The meaning of colors in different countries' passports.

There are no official regulations regarding passport colors, but four common colors are blue, black, green, and burgundy.

Many people assume that passport covers from countries around the world are only blue, black, green, or red. This is true because most countries choose darker colors, creating a sense of formality and officiality. However, in reality, there is no official regulation forcing countries to use these colors.

The basic colors of a passport. (Illustrative image)

"Any color in the color palette, we can produce," William Waldron, Vice President of Security Products at Holliston Holdings, a company that manufactures passports for more than 60 countries, once told Travel + Leisure. This means that if the US wanted to print passport covers in unusual colors like bright yellow or purple, it would be technically entirely feasible.

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), passports (or any machine-readable official document) must be made of a material that is flexible and does not deform, rather than one that easily creases or is easily damaged. They also need to be stable at temperatures between -10°C and 50°C and legible in any humidity conditions from 5% to 95%.

In fact, there are no regulations specifying the appearance of a passport. ICAO provides recommendations on font style, size, and typeface, such as encouraging the use of capital letters for personal information, but these details are ultimately decided by each country. "There are no regulations on the color of the passport cover," confirmed Anthony Philbin, former Director of Communications at ICAO.

So why are colors like navy blue, burgundy, dark green, or black so popular?

Each country has the right to decide the color of its passport, but the colors chosen often carry economic, cultural, political , or religious significance.

Islamic countries often favor green because it holds special significance in Islam. Meanwhile, many Caribbean nations opt for blue. There are also more practical reasons. According to Waldron, darker shades "look more formal" and "are less likely to show dirt, wear, or fraying."

Blue

The United States uses blue passports, like about 90 other countries, including Afghanistan, Honduras, Australia, Iceland, Laos, and others. Blue passports often represent the "New World," but can also reflect the economic alliances a country is a part of. Most South American countries, the Caribbean, and US territories use blue passports. Some countries outside the "New World," including a few in Africa and Asia, also use this color.

Red/Burgundy Red

Burgundy passports are often associated with a country's economic union. For example, all European Union (EU) countries use burgundy passports. The UK switched from burgundy to blue after leaving the EU. Switzerland also uses red passports to match the color of its national flag, and Turkey, a country aspiring to join the EU, has also switched to red passports. Over 60 other countries use burgundy passports, including Albania, Bolivia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Qatar, and many others.

Green

Approximately 40 countries use green for their passports. It's an important color in Islam, so many Muslim countries use it, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Morocco, and many African nations. Besides religious reasons, Mexico, Vatican City, Burkina Faso, Mali, and others also use green passports for their own specific reasons.

Black

This is an uncommon passport color, used by only about 10 countries. Considered the most practical, black provides good contrast with the country's emblem and is less prone to showing dirt. Countries that use black passports include Angola, Malawi, the Republic of Congo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tajikistan, and New Zealand.

There are also some exceptions. A country may issue passports in different colors to distinguish between ordinary citizens, officials, and diplomats. For example, the Indian government issues passports in three colors: blue for ordinary citizens, white for official citizens, and red for diplomatic citizens. In Türkiye, green passports are issued to those who are granted visa-free entry to certain countries.

According to VnExpress

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