As the saying goes, “have passport; will travel”. Frequent flyers know that a passport is one of the most crucial elements needed to get from point A to B, but how much do you really know about the travel document (other than one’s photo somehow always turns out awful)?
Through Thick and Thin
Passports may come across like an ordinary booklet, but the documents are made of strong stuff. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, passports must be made of a material that bends, rather than creases; need to be capable of withstanding temperatures between 14 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit; and should remain readable in humid conditions between 5% and 95%.
Color-Coded
Passports are typically issued in maroon, navy blue, forest green, or black, but the truth is, there’s nothing that actually stipulates the color of a passport. That said, most Muslim states opt for green, and the majority of European countries use red.
On Top of the World
The U.S., U.K., and Australian passports are considered some of the most powerful in the world, but if you want a travel document that really takes you places (ahem), it’s Singaporean and Japanese nationality that you want. Passports of these nations allow entry into 192 different countries without a visa.