A red (or burgundy) British passport is a pre-Brexit travel document issued between 1988 and 2020, designed to align with European Community standards. While the UK has returned to blue passports, red ones remain valid until their expiration date. Users must ensure they have enough validity, as 6+ months are often required for travel.
Red passports are typically issued by countries within the European Union (EU) and they are classed as high global mobility. Countries with red passports include the UK (some people are still using them), Italy, Japan, China and more.
(The red passport called official or service passport is issued to Government officials for traveling on government duty. It is also issued for dependents of military personnel for overseas assignments.
What's the difference between a blue and a red passport?
A red/burgundy passport is also typically an indication of the country's economic union status. For example, all EU countries have burgundy passports, and the UK changed its passport from burgundy to blue when it withdrew from the EU.
While passports vary by country, the four main functional types generally recognized are Ordinary (for regular citizens), Official/Service (for government employees on duty), Diplomatic (for diplomats and high-ranking officials), and Emergency/Temporary (for urgent travel when regular passports aren't available). These types differ in color, purpose, and the level of diplomatic privilege or travel restrictions they grant.
Standard United Kingdom passports are of 32 pages. A passport of 48 pages is available for persons who travel widely. Both types of passport are valid for a maximum of 10 years and 9 months. Passports issued in British overseas territories or the Islands have the name of the territory or island on the cover.
As a British passport is issued in the name of His Majesty, it is unnecessary for The King to possess one. All other Members of the Royal Family, including The Queen and The Prince of Wales, have passports.
Machine readable British passports follow a common format (layout) used by many countries. During 2020 the UK prepared to leave the European Union (EU) and we changed our passports from EU and non-EU burgundy coloured passports to non-EU passports with a blue (soft) cover (UK series C e-passport (blue e-passport).
Black This is the rarest passport color. Seen as the most practical color, it provides a nice contrast with the countries' crests and also hides dirt well. Countries using black passports include Angola, Malawi, Trinidad & Tobago, and Tajikistan.
Red passports were issued in the US from 1926 to 1941. Globally, however, passports with red covers can be found in countries that have or had a communist political system in power (e.g., China or Russia).
Dual citizenship is a situation when an individual possesses two passports and holds citizenship in two separate countries simultaneously. This is also referred to as double or dual nationality.
Red passport holders can benefit from these services in various situations, including medical emergencies, travel disruptions, or other unforeseen events. Assistance may include coordinating medical care, arranging transportation, or providing guidance on navigating local regulations and procedures.
The second passport service is unique because: Most of the people do not know that having two British passports at the same time is even possible. The process to apply for 2nd UK passport can be done with just the photocopy of the applicants existing passport, the original is not required.
The look of UK passports last changed in 2020 when they switched from burgundy to dark blue after Brexit and Boris Johnson's pledge to bring back “beautiful new blue passports”. Passports have been issued in the king's name since 2023, with their pages referring to “His Majesty”.
Red is often associated with power and authority which is why it is a popular choice for this particular region. Red passports are typically associated with countries within the European Union. Red passports are associated with higher global mobility. So again, not a lot of visa requirements when they want to travel.
Yes, red UK passports are still valid for travel as long as they are within their expiry date, but you must check validity rules for your destination, especially for the EU where a post-Brexit rule means passports issued over 10 years ago (even if they have extra months) may not be accepted for entry. You'll eventually get a new blue passport when you renew, but there's no need to replace a valid red one prematurely.
Why Catherine's passport is unlike anyone else's. Unlike any other passport holder in Britain, Catherine Princess of Wales travels without needing a passport at all. A rare privilege rooted in royal protocol.
Who is the only person who doesn't need a passport?
Who are the people who don't need a passport to travel anywhere in the world? The Japanese Emperor and Empress, along with the British monarch, are uniquely exempt from needing passports for international travel.
On this list, the rarest passport in the world belongs to residents of Vatican City State. In practice, there are two types of travel documents: service and diplomatic passports issued by the Holy See, and ordinary passports for regular residents issued by Vatican City State.
U.S. nationals, including U.S. dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. U.S. dual nationals may also be required by the country of their foreign nationality to use that country's passport to enter and leave that country.
For US passports, the “P” represents “Personal.” It denotes a standard passport book designed for everyday international travel by regular citizens. It has a blue cover (Federal Blue), and it's valid for 5-10 years.
