Passports in Europe

Last updated December 14, 2024

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.

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.^[1] 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 ( ).^[2] 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.^[3]

Member state	Passport cover	Biodata page	Validity	Issuing authority	Latest version
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^[4]
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^[5]
Bulgaria		Link to image	5 years	Ministry of Interior Affairs	29 March 2010
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		Link to image	10 years (adults) 5 years (minors)^[6]	Civil Registry and Migration Department, Ministry of the Interior; Embassies and High Commissions of the Republic of Cyprus	13 December 2010
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		Link to image	10 years (adults) 5 years (children under 18)	Kommune (Municipality)	1 January 2012
Estonia		Link to image	10 years (ages 15 and up) 5 years (children under 15)	Police and Border Guard Board (PPA)	1 January 2021
Finland		Link to image	5 years	Police of Finland	1 January 2017
Finland Åland Islands ^[7]		Link to image	5 years	Police of Åland ^[8]	1 January 2017
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		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		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		Link to image	5 years 10 years	Registration Office (Nyilvántartó Hivatal)	1 March 2012
Ireland		Link to image	10 years (adults) 5 years (children)	Consular and Passport Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs	3 October 2013
Italy		Link to image	10 years (adults) 5 years (minors aged 3–18) 3 years (children aged 0–3)^[9]	Minister of Foreign Affairs through Local quaestor of the state police (in Italy) Consulates and embassies (abroad)^[10]	20 May 2010
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^[11]
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		Link to image	5 years (applicants aged 4 or over) 2 years (applicants under 4)	Bureau des passeports	16 February 2015^[5]
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		Link to image	10 years (applicants aged 18 and over)^[12] 5 years (applicants aged under 18)	Gemeente (Municipality) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Abroad)	23 December 2017
Poland		Link to image	10 years (applicants aged 13 and over) 5 years (applicants aged under 13) 1 year (temporary passport)	Governor of a province (voivodeship) Consul	5 November 2018
Portugal		Link to image	5 years (applicants aged 5 or over) 2 years (children under 5)		10 July 2017
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		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		Link to image		Ministry of the Interior	12 December 2016
Spain		Link to image	10 years (applicants over 30) 5 years (applicants between 5 and 30) 2 years (applicants under 5)	National Police Corps of Spain	2 January 2015
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

Since the establishment of the European Economic Community, previous enlargements have seen the founding Inner Six states of 1958^[13] 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.^[14]

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.

Candidate state	Biodata page	Validity	Issuing authority	Latest version
Albania	Link to image	5 or 10 years	Ministry of the Interior	2015
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Link to image			1 October 2014
Georgia	Link to image		26 February 2010
Moldova	Link to image	10 years (aged 16 or older)^[15] 7 years (aged at least 7 and under 16) 4 years (under the age of 7 years)	Agency of public services ^[16] or Moldovan foreign representations abroad	5 April 2023
Montenegro	Link to image	10 years	Ministry of the Interior^[17]	2008
North Macedonia	Link to image	5 or 10 years (aged 27 and older)	Ministry of the Interior^[18]	2019
Serbia	Link to image	10 years(adults) 5 years(minors)	Ministry of the Interior^[19]	7 July 2008
Turkey	Link to image	6 months 1–10 years	Ministry of the Interior ^[20]	25 August 2022
Ukraine	Link to image	10 years: adults 4 years: children	State Migration Service (part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs)^[21]	1 January 2015

Passports of 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.^[22] 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.^[23] 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),^[24]^[25] 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.^[26]

Member state	Biodata page	Validity	Issuing authority	Latest version
Iceland	Link to image	10 years (adults)	Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá Íslands)	23 May 2006^[27](biometric) June 2013^[28](current version)
Liechtenstein	Link to image	10 years adults and children over 12 5 years minors under 12	Ausländer- und Passamt	26 October 2006^[29]
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^[30]
Switzerland	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

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).

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

Other European passports

Member state	Passport cover	Biodata page	Validity	Latest version
Armenia		Link to image	10 years (adults)	16 July 2012
Azerbaijan		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		Link to image	10 years	15 May 2006
Faroe Islands		Link to image	10 years: adults 5 years: children	1 January 2012
Kazakhstan		Link to image	10 years	1 January 2009
Kosovo		Link to image	10 years: Adult 5 years: Child	1 January 2013
Sovereign Military Order of Malta	Link to image	Link to image
Monaco		Link to image	5 years	26 October 200
Northern Cyprus			5 years
Russia		Link to image	10 years	1 March 2010
San Marino		Link to image	10 years: over 14 5 years: aged 3–14 3 years: under 3	12 October 2006

Notes

Related Research Articles

European Union citizenship is afforded to all nationals of member states of the European Union (EU). It was formally created with the adoption of the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, at the same time as the creation of the EU. EU citizenship is additional to, as it does not replace, national citizenship. It affords EU citizens with rights, freedoms and legal protections available under EU law.

A French passport is an identity document issued to French citizens. Besides enabling the bearer to travel internationally and serving as indication of French nationality, the passport facilitates the process of securing assistance from French consular officials abroad or other European Union member states in case a French consular is absent, if needed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croatian passport</span> Passport of the Republic of Croatia issued to Croatian citizens

Croatian passport is issued to citizens of the Republic of Croatia for the purpose of international travel. The passport has the purpose of serving as proof of Croatian citizenship and identity. Responsibility for their issuance lies with the Ministry of the Interior; and for citizens abroad, passports are issued by the local embassy or consulate. Croatian passports are valid for ten or five years, and are not renewable. Every Croatian citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The passport, along with the national identity card allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

European Economic Area (EEA) citizens have the right of free movement and residence throughout the EEA. This right also extends to certain family members, even if they are not EEA citizens. A Residence card of a family member of a Union citizen is issued to the family member to confirm this right of residence. The holder of a valid Residence Card is entitled to use this document in lieu of an entry visa for entry to all EEA member states. There is not a unified format for this card throughout the EU.

A Norwegian passport is the passport issued to nationals of Norway for the purpose of international travel. Beside serving as proof of Norwegian citizenship, they facilitate the process of securing assistance from Norwegian consular officials abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liechtenstein passport</span> Passport of the Principality of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein passports are issued to nationals of Liechtenstein for the purpose of international travel. Beside serving as proof of Liechtenstein citizenship, they facilitate the process of securing assistance from Liechtenstein consular officials abroad.

Finnish passport are issued to nationals of Finland for the purpose of international travel. Aside from serving as proof of Finnish nationality, they facilitate the process of securing assistance from Finnish consular officials abroad.

Swedish passports are issued to nationals of Sweden for the purpose of international travel. Besides serving as proof of Swedish citizenship, they facilitate the process of securing assistance from Swedish consular officials abroad.

A Danish passport is an identity document issued to citizens of the Kingdom of Denmark to facilitate international travel. Besides serving as proof of Danish citizenship, they facilitate the process of securing assistance from Danish consular officials abroad.

An Austrian passport is an identity document issued to citizens of Austria to facilitate international travel. Every Austrian citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The passport, along with the national identity card, allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

The European Union itself does not issue ordinary passports, but ordinary passport booklets issued by its 27 member states share a common format. This common format features a colored cover emblazoned—in the official language(s) of the issuing country —with the title "European Union", followed by the name(s) of the member state, the heraldic "Arms" of the State concerned, the word "PASSPORT", together with the biometric passport symbol at the bottom center of the front cover.

Icelandic passports are issued to citizens of Iceland for the purpose of international travel. Beside serving as proof of Icelandic citizenship, they facilitate the process of securing assistance from Icelandic consular officials abroad.

A Luxembourgish passport is an international travel document issued to nationals of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and may also serve as proof of Luxembourgish citizenship. Besides enabling the bearer to travel internationally and serving as indication of Luxembourgish citizenship, the passport facilitates the process of securing assistance from Luxembourg consular officials abroad or other European Union member states in case a Luxembourg consular is absent, if needed.

The Liechtenstein identity card is issued to Liechtenstein citizens by the Immigration and Passport Office in Vaduz. The card costs CHF65 for adults aged 18 or over and is valid for 10 years. For children, the card costs CHF30 and has a validity of 3 years.

National identity cards are identity documents issued to citizens of most European Union and European Economic Area (EEA) member states, with the exception of Denmark and Ireland. As a new common identity card model harmonized the various formats in use from 2 August 2021, with older ID cards currently being phased out according to EU Regulation 2019/1157.

Since the 1980s, member states of the European Union have started to harmonise aspects of the designs of their ordinary passports, as well as common security features and biometrics.

Visa requirements for European Union citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other countries placed on citizens of the European Union. They differ among countries. The European Union has achieved full reciprocity with certain countries.

Visa requirements for EFTA nationals are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states.

Passports of the EFTA member states are passports issued by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. EFTA is in this article used as a common name for these countries.

In British politics, the "Norway-plus model" was a proposal for a post-Brexit settlement, which the British government did not pursue. Proposed in November 2018 as an alternative to the Chequers plan, it would have consisted of membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and of membership of the European Economic Area (EEA) as an EFTA member state, combined with a separate customs union with the EU to create a trade relationship similar to that between the EU and its member states today, with the exception of the political representation in the EU's bodies. Michel Barnier, the EU's Chief Negotiator, has always said that a model that combined EEA/EFTA and a customs union was one that he would be happy to consider.

References

↑ "EUR-Lex - 41981X0919 - EN".
↑ "L_2004385EN.01000101.xml". eur-lex.europa.eu.
↑ European Council regulations covering the issue of EULF documents, dated 17 December 2013, accessed 11 October 2016.
↑ "Council of the European Union - PRADO - AUT-AO-02002". consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
1 2 "Home". www.consilium.europa.eu.
↑ "CIVIL REGISTRY AND MIGRATION DEPARTMENT - Civil Registry Section". www.moi.gov.cy.
↑ "Council of the European Union - PRADO - FIN-AO-05002 - <Outside front cover>".
↑ "Polisen.ax - Pass". www.polisen.ax.
↑ "Passaporto per i minori". Poliziadistato.it. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
↑ "Ministero degli Affari Esteri - Documenti di Viaggio - Passaporto". Esteri.it. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
↑ DELFI (29 January 2015). "Jaunā parauga Latvijas pilsoņu pases dizainu izstrādājuši PMLP speciālisti un vācu dizaineri".
↑ "Paspoort wordt 10 jaar geldig". Rijksoverheid.nl. 2012-09-28. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
↑ 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".
↑ "EU candidate status for Albania and North Macedonia". European Commission. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
↑ Eliberarea pașaportului cetățeanului Republicii Moldova (PA): Informații generale
↑ Eliberarea pașaportului cetățeanului Republicii Moldova (PA)
↑ Postupak i potrebni dokazi za izdavanje ličnih dokumenata -PASOŠ
↑ "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
↑ "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
↑ "İçişleri Bakanlığı'nın görev ve yetkileri belirlendi". Anadolu Agency . Retrieved 22 July 2018.
↑ Видача паспорта громадянина України для виїзду за кордон
↑ "The European Free Trade Association". efta.int. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
↑ "Short Overview of the EFTA Convention" . Retrieved 29 November 2017.
↑ "EUR-Lex - 32004L0038R(01) - EN - EUR-Lex". Eur-lex.europa.eu. 29 June 2004. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
↑ 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
↑ "EUR-Lex - 22002A0430(01) - EN". Official Journal L 114, 30/04/2002 P. 0006 - 0072. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
↑ "Council of the European Union : PRADO - ISL-AO-03001". Consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
↑ "Þjóðskrá Íslands - Algengar spurningar". Archive.today. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
↑ "Council of the European Union : PRADO - LIE-AO-02001". Consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
↑ "Nå er ny versjon av passet her" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Norwegian Police Service . Retrieved 19 October 2020.

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[resolution1981-1] "EUR-Lex - 41981X0919 - EN".

[resolution2252-2] "L_2004385EN.01000101.xml". eur-lex.europa.eu.

[3] European Council regulations covering the issue of EULF documents, dated 17 December 2013, accessed 11 October 2016.

[4] "Council of the European Union - PRADO - AUT-AO-02002". consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 2017-08-02.

[auto-5] 1 2 "Home". www.consilium.europa.eu.

[6] "CIVIL REGISTRY AND MIGRATION DEPARTMENT - Civil Registry Section". www.moi.gov.cy.

[7] "Council of the European Union - PRADO - FIN-AO-05002 - <Outside front cover>".

[8] "Polisen.ax - Pass". www.polisen.ax.

[9] "Passaporto per i minori". Poliziadistato.it. Retrieved 2014-03-10.

[10] "Ministero degli Affari Esteri - Documenti di Viaggio - Passaporto". Esteri.it. Retrieved 2014-03-10.

[11] DELFI (29 January 2015). "Jaunā parauga Latvijas pilsoņu pases dizainu izstrādājuši PMLP speciālisti un vācu dizaineri".

[12] "Paspoort wordt 10 jaar geldig". Rijksoverheid.nl. 2012-09-28. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-10.

[ReferenceA-13] 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".

[albcand2-14] "EU candidate status for Albania and North Macedonia". European Commission. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.

[15] Eliberarea pașaportului cetățeanului Republicii Moldova (PA): Informații generale

[16] Eliberarea pașaportului cetățeanului Republicii Moldova (PA)

[17] Postupak i potrebni dokazi za izdavanje ličnih dokumenata -PASOŠ

[18] "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

[19] "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

[20] "İçişleri Bakanlığı'nın görev ve yetkileri belirlendi". Anadolu Agency . Retrieved 22 July 2018.

[21] Видача паспорта громадянина України для виїзду за кордон

[22] "The European Free Trade Association". efta.int. Retrieved 12 December 2014.

[23] "Short Overview of the EFTA Convention" . Retrieved 29 November 2017.

[24] "EUR-Lex - 32004L0038R(01) - EN - EUR-Lex". Eur-lex.europa.eu. 29 June 2004. Retrieved 25 November 2017.

[25] 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

[:12-26] "EUR-Lex - 22002A0430(01) - EN". Official Journal L 114, 30/04/2002 P. 0006 - 0072. Retrieved 2020-12-19.

[27] "Council of the European Union : PRADO - ISL-AO-03001". Consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 12 August 2018.

[28] "Þjóðskrá Íslands - Algengar spurningar". Archive.today. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2018.

[29] "Council of the European Union : PRADO - LIE-AO-02001". Consilium.europa.eu. Retrieved 12 August 2018.

[30] "Nå er ny versjon av passet her" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Norwegian Police Service . Retrieved 19 October 2020.

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