The most interesting passports in the world (8 photos)

From childhood, we are taught to treat it with care, because it's not just a book—it's a guarantee of our rights and freedoms, a symbol of national unity. Each country has its own vision of what a citizen's passport should look like: in some, it's a work of art, in others, it's an inviolable, highly secure document.





With a view of the fjords

The pages of a Norwegian passport, even the blank ones, demonstrate the respect and reverence with which Norwegians treat their nature and culture. Designers have included images of mountains, fjords, and the Northern Lights—the very sights that make tourists so eager to visit this country. Some images are only visible after holding the passport under UV light or direct sunlight.



The Most Powerful Passport

According to international rankings, the passport of the United Arab Emirates is the most powerful in the world. UAE citizens can easily and freely travel to approximately 180 countries, either visa-free or with a visa upon arrival. Most EU countries are willing to accept UAE citizens without permits. In the UK and Canada, for example, entry and stay permits for up to three months can be obtained upon application.





Almost impossible to counterfeit

The passport of the Republic of Nicaragua, surprisingly enough, is considered the most counterfeit-resistant passport. Criminals, if they were to attempt such a scheme, would have to figure out how to counterfeit 89 different security features. These include 2D barcodes, holograms, watermarks, and various other "barriers." Nicaragua's passport is considered the least likely to be counterfeited.



Non-citizen passport

A passport is a document confirming citizenship of a particular country. However, there are also passports that certify "non-citizenship." For example, in Latvia. This status was granted to former Soviet citizens who did not receive Latvian citizenship. They have the right to live in the country and receive various social benefits. However, they are not allowed to vote in elections or hold public office. Non-citizen passports are purple, not red, like those of Latvians.



Citizen of the World

A document that makes you a citizen of any country—sounds good, right? And such a document exists—the World Citizenship Passport. However, it has no real legal force. The document is issued by the non-profit organization "World Citizenship Government." While it's notarized, it can be used as identification in some countries, but you're unlikely to be allowed to cross borders with it. The World Citizenship Government claims that six countries have recognized the World Citizenship Passport: Burkina Faso, Zambia, Mauritania, Tanzania, Togo, and Ecuador.



They're Judged by Their Covers

Passport covers can also be surprising. For example, passports in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala look almost identical because these countries agreed to free movement across borders a decade and a half ago. On the cover of each passport, the country of which the holder is a citizen is highlighted against a dark blue background.



Not bad either...