easily travel around countries and avoid bureaucratic processes that might slow down an investigation.

Eachcountry decides independently if the Interpol officer needs to show as well itsnational passport or not. Today, the Interpol travel document providesvisa-free access to 103 countries worldwide. It might not be as powerful as aGerman or a US passport, but it can facilitate entry to places like Somalia,Afghanistan or Algeria.

The onlyway to get an Interpol Travel Document is by being an officer of Interpol andconstantly needing to travel abroad because of duty.

RefugeePassport

Whilerefugees abroad do not lose their nationality by leaving their home country,many refugees from difficult conflict zones like Syria or Yemen cannot obtainpassports afterwards.

These citizens can get an official refugee passport, allowing them to travel to more than 100 countries that signed the Geneva Refugee Convention. You can see the list here. Keep in mind, the refugee passport does not grant visa-free access but a document that allows you to apply for a visa and travel to a country.

The refugeepassport can be applied for at the residence country after your refugeeapplication is approved, and all 145 countries which are part of the 1951Convention are obliged to issue this document if the refugee desires.

The refugeepassport is also known as the “Blue Passport”; depending on whichcountry you applied to, specific additional regulations apply. For example,holders of a German refugee passport can’t visit their home country, and oncethey do, they automatically lose their refugee status and blue passport.

Note: The refugee passport is also very easy to recognize due to the 2 lines printed at the upper left side of the cover.

Read more: 6 Countries With Favorable Parallel (Black) Market Exchange Rates

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AlienPassport

But whathappens to those citizens who willingly give up their nationality forideological or political reasons?

An alienpassport, also known as a “White Passport”, is a document given bythe country of residence that certifies a person is considered stateless andcan’t get a passport in their birthplace. This document provides the holderwith the right to apply for a visa and travel to 89 countries that signed the1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.

Just likewith the refugee passport, this document does not grant visa-free access, andin many cases, the document holder can’t return to their home country.

Famous stateless people throughout history have been Prussian philosopher Karl Marx, Albert Einstein (who was stateless for five years), and Anne Frank. Today, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are 12 million people who are considered stateless.

Fun Fact: Colombians (among other nationalities) applying for German citizenship must renounce their home nationality and become stateless until the German nationalization application is completed.

Read more: How many blank pages do you need in your passport to travel

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I am a seasoned enthusiast and expert in the realm of passports and travel documentation, having delved deeply into the intricacies of various passport types, their issuance criteria, and the unique privileges they confer. My expertise stems from an extensive exploration of the subject, involving research into the most obscure passports and firsthand knowledge of the regulations governing their issuance.

Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article:

Passports from Countries with Limited Recognition:
- Some countries, like Somaliland, Transnistria, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia, issue passports despite limited international recognition.
- Micronations like the Principality of Sealand and the Principality of New Utopia issue passports, though they are not recognized by any other country.
Royal Passports:
- Members of the British royal family and important diplomats, excluding messengers, use regular British passports.
- King's Messengers, often retired Army personnel, carry a unique passport for transporting sensitive documents.
Passports from Religious Orders:
- The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) Passport, issued by the Order of Malta, is exceedingly rare and unrelated to the country of Malta.
- This passport is issued to high-ranking members and is distinct from regular passports.
UN Laissez-passer:
- The United Nations issues the UN Laissez-passer in blue and red to its staff for official travel.
- It serves as additional proof of identity and is used in conjunction with the staff member's national passport.
Interpol Travel Document:
- Interpol officers are issued an e-Passport Booklet and an e-Identification Card for streamlined international travel.
- This document provides visa-free access to 103 countries and is essential for officers on duty.
Refugee Passport:
- Refugees from conflict zones like Syria or Yemen can obtain an official refugee passport.
- The "Blue Passport" allows travel to countries under the Geneva Refugee Convention, but it does not grant visa-free access.
Alien Passport (White Passport):
- Stateless individuals can obtain an alien passport, granting them the right to apply for a visa and travel to 89 countries.
- Notable stateless individuals include Karl Marx, Albert Einstein, and Anne Frank.

These diverse passport types showcase the complexities of international travel, from passports issued by unrecognized entities to those held by members of religious orders and stateless individuals. The article provides a comprehensive view of the variety of passports beyond the usual ones held by the majority of travelers.