Passports are more than just travel documents; they are symbols of national identity and global mobility. One of the most noticeable features of a passport is its color. While it might seem like a trivial detail, the color of a passport holds significance and varies from country to country. This overview explores the common passport colors and the reasons behind these choices.
| Country | Passport Color |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Blue |
| Albania | Red |
| Algeria | Green |
| Andorra | Red |
| Angola | Black |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Blue |
| Argentina | Blue |
| Armenia | Blue |
| Australia | Blue |
| Austria | Red |
| Azerbaijan | Green |
| Bahamas | Blue |
| Bahrain | Red |
| Bangladesh | Green |
| Barbados | Blue |
| Belarus | Blue |
| Belgium | Red |
| Belize | Blue |
| Benin | Blue |
| Bhutan | Blue |
| Bolivia | Red |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Blue |
| Botswana | Blue |
| Brazil | Blue |
| Brunei | Red |
| Bulgaria | Red |
| Burkina Faso | Green |
| Burundi | Blue |
| Cambodia | Red |
| Cameroon | Green |
| Canada | Blue |
| Cape Verde | Blue |
| Central African Republic | Green |
| Chad | Green |
| Chile | Red |
| China | Red |
| Colombia | Red |
| Comoros | Green |
| Costa Rica | Blue |
| Croatia | Blue |
| Cuba | Blue |
| Cyprus | Red |
| Czech Republic | Red |
| Denmark | Red |
| Djibouti | Blue |
| Dominica | Blue |
| Dominican Republic | Blue |
| DR Congo | Blue |
| Ecuador | Red |
| Egypt | Green |
| El Salvador | Blue |
| Equatorial Guinea | Red |
| Eritrea | Blue |
| Estonia | Red |
| Eswatini | Blue |
| Ethiopia | Red |
| Fiji | Blue |
| Finland | Red |
| France | Red |
| Gabon | Green |
| Gambia | Green |
| Georgia | Red |
| Germany | Red |
| Ghana | Green |
| Greece | Red |
| Grenada | Blue |
| Guatemala | Blue |
| Guinea | Green |
| Guyana | Blue |
| Haiti | Blue |
| Honduras | Blue |
| Hong Kong | Blue |
| Hungary | Red |
| Iceland | Blue |
| India | Blue |
| Indonesia | Green |
| Iran | Red |
| Iraq | Blue |
| Ireland | Red |
| Israel | Blue |
| Italy | Red |
| Ivory Coast | Green |
| Jamaica | Blue |
| Japan | Red |
| Jordan | Blue |
| Kazakhstan | Blue |
| Kenya | Blue |
| Kiribati | Blue |
| Kuwait | Blue |
| Kyrgyzstan | Blue |
| Laos | Blue |
| Latvia | Red |
| Lebanon | Blue |
| Lesotho | Green |
| Liberia | Green |
| Libya | Blue |
| Liechtenstein | Blue |
| Lithuania | Red |
| Luxembourg | Red |
| Macau | Green |
| Madagascar | Red |
| Malawi | Black |
| Malaysia | Red |
| Maldives | Red |
| Mali | Green |
| Malta | Red |
| Marshall Islands | Blue |
| Mauritania | Green |
| Mauritius | Blue |
| Mexico | Green |
| Micronesia | Blue |
| Moldova | Red |
| Monaco | Red |
| Mongolia | Red |
| Montenegro | Red |
| Morocco | Green |
| Mozambique | Blue |
| Myanmar | Red |
| Namibia | Green |
| Nauru | Blue |
| Nepal | Red |
| Netherlands | Red |
| New Zealand | Black |
| Nicaragua | Blue |
| Niger | Green |
| Nigeria | Green |
| North Korea | Blue |
| North Macedonia | Red |
| Norway | Red |
| Oman | Red |
| Pakistan | Green |
| Palau | Blue |
| Palestine | Black |
| Panama | Blue |
| Papua New Guinea | Blue |
| Paraguay | Blue |
| Peru | Red |
| Philippines | Red |
| Poland | Red |
| Portugal | Red |
| Qatar | Red |
| Romania | Red |
| Russia | Red |
| Rwanda | Blue |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Blue |
| Saint Lucia | Blue |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Blue |
| Samoa | Blue |
| San Marino | Blue |
| Sao Tome and Principe | Blue |
| Saudi Arabia | Green |
| Senegal | Red |
| Serbia | Red |
| Seychelles | Red |
| Sierra Leone | Green |
| Singapore | Red |
| Slovakia | Red |
| Slovenia | Red |
| Solomon Islands | Green |
| Somalia | Blue |
| South Africa | Green |
| South Korea | Blue |
| South Sudan | Blue |
| Spain | Red |
| Sri Lanka | Red |
| Sudan | Blue |
| Suriname | Blue |
| Sweden | Red |
| Switzerland | Red |
| Syria | Blue |
| Taiwan | Green |
| Tajikistan | Black |
| Tanzania | Blue |
| Thailand | Red |
| Togo | Green |
| Tonga | Green |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Black |
| Tunisia | Green |
| Turkey | Red |
| Turkmenistan | Green |
| Tuvalu | Blue |
| Uganda | Blue |
| Ukraine | Blue |
| United Arab Emirates | Blue |
| United Kingdom | Blue |
| United States | Blue |
| Uruguay | Blue |
| Uzbekistan | Red |
| Vanuatu | Green |
| Vatican City | Green |
| Venezuela | Blue |
| Vietnam | Blue |
| Yemen | Blue |
| Zambia | Green |
| Zimbabwe | Green |
The Significance of Passport Colors
Passport colors are not randomly chosen; they often reflect a country’s geographical, political, or historical factors. The color can symbolize national identity, religious beliefs, or political affiliations, making passports an interesting aspect of a nation’s identity.
Common Passport Colors
Blue
Blue passports are widespread, especially among countries in the Western Hemisphere. This color often symbolizes the “new world,” with nations like the United States, Canada, and several South American countries opting for various shades of blue. The blue color is also associated with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) passports.
Red
Red is the most common passport color worldwide, with countries in the European Union featuring burgundy passports. This color choice reflects a historical connection to communism or socialism for some countries, while for others, it’s a representation of their geographical region, as seen in ASEAN member states.
Green
Green passports are commonly found in Islamic countries, such as Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. The color green has a significant meaning in Islam, representing peace and nature. It is also believed to have been a favorite color of the Prophet Muhammad.
Black
Black is the least common passport color but is used by some African countries, including Botswana, Zambia, and Burundi. It represents the African continent and is also chosen for practical reasons, as black material can be more durable.
Unique Passport Colors
While blue, red, green, and black are the predominant colors, some countries have unique hues for their passports. For example, New Zealand’s passport is black, reflecting the country’s national identity and cultural significance of the color black in Maori traditions.
The color of a passport goes beyond aesthetics, reflecting aspects of a country’s identity, culture, and political landscape. As global citizens, understanding the significance behind passport colors can offer insights into the diverse world we live in, highlighting the unique stories and backgrounds of each nation.
READ NEXT