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Passports in Europe

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Tohaomg (talk | contribs) at 17:16, 16 December 2023 (→Passports of European Union candidate countries). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Examples of European biometric passports

Passports in Europe are issued by each state individually, e.g. the Netherlands or United Kingdom. In general, passports issued in Europe either grant the holder the right of freedom of movement within the European Economic Area (EU and EFTA passports), to those that don't (EU candidate countries and other non-EU European states).[clarification needed] The majority of European states are members of the European Union, and therefore issue EU passports.

All passports issued in Europe are B7 size and (ISO/IEC 7810 ID-3, 88 mm × 125 mm). The overwhelming majority of European passports are biometric (). These include all EU, EFTA, British, and EU candidate passports.

There are also several passports issued by partially-recognised and disputed states, such as Northern Cyprus and Kosovo.

Passports of the European Union

European Union
Bulgarian: Европейски съюз
Croatian: Europska unija
Czech: Evropská unie
Danish: Den Europæiske Union
Dutch: Europese Unie
Estonian: Euroopa Liit
Finnish: Euroopan unioni
French: Union européenne
German: Europäische Union
Greek: Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση
Hungarian: Európai Unió
Irish: An tAontas Eorpach
Italian: Unione europea
Latvian: Eiropas Savienība
Lithuanian: Europos Sąjunga
Maltese: Unjoni Ewropea
Polish: Unia Europejska
Portuguese: União Europeia
Romanian: Uniunea Europeană
Slovak: Európska únia
Slovene: Evropska unija
Spanish: Unión Europea
Swedish: Europeiska unionen
Circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background
Motto: "In Varietate Concordia" (Latin)
"United in Diversity"
Globe projection with the European Union in green
CapitalBrussels (de facto)[1]
Largest cityParis (metropolitan area)
Berlin (city proper)
Official languages
Official scripts[3]
Demonym(s)European[citation needed]
TypeSupranational union
Member states
GovernmentIntergovernmental and supranational
Formation[4]
1 January 1958
1 July 1987
1 November 1993
1 December 2009
1 July 2013 (Croatia)
31 January 2020 (UK)
Area
• Total
4,233,262 km2 (1,634,472 sq mi) (7th)
• Water (%)
3.08
Population
• 2020 estimate
Increase 447,206,135[5]
• Density
106/km2 (274.5/sq mi)
CurrencyEuro (EUR; €; in eurozone) and
10 others
Website
europa.eu
Main article: Passports of the European Union

The EU itself does not issue ordinary[clarification needed] passports, but ordinary passports issued by the 27 member states follow a common format.[6] This includes a burgundy cover (not compulsory: Croatia is the only exception) emblazoned with the title "European Union", followed by the member state's name in their official language(s) (occasionally translation into English and French), their coat of arms, the word "PASSPORT", together with the biometric passport symbol ().[7] Holders of EU passports are citizens of the European Union and entitled to exercise the rights of that citizenship, e.g. freedom of movement.

Some EU member states also issue non-EU passports to certain people who have a nationality which is not supplemented by European Union citizenship (e.g., Danish nationals residing in the Faroe Islands).

In addition, the European Commission issues European Union Laissez-Passers to the members and certain civil servants of its institutions.[8]

Overview of EU passports

Member state Passport cover Biodata page Validity Issuing authority Latest version
Austria Austria

Link to image

  • 10 years (aged 12 or over)
  • 5 years (aged 2–11)
  • 2 years (aged 0–2)
 Municipal registration offices

If abroad, Austrian embassies and consulates

5 September 2014[9]
Belgium Belgium Link to image
  • 7 years (majors aged 18 or over)
  • 5 years (minors aged under 18)
  • Communes (in Belgium)
  • Belgian embassies and consulates (abroad)
 1 May 2014[10]
Bulgaria Bulgaria Link to image
  • 5 years
 Ministry of Interior Affairs 29 March 2010
Croatia Croatia Link to image
  • 10 years (adults aged 21 or over)
  • 5 years (adults aged under 21)
  • Ministry of the Interior Affairs of the Republic of Croatia
 3 August 2015
Cyprus Cyprus Link to image
  • 10 years (adults)
  • 5 years (minors)[11]
  • Civil Registry and Migration Department, Ministry of the Interior; Embassies and High Commissions of the Republic of Cyprus
 13 December 2010
Czech Republic Czech Republic Link to image
  • 10 years (adults aged 15 or over)
  • 5 years (children under 15)
  • any of the 205 town halls with augmented authority
  • abroad: consulates of the Czech Republic (except honorary consulates)
 1 September 2006
Denmark Denmark Link to image
  • 10 years (adults)
  • 5 years (children under 18)
  • Kommune (Municipality)
 1 January 2012
Estonia Estonia Link to image
  • 10 years (ages 15 and up)
  • 5 years (children under 15)
 1 January 2021
Finland Finland Link to image
  • 5 years
 1 January 2017
 FinlandÅland Åland Islands[12] Link to image
  • 5 years
 1 January 2017
France France Link to image
  • 10 years (adults)
  • 5 years (children under 18)
  • Préfecture offices (but forms can be addressed to any city hall)
  • French consulates (abroad)
 12 April 2006
Germany Germany Link to image
  • 10 years (aged 24 or over)
  • 6 years (applicants under 24 or second passport)
 Municipal registration offices

If abroad, German embassies and consulates, including some honorary consulates

1 March 2017
Greece Greece Link to image
  • 5 years (applicants aged 15 or over)
  • 2 years (children under 15)
 National Passport Centre ("Διεύθυνση Διαβατηρίων/Αρχηγείο Ελληνικής Αστυνομίας") 28 August 2006
Hungary Hungary Link to image
  • 5 years
  • 10 years
 Registration Office (Nyilvántartó Hivatal) 1 March 2012
Republic of Ireland Ireland Link to image
  • 10 years (adults)
  • 5 years (children)
 Consular and Passport Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs 3 October 2013
Italy Italy Link to image
  • 10 years (adults)
  • 5 years (minors aged 3–18)
  • 3 years (children aged 0–3)[14]
 Minister of Foreign Affairs through 20 May 2010
Latvia Latvia Link to image
  • 10 years (adults aged 20 or over)
  • 5 years (applicants aged 5–19)
  • 2 years (children under 5)
  • Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP)
 29 January 2015[16]
Lithuania Lithuania Link to image
  • 10 years (adults aged 16 or over)
  • 5 years (children aged 5–15)
  • 2 years (children under 5)
 27 January 2011
Luxembourg Luxembourg Link to image
  • 5 years (applicants aged 4 or over)
  • 2 years (applicants under 4)
 Bureau des passeports 16 February 2015[10]
Malta Malta Link to image Link to image
  • 10 years (applicants aged 16 and over)
  • 5 years (applicants aged 10 to 15)
  • 2 years (applicants under 4)
 Passport & Civil Registration Directorate 29 September 2008
Netherlands Netherlands Link to image
  • 10 years (applicants aged 18 and over)[17]
  • 5 years (applicants aged under 18)
  • Gemeente (Municipality)
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abroad)
 23 December 2017
Poland Poland Link to image
  • 10 years (applicants aged 13 and over)
  • 5 years (applicants aged under 13)
  • 1 year (temporary passport)
 5 November 2018
Portugal Portugal Link to image
  • 5 years (applicants aged 5 or over)
  • 2 years (children under 5)
 10 July 2017
Romania Romania Link to image
  • 10 years (applicants aged 18 or over)
  • 5 years (applicants aged 12–18)
  • 3 years (applicants under 12)
  • 1-year (temporary passport)
 Ministry of Internal Affairs (General Directorate for Passports) 12 January 2019
Slovakia Slovakia Link to image
  • 10 years (adults aged 16 or over)
  • 5 years (children aged 5–15)
  • 2 years (children under 5)
  • Ministry of Interior
 26 November 2014
Slovenia Slovenia Link to image
  • Ministry of the Interior
 12 December 2016
Spain Spain Link to image Link to image
  • 10 years (applicants over 30)
  • 5 years (applicants between 5 and 30)
  • 2 years (applicants under 5)
 2 January 2015
Sweden Sweden Link to image
  • 5 years
  • Swedish Police Authority (in Sweden)
  • Swedish embassies and consulates (abroad)
 1 January 2022

Passports of European Union candidate countries

European Union candidate states
EU candidate states shown in cyan
EU candidate states shown in cyan
Demonym(s)
Candidate states
Area
• Total
1,687,411 km2 (651,513 sq mi)
Main article: Passports of European Union candidate states

Since the establishment of the European Economic Community, previous enlargements have seen the founding Inner Six states of 1958[4] grow to the EU's current 27 member-states. Currently, there are nine recognised candidates for future membership of the EU: Turkey (applied in 1987), North Macedonia (applied in 2004), Montenegro (applied in 2008), Albania (applied in 2009), Serbia (applied in 2009), Bosnia and Herzegovina (applied in 2016), Ukraine (applied in 2022), Moldova (applied in 2022) and Georgia (applied in 2022). All except Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia have started accession negotiations.[18]

Unlike EU and EFTA passports, nationals carrying passports of EU candidate countries do not have free movement rights and are required to possess appropriate visas.

Overview of passports issued by EU candidate countries

Candidate state Passport cover Biodata page Validity Issuing authority Latest version
Albania Albania Link to image
  • 5 or 10 years
 Ministry of the Interior 2015
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Link to image 1 October 2014
Georgia (country) Georgia Link to image 26 February 2010
Moldova Moldova Link to image
  • 10 years (aged 16 or older)[19]
  • 7 years (aged at least 7 and under 16)
  • 4 years (under the age of 7 years)
 Agency of public services [20] or

Moldovan foreign representations abroad

5 April 2023
Montenegro Montenegro Link to image
  • 10 years
 Ministry of the Interior[21] 2008
North Macedonia North Macedonia Link to image
  • 5 or 10 years (aged 27 and older)
 Ministry of the Interior[22] 2019
Serbia Serbia Link to image
  • 10 years(adults)
  • 5 years(minors)
 Ministry of the Interior[23] 7 July 2008
Turkey Turkey Link to image
  • 6 months
  • 1–10 years
 Ministry of the Interior[24] 25 August 2022
Ukraine Ukraine Link to image
  • 10 years: adults
  • 4 years: children
 State Migration Service (part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs)[25] 1 January 2015

Passports of EFTA member-states

European Free Trade Association
Logo of the European Free Trade Association
Logo
Location of the EFTA {{{1}}}  (green) in Europe (green & dark grey)
Location of the EFTA (green)

in Europe (green & dark grey)

SecretariatGeneva
Largest cityOslo
Official working
language		English
Official languages
of member states
7 languages
TypeRegional organization, Free-trade area
Member states
Area
• Total
529,600 km2 (204,500 sq mi)
Currency
Website
efta.int
Main article: Passports of the EFTA member states

Like the EU, EFTA itself does not issue ordinary passports. It also does not issue any guidelines for a common passport design and format. The EFTA member states participate in the European Single Market and are part of the Schengen Area.[26] EFTA member-states include Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

In accordance with the EFTA convention, nationals of EFTA member-states enjoy freedom of movement in each other's territory.[27] EFTA nationals also enjoy freedom of movement with the EU. EFTA nationals and EU citizens and are not only visa-exempt but are legally entitled to enter and reside in each other's countries. The right of freedom of movement is defined by the Citizens’ Rights Directive, which defines the right of free movement for citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA),[28][29] which includes the three EFTA members Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein and EU member-states. Switzerland, which is a member of EFTA but not of the EEA, is not bound by the Directive but rather has a separate bilateral agreement on free movement with the EU.[30]

Member state Passport cover Biodata page Validity Issuing authority Latest version
Iceland Iceland Link to image 10 years (adults) Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá Íslands) 23 May 2006[31](biometric)

June 2013[32](current version)

LiechtensteinLiechtenstein Link to image
  • 10 years adults and children over 12
  • 5 years minors under 12
 Ausländer- und Passamt 26 October 2006[33]
Norway Norway Link to image
  • 2 years (aged 0–4)
  • 3 years (aged 5–9)
  • 5 years (aged 10–15)
  • 10 years (aged 16 and older)
 Norwegian Police Service 19 October 2020[34]
SwitzerlandSwitzerland Link to image
  • 10 years (aged 18 or over)
  • 5 years (aged 0–17)
 Canton passport office

(Federal Office of Police)

31 October 2022

British Passports

The UK, Crown Dependencies, and British Overseas Territories
Flag of The British Islands and Gibraltar
The UK (centre) and Crown Dependencies - Isle of Man (top left), Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey (middle right), and British Overseas Territory - Gibraltar (bottom left)
The UK (centre) and Crown Dependencies - Isle of Man (top left), Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey (middle right), and British Overseas Territory - Gibraltar (bottom left)
Largest cityLondon
Official language
and national language		English
Recognised Regional Languages
TypeSovereign state, dependencies, and overseas territories
Sovereign state, Crown Dependencies, and British Overseas Territory
CurrencyPound sterling[note 3] (GBP)
Main article: British passport

Following the end of the UK's EU withdrawal transition period on 31 December 2020, British passports no longer grant holders the right to free movement within the EEA. British passports are issued to all types of British nationals. These include British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas Territories Citizens (BOTCs), and British citizens resident in the Crown Dependencies.

The UK also participates in the Five Nations Passport Group, along with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the US.

In Europe, British passports are issued to British citizens, BOTCs in Gibraltar, and British citizens resident in the Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man).

Overview of British passports

Country Passport cover Biodata page Validity Issuing authority Latest version
United Kingdom United Kingdom British Passport 2020 Link to image
  • 10 years (aged 16 or over)
  • 5 years (under 16)
 HM Passport Office March 2020
Isle of Man Isle of Man
Jersey Jersey Jersey Passport (Blue) June 2020
Guernsey Guernsey Guernsey Passport (Blue)
GibraltarGibraltar Gibraltar Civil Status and Registration Office October 2015

Other European passports

Overview of other European passports

Member state Passport cover Biodata page Validity Latest version
Armenia Armenia Link to image 10 years (adults) 16 July 2012
AzerbaijanAzerbaijan Link to image 1 year: children under age of 1

3 years: children under age of 3

5 years: children under age of 18

10 years: Adults

1 September 2013
Belarus Belarus Link to image 10 years 15 May 2006
Faroe Islands Faroe Islands Link to image 10 years: adults

5 years: children

1 January 2012
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Link to image 10 years 1 January 2009
Kosovo Kosovo Link to image Link to image 10 years: Adult

5 years: Child

1 January 2013
Sovereign Military Order of Malta Sovereign Military Order of Malta Link to image Link to image
Monaco Monaco Link to image 5 years 26 October 200
Northern Cyprus Northern Cyprus 5 years
Russia Russia Link to image 10 years 1 March 2010
San Marino San Marino Link to image Link to image 10 years: over 14

5 years: aged 3–14

3 years: under 3

12 October 2006

See also


Notes

  1. ^ The 24 languages are equally official and accepted as working languages. Three of them – English, French and German – have the higher status of procedural languages and are used in the day-to-day workings of the European institutions.[2]
  2. ^ Extinct language.
  3. ^ Some of the devolved countries, Crown dependencies and British Overseas Territories issue their own sterling banknotes or currencies, or use another nation's currency. See List of British currencies for more information

References

  1. ^ Cybriwsky, Roman Adrian (2013). Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-61069-248-9. Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is considered to be the de facto capital of the EU
  2. ^ "European Commission – Frequently asked questions on languages in Europe". europa.eu.
  3. ^ Leonard Orban (24 May 2007). "Cyrillic, the third official alphabet of the EU, was created by a truly multilingual European" (PDF). europe.eu. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  4. ^ a b Current Article 1 of the Treaty on European Union reads: "The Union shall be founded on the present Treaty and on the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Those two Treaties shall have the same legal value. The Union shall replace and succeed the European Community".
  5. ^ "Population on 1st January by age, sex and type of projection". Eurostat. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  6. ^ "EUR-Lex - 41981X0919 - EN".
  7. ^ "L_2004385EN.01000101.xml". eur-lex.europa.eu.
  8. ^ European Council regulations covering the issue of EULF documents, dated 17 December 2013, accessed 11 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Council of the European Union - PRADO - AUT-AO-02002". consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  10. ^ a b "Home". www.consilium.europa.eu.
  11. ^ "CIVIL REGISTRY AND MIGRATION DEPARTMENT - Civil Registry Section". www.moi.gov.cy.
  12. ^ "Council of the European Union - PRADO - FIN-AO-05002 - <Outside front cover>".
  13. ^ "Polisen.ax - Pass". www.polisen.ax.
  14. ^ "Passaporto per i minori". Poliziadistato.it. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  15. ^ "Ministero degli Affari Esteri - Documenti di Viaggio - Passaporto". Esteri.it. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  16. ^ DELFI (29 January 2015). "Jaunā parauga Latvijas pilsoņu pases dizainu izstrādājuši PMLP speciālisti un vācu dizaineri".
  17. ^ "Paspoort wordt 10 jaar geldig". Rijksoverheid.nl. 2012-09-28. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  18. ^ "EU candidate status for Albania and North Macedonia". European Commission. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  19. ^ [1] Eliberarea pașaportului cetățeanului Republicii Moldova (PA): Informații generale
  20. ^ [2] Eliberarea pașaportului cetățeanului Republicii Moldova (PA)
  21. ^ [3] Postupak i potrebni dokazi za izdavanje ličnih dokumenata -PASOŠ
  22. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 April 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Издавање на патна исправа
  23. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 2013-01-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ПУТНА ИСПРАВА – ПАСОШ
  24. ^ "İçişleri Bakanlığı'nın görev ve yetkileri belirlendi". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  25. ^ [4] Видача паспорта громадянина України для виїзду за кордон
  26. ^ "The European Free Trade Association". efta.int. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  27. ^ "Short Overview of the EFTA Convention". Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  28. ^ "EUR-Lex - 32004L0038R(01) - EN - EUR-Lex". Eur-lex.europa.eu. 29 June 2004. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  29. ^ Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 158/2007 of 7 December 2007 amending Annex V (Free movement of workers) and Annex VIII (Right of establishment) to the EEA Agreement, 2008-05-08, retrieved 2021-01-01
  30. ^ "EUR-Lex - 22002A0430(01) - EN". Official Journal L 114 , 30/04/2002 P. 0006 - 0072. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  31. ^ "Council of the European Union : PRADO - ISL-AO-03001". Consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  32. ^ "Þjóðskrá Íslands - Algengar spurningar". Archive.today. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  33. ^ "Council of the European Union : PRADO - LIE-AO-02001". Consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  34. ^ "Nå er ny versjon av passet her" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Norwegian Police Service. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
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