Passport

:This article is about the international travel document. For Microsoft Corporation's "universal login" service, see Microsoft Passport Network.

Related Topics:
Microsoft Corporation - Microsoft Passport Network

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A passport is a formal identity document or certification issued by a national government that identifies the holder as a national of a particular state, and requests permission, in the name of the sovereign or government of the issuing country, for the bearer to be permitted to enter and pass through other countries. Passports are connected with the right of legal protection abroad and the right to enter one's country of nationality. Passports usually contain the holder's photograph, signature, date of birth, nationality, and sometimes other means of individual identification. Many countries are in the process of developing biometric properties for their passports in order to further confirm that the person presenting the passport is the legitimate holder.

Related Topics:
Identity document - National - State - Photograph - Signature - Biometric

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A passport is usually necessary for international travel, as it normally needs to be shown at a country's border, although there exist agreements whereby the citizens of some countries can enter some other countries with other identity documents. It may be stamped or sealed with visas issued by the host country authorising entry.

Related Topics:
Travel - Border - Visas

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Some governments try to control the movements of their own and other citizens by issuing so-called internal passports. For instance, in the Soviet Union, all citizens were issued propiska to control their movement around the country. This system has been partly retained in Russia.

Related Topics:
Internal passport - Soviet Union - Propiska - Russia

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As identifying documents, passports are frequent subjects of theft and forgery. See also micronations.

Related Topics:
Theft - Forgery - Micronations

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