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Japan
You wouldn't be the first to wonder why chrysanthemums, and not cherry blossoms, were chosen to be featured on Japan's passport.
Right in the center of the cover, there is no national emblem, only a single yellow flower on a red background. It is explained that the chrysanthemum symbolizes autumn, the harvest season representing prosperity, nobility, and national pride for Japan as a whole.
Throughout history, the Japanese imperial family has been known as the "Chrysanthemum Throne," with a stylized chrysanthemum flower serving as its national emblem. Therefore, this flower continues to represent the Japanese monarchy to this day.
United Kingdom
Since 2021, British citizens have enjoyed visa-free access to 187 countries, giving the UK one of the most powerful passports in the world.
Along with the national emblem on the cover, the British passport showcases famous landmarks of the UK such as the London Eye, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Houses of Parliament, and the London Underground system.
Philippines
The design of the Philippines' e-passport is another example of how passports can reflect national identity and cultural heritage. The first page opens with a prominent illustration of the Philippine eagle, while the remaining pages feature illustrations of national symbols, cultural landmarks, and lyrics from Lupang Hinirang, the Philippine national anthem.
Furthermore, the new passport design showcases tourist attractions across different regions of the Philippines. Flipping through the pages of the Philippine passport, you'll find breathtaking sights including Chocolate Hills, Mount Mayon, and the Banaue Rice Terraces – each natural wonder offering different reasons to visit and explore the Philippines.
Norway
This could be considered the most elegant passport in the world. Its latest design, released in October 2020, features a minimalist, easy-to-read cover with the Norwegian coat of arms and the country's name embossed in gold.
Compared to the passport designs of other countries, Norway's official travel document offers a modern look with diverse shades: bright red for regular passports, turquoise for diplomatic passports, and white for emergency passports.
Flipping through the pages of a Norwegian passport, we can see illustrations depicting expansive landscapes of bays, mountains, lakes, forests, and rivers. Under ultraviolet light, these passport pages become even more vibrant with vivid three-dimensional images of the night sky and the shimmering reflections of light from the Arctic.
"The beautiful landscapes of the country featured on the passport pages evoke a sense of familiarity and pride, while also serving as symbols of the nation," Neue Design Studio, the company that designed the new passport, stated on its website.
Finland
A moose striding across the pages of a Finnish passport is one of the unique highlights that has impressed many. Designed like a flipbook, the burgundy Finnish passport showcases the distinctive beauty of Scandinavian design with exceptional thinking and creativity.
The choice of an elk image was also a logical decision, especially since Finland has been named a world-leading destination for wildlife viewing since 2019. The country is consistently praised for its stunning natural landscapes, diverse wildlife, environmental sustainability, and the conservation efforts of the government and community.
However, this design was replaced with images of snowflakes, the snowy landscapes of Lapland, and other winter symbols in a "complete overhaul" of the Finnish passport in January 2017 to celebrate Finland's 100th anniversary.
Canada
The cleverly concealed illustrations, which only appear in vibrant colors under UV light, are one reason why Canadian passports are among the most impressive passports to admire at customs counters.
Dubbed the fourth most powerful passport in the world for its extensive freedom of travel, Canada's blue passport features the embossed Canadian coat of arms in both English and French. When illuminated with UV light, the inside pages of the Canadian passport reveal several treasures – considered national symbols of Canada – illuminated in yellow. These include maple leaves, historical figures, ships at sea, spectacular fireworks in Ottawa, and, of course, Niagara Falls.
Switzerland
Switzerland holds the seventh most powerful passport in the world due to the ease of travel it offers its citizens. Swiss passports are presented in four of the country's official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh (a Romance language spoken in the Grisons canton), and of course, English.
No one can deny that Swiss passports are striking, with their distinctive white cross and vibrant red cover, embossed with swirling patterns visible on the crosses. These bold and simple images convey a message: Swiss passport design is as durable and effective as Swiss watches – where function meets elegance and style.
Belgium
Belgium's new passport, redesigned and launched in January 2022, features changes that are sure to catch everyone's eye. While the burgundy cover remains true to tradition with its gold-plated coat of arms and embossed image of the country, the inside pages offer a more playful and dynamic style.
Previously, the inside pages of passports featured famous landmarks. However, with this new version, they have been replaced with illustrations of characters from popular Belgian comic books – such as Tintin and the Smurfs. This is understandable, as Sweden is known for its captivating comic book setting that has enchanted millions of readers for decades.
These detailed illustrations even glow brightly under UV light, making it one of the most innovative passports in the world.
Indonesia
Indonesia is lauded as having some of the world's most beautiful natural landscapes, alongside its nickname "Emerald of the Equator," and its vast array of plant and animal species makes it a top destination for biodiversity. Therefore, it's no surprise that Indonesian passports are contributing to highlighting these unique features.
While most countries showcase famous landmarks, Indonesia emphasizes natural wonders and wildlife such as the crater lakes on Mount Kelimutu and the ferocious Komodo dragon. Additionally, the passport also presents the nation's rich cultural heritage, such as the Javanese wayang puppets.
New Zealand
The New Zealand passport is not only one of the most powerful travel documents in the world, but also one of the most beautifully designed. The black background creates a stunning contrast with the silver lettering and illustrations. Above the New Zealand coat of arms, the words “New Zealand Passport” in English and “Uruwhenua Aotearoa” in Maori are elegantly embossed.
Have you noticed the silver ferns running along the right side of your passport cover? The silver fern, a species of fern found only in New Zealand, is a symbol of strength and resilience. If you're a sports fan, the image of these ferns might be familiar. That's because they feature prominently on the jerseys of New Zealand's national rugby team, who have worn these fern-patterned uniforms as a symbol of national pride since 1888.
Sweden
Even at a glance, the Swedish passport easily gives the impression of being one of the most interesting passports in the world.
Redesigned with a new look in 2012, the Swedish passport features artwork depicting iconic landmarks from various regions of the country. Like the Norwegian and Finnish passports, these illustrations glow brightly under ultraviolet light. Furthermore, the Swedish passport is one of the most powerful travel documents in the world, granting its citizens visa-free entry to 186 countries.
Australia
Images of wildlife can also help tell stories about a nation. Adorned at the heart of Australia's blue passport is the Commonwealth coat of arms, depicting two beloved native animals, the kangaroo and the emu, each supporting a shield representing one of the country's six states.
Inside, the passport depicts Australia's diverse flora and fauna. When you tilt the pages at a certain angle and view them under UV light, the stylized images of kangaroos appear as if they are floating off the page. Australia was the first country in the world to use 3M™ Colour Floating Image technology for its passports.
