Passport of the European Union

The European Union does not issue passports, but ordinary passports issued by its 28 member states share a common design.^[1] Common features include the burgundy coloured cover, the use of the words "European Union" in the country's official language or languages on the cover, as well as common security features and biometrics.^[2]

Some EU member states also issue non-EU passports to certain people who have a nationality which does not render them citizens of the European Union (e.g., British Overseas Territories Citizens except those with a connection to Gibraltar, British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas Citizens, British Protected Persons and British Subjects).^[3]

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

Use

With a valid passport, EU citizens are entitled to exercise the right of free movement in the European Economic Area (European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and Switzerland, without a visa.

As an alternative to holding a passport, EU citizens can also use a valid national identity card to enter and reside in the EEA (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and Switzerland without a visa.

Strictly speaking, it is not necessary for an EU citizen to possess a valid passport or national identity card to enjoy the right of free movement. In theory, if an EU citizen can prove his/her nationality/identification by any other means (e.g. by presenting an expired passport or national identity card, or a citizenship certificate), he/she must be permitted to enter and reside in the EEA without a visa. An EU citizen who is unable to demonstrate his/her nationality satisfactorily must nonetheless be given 'every reasonable opportunity' to obtain the necessary documents or to have them delivered within a reasonable period of time.^[4][5][6]

When entering some EEA countries, EU citizens possessing valid biometric passports are able to use automated gates instead of immigration counters. For example, when entering the United Kingdom, at major airports, adult holders of EU biometric passports can use ePassport gates, whilst all other EU citizens (such as those using a national identity card or a non-biometric passport) must use an immigration counter.^[7]

Common design features

Since the 1980s, European Union member states have started to harmonise the following aspects of the designs of their ordinary passports (but not other types of passports, such as diplomatic, service and emergency passports):^[1]

Overall format

• Paper size B7 (ISO/IEC 7810 ID-3, 88 mm × 125 mm)
• 32 pages (passports with more pages can be issued to frequent travellers)
• Colour of cover: burgundy red

Cover

Information on the cover, in this order, in the language(s) of the issuing state:

• The words "EUROPEAN UNION" (before 1997: "EUROPEAN COMMUNITY")
• Name of the issuing state (similar typeface as "EUROPEAN UNION")
• Emblem of the state
• The word "PASSPORT"
• The Biometric Passport symbol

First page

Information on the first page, in one or more of the languages of the European Union:

• The words "EUROPEAN UNION"
• Name of the issuing state (similar typeface to that of "European Union")
• The word "PASSPORT"
• Serial number (may also be repeated on the other pages)

Identification page

Information on the (possibly laminated) identification page, in the languages of the issuing state plus English and French, accompanied by numbers that refer to an index that lists the meaning of these fields in all official EU languages:

1. Surname	2. Forename(s)
3. Nationality	4. Date of birth
5. Sex	6. Place of birth
7. Date of issue	8. Date of expiry
9. Authority	10. Signature of holder

Following page

Optional information on the following page:

11. Residence	12. Height
13. Colour of eyes	14. Extension of the passport
15. Name at birth (if now using married name or have legally changed names)

Remaining pages

• The following page is reserved for:
  • Details concerning the spouse of the holder of the passport (where a family passport is issued)
  • Details concerning children accompanying the holder (name, first name, date of birth, sex)
  • Photographs of the faces of spouse and children
• The following page is reserved for use by the issuing authorities
• The following page carries the index that translates the field numbers into the official languages of the EU
• The remaining pages are reserved for visa
• The inside back cover is reserved for additional information or recommendations by the issuing state in its own official language(s)

Overview of passports issued by 28 Member States

Member state	Passport cover	Biodata page	Cost	Validity	Issuing authority	Latest version
Austria			75,90€ (36 pages)	10 years (aged 12 or over) 5 years (aged 2–11) 2 years (aged 0–2)		16 June 2006
Belgium			71 € (adults; 32 pages; in Belgium) 41 € (children; 32 pages; in Belgium) 240 € (adults; 64 pages; in Belgium) 210 € (children; 64 pages; in Belgium) 79 € (adults; 32 pages; overseas) 35 € (children; 32 pages; overseas) 240 € (adults; 64 pages; overseas) 210 € (children; 64 pages; overseas)[8]	5 years	Communes (in Belgium) Belgian embassies and consulates (overseas)	1 February 2008
Bulgaria			40BGN / 20€ (adults aged 14–58; 32 pages) 20BGN / 10€ (adults under 14; 32 pages)	5 years	Ministry of Interior Affairs	29 March 2010
Croatia			390 HRK	10 years (adults aged 21 or over) 5 years (adults aged under 21)	Ministry of the Interior Affairs of the Republic of Croatia	1 July 2009
Cyprus			(€70; 32 pages)	10 years	Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Embassies and High Commissions of the Republic of Cyprus	29 November 2010
Czech Republic[9]			CZK 600 (adults aged 15 or over) CZK 100 (children under 15)	10 years (adults aged 15 or over) 5 years (children under 15)	the town hall of the applicant's place of permanent residence abroad: consulates of the Czech Republic (except honorary consulates)	1 September 2006
Denmark			DKK 625 (adults aged 18 or over; 32 pages) DKK 140 (children aged under 18; 32 pages)	10 years (adults) 5 years (children under 18)		1 January 2012
Estonia			28,76 €	5 years		22 May 2007
Finland			52 €[10]	5 years[11]		21 August 2012
Åland Islands				5 years		21 August 2012
France			86 € (adults in metropolitan France and french overseas territory) 89 € (adults outside France) 17 € (children from 0 to 14, everywhere) 42 € (teenager from 15 to 17, everywhere)	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			37,50 € (applicants under 24; 32 pages) 59 € (adults aged 24 or over; 32 pages)	10 years (adults aged 24 or over) 6 years (applicants under 24)	Municipal registration office	11 November 2007
Greece			84,40€ (adults) 73,60€ (children)	5 years (applicants aged 15 or over) 2 years (children under 15)	National Passport Centre ("Διεύθυνση Διαβατηρίων/Αρχηγείο Ελληνικής Αστυνομίας")	28 August 2006
Hungary			7500 HUF (5 years) 14000 HUF (10 years)	5 years 10 years	Registration Office (Nyilvántartó Hivatal)	1 March 2012
Ireland				10 years (adults) 3 or 5 years (children)	Consular and Passport Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs
Italy			42,50€ + 40,29€ per year (annual revenue stamp)[12]	10 years (adults aged 18 or over) 5 years (applicants aged 3-17) 3 years (children under 3)[13]	Minister of Foreign Affairs through Local quaestor (in Italy) Consulates and embassies (abroad)[14]	20 May 2010
Latvia				10 years (adults aged 60 or over) 5 years (applicants aged 5–59) 2 years (children under 5)		20 November 2007
Lithuania			150LTL/48€ (adults; 32 pages;) 75LTL/24€ (children; 32 pages;) 200LTL/65€ (adults; 32 pages; issued in five working days) 250LTL/79€ (adults; 32 pages; issued in 24 hours)	10 years (adults aged 16 or over) 5 years (children aged 5–15) 2 years (children under 5)		27 January 2011
Luxembourg			30€ (5-year passports) 20€ (2-year passports)	5 years (applicants aged 4 or over) 2 years (applicants under 4)	Passport Office, Luxembourg	1 July 2011
Malta						29 September 2008
The Netherlands			50.35€ (maximum, all ages 34-page passport; individual municipalities determine the rate[15]) 84.88€ (adults; 34 pages; overseas[16])	5 years (will become 10 years in the near future)[17]	Gemeente (Municipality)	9 October 2011
Poland			Application made within Poland: 140 zł (for applicants aged between 13 and 70) 30 zł (for applicants aged under 13) Application made through a Polish consulate: 106 € (applicants aged between 13 and 70) 36 € (applicants aged under 13) In both cases: free for applicants aged 70 and over certain classes of applicants qualify for a 50% discount of a relevant fee	10 years (applicants aged 13 and over) 5 years (applicants aged under 13)	Governor of a province (voivodeship) Consul	1 January 2006
Portugal	120px			5 years (applicants aged 5 or over) 2 years (children under 5)		25 May 2009
Romania			276 RON / 59€ (5-year passports) 116 RON / 25€ (1-year passports)	5 years (applicants aged 6 or over) 3 years (applicants under 6) 1-year (temporary passport)	Ministry of Administration and Interior (General Directorate for Passports)	26 April 2006
Slovakia				10 years (adults aged 16 or over) 5 years (children aged 5–15) 2 years (children under 5)		15 January 2008
Slovenia						28 August 2006
Spain			25€	No expiry (adults over 70) 10 years (adults aged 30–70) 5 years (applicants under 30)	National Police Corps of Spain	14 August 2006
Sweden			350 SEK	5 years	Swedish Police Authority	2 January 2012
United Kingdom			In the United Kingdom £72.50 (adults; 32 pages) £85.50 (adults; 48 pages) £46 (children) Western European Passport Service: Paris Embassy €170 (exc. courier fee) (adults; 32 pages) €205 (exc. courier fee) (adults; 48 pages) €108 (exc. courier fee) (children)	10 years (adults aged 16 or over) 5 years (children under 16)	HM Passport Office (UK) Foreign and Commonwealth Office (overseas)	5 October 2010
Gibraltar				10 years (adults aged 16 or over) 5 years (children under 16)	Civil Status and Registration Office, Gibraltar	6 September 2006
Guernsey (Note that only those who have a connection to the United Kingdom (e.g. they have lived in the UK for five years, or born in the UK, or have parents or grandparents born in the UK) are EU citizens.)				10 years (adults aged 16 or over) 5 years (children under 16)	Passport Office of the Customs and Immmigration Department	25 September 2006
Isle of Man (Note that only those who have a connection to the United Kingdom (e.g. they have lived in the UK for five years, or born in the UK, or have parents or grandparents born in the UK) are EU citizens.)				10 years (adults aged 16 or over) 5 years (children under 16)	Chief Secretary's Office of the Isle of Man Government	6 October 2006
Jersey (Note that only those who have a connection to the United Kingdom (e.g. they have lived in the UK for five years, or born in the UK, or have parents or grandparents born in the UK) are EU citizens.)				10 years (adults aged 16 or over) 5 years (children under 16)	Passport Office, Jersey Government	9 October 2006

Gallery of EU passports

• Austrian passport
• Belgian passport
  
• British passport
  
• Bulgarian passport
• Croatian passport
• Czech passport
• Danish passport
• Dutch passport
• Estonian passport
• Finnish passport
• German passport
• Greek passport
• Hungarian passport
• Irish passport
• Italian passport
• Latvian passport
• Lithuanian passport
• Polish passport
  
• PortugueseElectronicPassport.png

  Portuguese passport
• Romanian passport
  
• Slovenian passport
  
• Slovenian passport for Italian minority (bilingual issue)
  
• Spanish passport
• British Islands Guernsey passport
• British Passport – Gibraltar passport
• British Islands Jersey passport
• British Islands Manx passport

See also

• National identity cards in the European Union
• Citizenship of the European Union
• Visa policy in the European Union
• Schengen Area
• Public Register of Travel and Identity Documents Online
• FADO
• Passports of the European Economic Area
• National identity cards in the European Economic Area

References

External links

• EU Citizenship by Investing
• European Passports in PRADO (The Council of the European Union Public Register of Authentic Travel and Identity Documents Online)

Commons has media related to European passports.