Passports may seem like simple travel documents, but they are symbols of power and privilege. Their colors influence how easily someone can cross borders, reflecting global inequality. But beyond just function, their designs tell a deeper story – shaped by political alliances, history, and national identity.

As a maximalist, I’ve always been curious about many little things—why things look the way they do, the hidden meanings behind everyday objects, and the small details that shape the world. And passports? They are one of those little things with a big story behind them. If you hold a passport—especially one from a country with strong global mobility – you carry a privilege that millions of people in the world do not have. So, why do passports only come in four colors? And what do these colors say about history, politics, and identity? Let’s explore.

Why do passports come in only four colors?

Did you know that every country can choose its passport color? Yet, despite this freedom, passports come in only four main colors:

• Blue – The most common, used by 84 countries.
• Red – Second most popular, used by 68 countries.
• Green – Chosen by 40 countries.
• Black – The rarest, only 7 countries use it.

But here’s where it gets more interesting—some countries issue passports in multiple colors.

Take the US as an example. While most Americans carry blue passports, some government employees have black, maroon, or grey ones. But why? This is interesting because there are only four official passport colors, so why does the U.S. have exceptions? The answer is function, not national identity. Each color represents a different type of passport:

• Blue – Standard passport for US citizens.
• Black – For diplomats and high-ranking officials.
• Maroon – For non-diplomatic government employees traveling for work.
• Gray – For contractors and special personnel working abroad.

So even within a single country, passports can come in different colors for different roles.

The Passport Index is a tool that ranks the world’s passports based on their global mobility—essentially, how many countries you can visit visa-free, with visa on arrival, or with a required visa. It’s a simple but powerful way to see how much privilege is attached to a passport, depending on where you were born.

For example, when looking at the Finland passport dashboard, it’s clear that Finnish passport holders enjoy travel freedom. Finland consistently ranks as one of the most powerful passports in the world, allowing entry to nearly 200 destinations without a visa or with a simple visa-on-arrival process. This means minimal restrictions, fewer bureaucratic hurdles, and the ability to move across borders with ease.

History written in passports

Passport colors are not just about function – they tell the story of history, politics, and change. Many countries have switched passport colors over time to reflect independence, alliances, or identity shifts.

A strong passport isn’t just about vacations – it affects education, job opportunities, and even personal safety.

• Former British Colonies & Blue passports – Countries like India, Australia, and South Africa originally had blue passports due to British influence. After independence, many switched colors to take control of their own country.
• Post-Colonial identity shifts – Several African and Caribbean nations changed passport colors to move away from their colonial past.
• The Soviet Union & red passports – During the Soviet era, red passports were the standard. After the USSR collapsed, many newly independent countries abandoned red in favor of blue or green, symbolizing a break from Soviet influence.

Another curiosity: there are 199 different passports, but only 195 recognized countries. How does that work? Some territories and special administrative regions issue their own passports, even though they aren’t fully independent nations.

The answer lies in territories, special administrative regions, and unique political situations that allow certain places to issue their own passports, even though they aren’t fully independent nations.

Few examples

• Hong Kong & Macau – Part of China, but both issue their own passports.
• British Overseas Territories – Places like Bermuda and Gibraltar issue separate passports from the UK.
• Greenland & The Faroe Islands – Technically part of Denmark, but they issue their own passports.

Owning a passport is something many take for granted, but not everyone can get one. Some people are stateless, meaning they don’t belong to any country. Some countries make passports too expensive for the average citizen. Others refuse to issue them for political reasons. A strong passport isn’t just about vacations—it affects education, job opportunities, and even personal safety.

Final Thoughts

The passport you hold determines your level of freedom in the world.

Passports may seem like just another travel necessity, but they carry more than just stamps. They hold stories of power, privilege, and the way nations position themselves in the world. Whether your passport is blue, red, green, or black, it determines more than just where you can go – it reflects history, alliances, and global mobility. And that’s something worth thinking about the next time you flip through its pages at an airport.

For those of us lucky enough to hold a strong passport, travel feels like a choice, a luxury, even an escape. But for millions, crossing a border is a battle, sometimes even impossible. A passport isn’t just a document – it’s a gateway or a locked door.

As I sat on that flight to Split a few years back, sipping sparkling wine, I felt at peace – grateful for being able to explore the world. But not everyone gets that freedom, and not all passports open the same doors. The color of your passport may seem like a small detail, but in reality, it can shape your entire world. And that, to me, is worth writing about.