passaport

A passaport is an official travel document issued by a government that certifies the holder's identity and nationality for international travel. It is used at border controls to prove identity and to facilitate entry into foreign states.

A typical passaport lists the holder's name, date of birth, nationality, sex, place of birth, document number, and dates of issue and expiration. It includes a photograph and a signature. Modern passaports usually contain a machine-readable zone and an embedded electronic chip that stores biometric data such as a digital photo and sometimes fingerprints.

Types include ordinary (regular) passaport, diplomatic passaport, and official or service passaport. Some countries also issue refugee travel documents or emergency travel documents under special circumstances. Validity commonly ranges from five to ten years for adults and shorter for children; renewal is required when the document expires.

Issuance is governed by national law and performed by designated authorities, such as a passport office or ministry of interior or foreign affairs. Applicants typically present proof of citizenship and identity, provide photos, and may need to appear in person or enroll biometrics. Fees and processing times vary.

The passaport serves as proof of identity and nationality for international travel; it enables border crossing and, together with visas, access to many countries. Security features aim to prevent forgery, such as watermarks, holograms, RFID chips, and digital signatures.

Note: the spelling passaport appears in several languages; the widely used English form is passport.