Many of us didn’t get to use our passports as much during the pandemic. With COVID-19 halting international travel for an extended period, people are eagerly dusting off their old passports to plan trips as we transition back to a more normal travel environment. However, many have discovered that their passports have expired and must be renewed. Let’s take a closer look at passport colors and what they signify.
Why You Need a Passport
A passport serves as both an identification and travel document. It is essential for crossing borders and verifying your identity and nationality. Today, nearly every country requires a passport, which is considered the highest form of identification verification.
Passport Design
Each country’s passport features a unique design. The front cover typically displays the national emblem, and South Korea’s passport includes Korean script and design elements inside. The newly redesigned Korean passport, which has changed for the first time in over three decades, prominently features a phrase from Hunminjeongeum. The inscription reads It is only to make it easy for everyone to learn and comfortable to use every day, a fitting motto for a document that facilitates global movement.
Passport Power
Many know that South Korea boasts one of the strongest passports in the world. A commonly referenced metric for assessing passport strength is the Henley Passport Index. Passport power is typically measured by the number of countries one can enter without a visa. As of 2024, the United States allows visa-free access to 189 countries, Japan to 194, and Australia to 190. South Korea ranks just below these nations, with visa-free access to 193 countries, alongside France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain.
Four Types of Passport Colors
Countries differ not only in passport design but also in color. While all passports share a standard size, their colors and designs vary widely. There are no strict regulations governing passport colors; however, a passport symbolizes a nation’s values and characteristics, leading many countries to choose colors that reflect their identity. Passport colors can generally be categorized into four main groups: red, green, blue, and others. Let’s explore the characteristics of countries that adopt each color.
Green Passports
South Korea used a green one before adopting the current blue passport. Green passports are commonly found in countries within the Islamic cultural sphere, as green is a favored color of the Prophet Muhammad. Also, countries like Nigeria and Niger use green passports to symbolize life and nature, emphasizing regional unity. South Korea also designed its green passport to deter misuse in criminal activities.
Red Passports
The most frequently seen passport color at international airports is red. Countries that utilize red passports can be broadly categorized into communist nations and European Union (EU) member states. Countries like China, Romania, and Russia adopted red passports as a symbol of communism. However, North Korea stands out by using a blue passport instead. EU member states share a red passport design to strengthen solidarity and effectively represent national identity.
Blue Passports
The most widely used passport color is blue. Blue passports symbolize a new world and are commonly used in North America, Oceania, and South America. The United States has adopted a blue passport that matches the colors of its flag, a change implemented in 1976. Caribbean nations and members of the CA-4 treaty (El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua) also use blue passports. Following Brexit, the United Kingdom also decided to revert to blue passports.
Other Passport Colors
Black is another commonly used passport color. Several African countries, including Angola, Liberia, Malawi, Congo, and Comoros, utilize black passports, largely because Africa is often referred to as the dark continent. New Zealand also uses a black passport, as it symbolizes the nation. Other countries tend to choose a variety of different colors for their passports.
Passport Colors Reflecting National Flags
In Japan, passport colors vary by type: dark blue (5 years), red (10 years), brown (diplomatic), green (official), and blue (emergency). Red is the most commonly seen color for its prominence in the national flag. Similarly, Switzerland features red in its passport design, reflecting its national colors, even though it is not a communist country.
Why South Korea’s Passport is Blue
Discussions about changing the color of South Korean passports have been ongoing for some time. The previous green passport often led to misunderstandings, as it was commonly associated with Islamic countries. The absence of green in the Taegukgi (the national flag) raised concerns. In response, the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a passport design contest in 2018, resulting in the decision to adopt blue, the most commonly used passport color worldwide, for the new design.
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