The Real Reason Why Passports Only Come in Four Colors

Sadly, you probably won’t find a millennial pink passport any time soon.

The Real Reason Why Passports Only Come in Four Colorsdersue/Shutterstock

Maybe you have the most powerful passport in the world, or perhaps you carry the rarest. No matter the case, your passport will likely be one of four colors: blue, green, red, or black. What gives?

While there are no official rules regarding passport colors, countries do follow a certain set of norms when designing them. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which works to define the principles of air travel, suggests that countries use a specific typeface, type size, and font for official documents like passports. Read up on these very important things you need to know about your passport.

Granted, there are a few compulsory aspects of these international IDs. Passports are required to be made out of a material that bends in order to prevent creases, for instance. They also need to be read by a machine at temperatures ranging from 14 to 122°F, as well as at a relative air humidity ranging from five to 95 percent. Find out what your passport’s color really means.

Despite the existing recommendations for these international documents, “nothing stipulates the cover color,” Anthony Philbin, ICAO’s chief communications officer, told Travel + Leisure. Passport shades aren’t just selected at random, though. Most countries still choose to use simple, dark shades of red, green, and blue. Why? Not only do dark colors look more official, but they can also hide dirt and wear. Next, read about the things airlines don’t want you to know.

[Source: Mental Floss]

Brooke Nelson Alexander
Brooke is a tech and consumer products writer covering the latest in digital trends, product reviews, security and privacy, and other news and features for Reader's Digest. She's a two-time Emmy-nominated reporter with nearly 10 years of publishing experience, and her work has been recognized by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.