Japan
You wouldn't be the first to wonder why the chrysanthemum, and not the cherry blossom, was the flower chosen to be included on the Japanese passport.
Right in the center of the cover, there is no national emblem, just a yellow flower on a red background. It is explained that chrysanthemum is a symbol of autumn, the harvest season representing prosperity, nobility and pride of the whole country of Japan in general.
Throughout history, the Japanese imperial family has been known as the “Chrysanthemum Throne” with a stylized chrysanthemum as its coat of arms. Thus, the flower continues to represent the Japanese monarchy to this day.
United Kingdom
Since 2021, British citizens have had 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 introduces famous features of the foggy country such as: London Eye, Shakespeare's Globe theater, Houses of Parliament and London Underground subway 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 of the passport opens to a prominent illustration of the Philippine eagle, while the remaining pages feature illustrations of national symbols, cultural landmarks, and the lyrics to Lupang Hinirang, the national anthem of the Philippines.
Furthermore, the new passport design showcases tourist attractions across the different regions of the Philippines. Flipping through the pages of the Philippine passport, you will find breathtaking sights including the Chocolate Hills, Mayon Volcano and Banaue Rice Terraces – each natural wonder offering different reasons to explore the Philippines.
Norway
This is arguably 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, the official Norwegian travel document offers a modern look with a variety of shades: bright red for regular passports, turquoise for diplomatic passports, and white for emergency passports.
Flipping through the pages of a Norwegian passport reveals illustrations depicting sweeping landscapes of fjords, mountains, lakes, forests and rivers. Under ultraviolet light, the passport pages come to life with vivid three-dimensional images of the night sky and sparkling reflections from the Arctic.
“The beautiful landscapes of the country appearing on the passport pages bring a sense of familiarity and pride, and at the same time act as a symbol of the nation,” Neue Design Studio, the designer of the new passport, said on its website.
Finland
A moose striding through the pages of the Finnish passport is one of the unique highlights that has left many people in awe. Designed like a flip book, the burgundy Finnish passport showcases the iconic beauty of Scandinavian design with outstanding thinking and creativity.
The choice of the moose image is also a reasonable decision, especially since 2019, Finland has been named the world's top destination for tourists to visit wildlife. The country is always praised for its beautiful natural landscape, wildlife diversity, environmental sustainability and conservation efforts of the government and community.
However, this design was replaced with images of snowflakes, snowy Lapland landscapes and other winter symbols in a “complete overhaul” of the Finnish passport in January 2017 to mark the 100th anniversary of Finland's founding.
Canada
The cleverly hidden illustrations that only appear in vibrant color under UV light are one reason why the Canadian passport is one of the most admired passports at customs counters.
Dubbed the fourth most powerful passport in the world for its extensive travel freedom, the blue Canadian passport features an embossed Canadian Coat of Arms in both English and French. When you shine a UV light on the inside pages of the Canadian passport, you can see many 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 has the seventh most powerful passport in the world because of the ease of travel afforded to its citizens. The Swiss passport is available in the country's four official languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh (a Romance language spoken in the Swiss canton of Grisons), and of course English.
There’s no denying that the Swiss passport is eye-catching, with its distinctive white cross and bright red cover, embossed with the curvaceous pattern seen on crosses. These bold and simple images help to convey a message: Swiss passport design is as durable and efficient as Swiss watches – where function meets luxury and style.
Belgium
The redesigned Belgian passport, which will be launched in January 2022, features changes that will catch everyone’s eye. While the burgundy cover stays true to tradition with its gilded coat of arms and embossed image of the country, its interior pages offer a more playful and dynamic look.
Previously, the passport pages featured famous landmarks. However, in this new version, they have been replaced with illustrations of characters from famous Belgian comic books - such as Tintin and the Smurfs. It is understandable, because Sweden is known for its attractive comic book background that has captivated millions of readers for decades.
These detailed illustrations even glow brightly under UV light, making it one of the most creative passports in the world.
Indonesia
Indonesia is hailed as having some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world, and its nickname, “The Emerald of the Equator,” is synonymous with a wide variety of flora and fauna, making it a top destination for biodiversity. It’s no surprise, then, that Indonesia’s passport pages are highlighting these features.
While most countries showcase famous landmarks, Indonesia focuses on natural wonders and wildlife such as the crater lakes of Mount Kelimutu and the ferocious Komodo dragon. The passport also showcases the country's rich cultural heritage, such as 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 beautiful in design. The black background creates a beautiful contrast with the silver lettering and illustrations. Above the New Zealand Coat of Arms, the words “Passport New Zealand” in English and “Uruwhenua Aotearoa” in Maori are embossed in a solemn manner.
Have you noticed the silver ferns running along the right side of your passport cover? The silver fern, a fern found only in New Zealand, is a symbol of strength and endurance. If you’re a sports fan, these ferns might look familiar. That’s because they feature prominently on the jerseys of New Zealand’s national rugby players, who have worn them 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 in 2012, the Swedish passport features artwork depicting iconic landmarks from various parts of the country. Like the Norwegian and Finnish passports, the illustrations glow brightly when viewed under ultraviolet light. Additionally, the Swedish passport is one of the most powerful in the world, granting its citizens visa-free access to 186 countries.
Australia
Images of wildlife beauty can also help tell stories about a nation. Adorned at the very center 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 the country’s six states.
Inside, the passport depicts Australia’s diverse flora and fauna. When you tilt the pages and view them under UV light, stylized images of kangaroos appear to float off the page. Australia is the first country in the world to use 3M™ Colour Floating Image technology in its passports.
