Its history begins around 1920. Its purpose was to facilitate movement and border controls. Biometric photos, barcodes, holograms, microchips: today’s passport is a product of modern technology. Some passports open the door to countless countries for their holders, while others limit them excessively. But what is the history of the travel document?

Something similar to today’s passport already existed in the 14th century. At the time, the plague was ravaging Europe and cities like Venice were looking for ways to limit its spread. Thus arose the plague certificate, which every traveler had to show upon entering Galinotati.

If he came from a plague-ridden area, he was not allowed to enter. At that time, the travel document was not yet linked to citizenship, but exclusively to the place of residence. The connection of citizenship and passport was made later in the 20th century.

Country name and coat of arms on cover

Shortly after World War I, the idea of ​​a global standard for passports was born. In 1920 the League of Nations, the predecessor of the United Nations, gathered the world’s heads of state and government in Paris to negotiate specific standards for travel documents. It was decided that passports should have a common appearance and contain the same information. Since then, passports have had to measure 15.5 by 10.5 cm, contain 32 pages and have the country’s name and coat of arms on the front. This format is still used today.

To this day a passport can have a significant impact on a person’s life. Nationality determines where one is allowed to travel or live. Depending on the country of origin, a passport can grant its holder many privileges or even cause… despair.

The UAE has the strongest passport

The passport ranking shows how many countries you can visit with a particular passport without a visa. According to the “Global Passport Power Rank 2024”, the rich – due to oil production – United Arab Emirates is in first place. Their citizens can travel to most countries, while Syrian passport holders to fewer.

A disadvantage of passports comes up again and again. Passports are among the most sought-after items in commerce and of course on the black market. Some countries have voluntarily opened their borders to “bidders”, as was the case for a time in Cyprus. Megalonissos began issuing so-called golden passports and visas after the financial crisis of 2013. Selling its passports was a profitable business, until critical television reports revealed that high-ranking politicians were involved in these schemes, leading to a halt to the practice of ” golden passports”.

Learn more about passports in the related podcast episode Don’t Drink the Milk: The curious history of things, produced by Charlie Shields, Rachel Stewart and Sam Baker. What is a Nansen passport, why is it so easy to buy citizenship of the Republic of Vevtsani and more: You can listen to the podcast in English on the dw.com website or on any podcast platform.

Editor: Stefanos Georgakopoulos