Passport
A passport is a travel document, generally issued by a national government. The objective is to demonstrate the identity and nationality of the holder, thus enabling him/her to travel internationally.
A growing number of passports is equipped with a chip with biometric information. Machine readable travel documents (eMRTD) are more difficult to forge.
Although a passport specifies the nationality of its holder, it does not necessarily provide details about the citizenship or place of residence. In general, the passport holder has the right to enter the country specified in the passport. Having said that, some passports do not give the holder the right to full citizenship or the right of abode (residence).
There are different types of passports, including:
- Ordinary
Service- Business
- Diplomatic
- Official
- Temporary
- Emergency
- Alien
A passport – in the country of issue and beyond – is often accepted as a reliable proof of identity, even when it is not used for travel purposes.
Passport structure
A passport consists of the following elements:
- Cover
- Personal details page
- Visa pages