Passports of the European Union

The front cover of a contemporary British biometric passport

The European Union does not issue passports, but ordinary passports issued by its 28 member states share a common design.[1] Common features include the burgundy coloured cover, the use of the words "European Union" in the country's official language or languages on the cover, as well as common security features and biometrics.[2]

Some EU member states also issue non-EU passports to certain people who have a nationality which does not render them citizens of the European Union (e.g., British Overseas Territories Citizens except those with a connection to Gibraltar, British Protected Persons and British Subjects).[3]

In addition, the European Commission issues European Union Laissez-Passers to the members and certain civil servants of its institutions.

Use

With a valid passport, EU citizens are entitled to exercise the right of free movement in the European Economic Area (European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and Switzerland, without a visa.

As an alternative to holding a passport, EU citizens can also use a valid national identity card to enter and reside in the EEA (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and Switzerland without a visa.

Strictly speaking, it is not necessary for an EU citizen to possess a valid passport or national identity card to enjoy the right of free movement. In theory, if an EU citizen can prove his/her nationality/identification by any other means (e.g. by presenting an expired passport or national identity card, or a citizenship certificate), he/she must be permitted to enter and reside in the EEA without a visa. An EU citizen who is unable to demonstrate his/her nationality satisfactorily must nonetheless be given 'every reasonable opportunity' to obtain the necessary documents or to have them delivered within a reasonable period of time.[4][5][6]

When entering some EEA countries, EU citizens possessing valid biometric passports are able to use automated gates instead of immigration counters. For example, when entering the United Kingdom, at major airports, adult holders of EU biometric passports can use ePassport gates, whilst all other EU citizens (such as those using a national identity card or a non-biometric passport) must use an immigration counter. Anyone travelling with children must also use an immigration counter.[7]

Common design features

EU member states use a common passport design, burgundy-coloured with the name of the member state, its coat of arms and the words "European Union" in the relevant language(s).

Since the 1980s, European Union member states have started to harmonise the following aspects of the designs of their ordinary passports (but not other types of passports, such as diplomatic, service and emergency passports):[1]

Overall format

Cover

Information on the cover, in this order, in the language(s) of the issuing state:

First page

Information on the first page, in one or more of the languages of the European Union:

Identification page

Information on the (possibly laminated) identification page, in the languages of the issuing state plus English and French, accompanied by numbers that refer to an index that lists the meaning of these fields in all official EU languages:

1. Surname 2. Forename(s)
3. Nationality 4. Date of birth
5. Sex 6. Place of birth
7. Date of issue     8. Date of expiry
9. Authority 10. Signature of holder

Following page

Optional information on the following page:

11. Residence 12. Height
13. Colour of eyes     14. Extension of the passport
15. Name at birth (if now using married name or have legally changed names)

Remaining pages

Overview of passports issued by 28 Member States

Member state Passport cover Biodata page Cost Validity Issuing authority Latest version
Austria Austria

  • €75.90 (aged 12 or over)
  • €30.00 (aged 0–11)
  • Free (aged 0–2, first issue)
  • 10 years (aged 12 or over)
  • 5 years (aged 2–11)
  • 2 years (aged 0–2)
 16 June 2006
Belgium Belgium

  • €71 (adults; 32 pages; in Belgium)
  • €41 (children; 32 pages; in Belgium)
  • €240 (adults; 64 pages; in Belgium)
  • €210 (children; 64 pages; in Belgium)
  • €79 (adults; 32 pages; overseas)
  • €35 (children; 32 pages; overseas)
  • €240 (adults; 64 pages; overseas)
  • €210 (children; 64 pages; overseas)[8]
  • 5 years
  • Communes (in Belgium)
  • Belgian embassies and consulates (overseas)
 1 February 2008
Bulgaria Bulgaria

  • 40BGN / €20 (adults aged 14–58)
  • 20BGN / €10 (under 14)
  • 5 years

Ministry of Interior Affairs

 29 March 2010
Croatia Croatia

  • 390 HRK
  • 10 years (adults aged 21 or over)
  • 5 years (adults aged under 21)
  • Ministry of the Interior Affairs of the Republic of Croatia
 1 July 2009
Cyprus Cyprus
  • €70
  • 10 Years
  • Civil Registry and Migration Department, Ministry of the Interior;
    Embassies and High Commissions of the Republic of Cyprus
 13 December 2010
Czech Republic Czech Republic[9]

  • CZK 600 (adults aged 15 or over)
  • CZK 100 (children under 15)
  • 10 years (adults aged 15 or over)
  • 5 years (children under 15)
  • the town hall of the applicant's place of permanent residence
  • abroad: consulates of the Czech Republic (except honorary consulates)
 1 September 2006
Denmark Denmark

  • DKK 625 (adults aged 18 or over; 32 pages)
  • DKK 140 (children aged under 18; 32 pages)
  • 10 years (adults)
  • 5 years (children under 18)
 1 January 2012
Estonia Estonia

  • €28.76
  • 5 years
 1 June 2014[10]
Finland Finland

  • €48[11]
  • €24 for veterans of Finnish wars
  • €48 temporary passport
  • €65 fast-track passport
  • €83 express passport
  • €80 emergency passport
  • €48 alien passport
 21 August 2012
Åland Islands Åland Islands

  • 5 years
 21 August 2012
France France
  • €86 (adults in metropolitan France and French overseas territory)
  • €89 (adults outside France)
  • €17 (children from 0 to 14, everywhere)
  • €42 (teenager from 15 to 17, everywhere)
  • 10 years (adults)
  • 5 years (children under 18)
  • Préfecture offices (but forms can be addressed to any city hall)
  • French consulates (abroad)
 12 April 2006
Germany Germany

  • €37.50 (applicants under 24; 32 pages)
  • €59 (aged 24 or over; 32 pages)
  • 10 years (aged 24 or over)
  • 6 years (applicants under 24)
 Municipal registration office 11 November 2007
Greece Greece

  • €84.40 (adults)
  • €73.60 (children)
  • 5 years (applicants aged 15 or over)
  • 2 years (children under 15)
 National Passport Centre ("Διεύθυνση Διαβατηρίων/Αρχηγείο Ελληνικής Αστυνομίας") 28 August 2006
Hungary Hungary

  • 7500 HUF (5 years)
  • 14000 HUF (10 years)
  • 5 years
  • 10 years

Registration Office (Nyilvántartó Hivatal)

 1 March 2012
Republic of Ireland Ireland

  • €80 (adults 18 or over)[13]
  • €26.50 (children 3-17)
  • €16 (children under 3)
  • 10 years (adults)
  • 3 or 5 years (children)
 Consular and Passport Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs 3 October 2013
Italy Italy

  • 10 years (adults aged 18 or over)
  • 5 years (applicants aged 3–17)
  • 3 years (children under 3)[15]
 Minister of Foreign Affairs through
  • Local quaestor (in Italy)
  • Consulates and embassies (abroad)[16]
 20 May 2010
Latvia Latvia

  • €28.46 (applicants over 20)
  • €14.23 (pensioners, disabled and aged under 20)[17]
  • 10 years (adults aged 60 or over)
  • 5 years (applicants aged 5–59)
  • 2 years (children under 5)
 29 January 2015[18]
Lithuania Lithuania

  • 150LTL/€48 (adults)
  • 75LTL/€24 (children)
  • 10 years (adults aged 16 or over)
  • 5 years (children aged 5–15)
  • 2 years (children under 5)
 27 January 2011
Luxembourg Luxembourg
  • €30 (5-year passports)
  • €20 (2-year passports)
  • 5 years (applicants aged 4 or over)
  • 2 years (applicants under 4)
 Passport Office, Luxembourg 1 July 2011
Malta Malta 29 September 2008
Netherlands The Netherlands

  • €66,96 (maximum, all ages 34-page passport; individual municipalities determine the rate[19])
  • €84.88 (adults; 34 pages; overseas[20])
  • 10 years (applicants aged 18 and over)[21]
  • 5 years (applicants aged under 18)
  • Gemeente (Municipality)
 9 March 2014
Poland Poland

Application made within Poland:
  • 140 zł (for applicants aged between 13 and 70)
  • 30 zł (for applicants aged under 13)

Application made through a Polish consulate:

  • €106 (applicants aged between 13 and 70)
  • €36 (applicants aged under 13)

In both cases:

  • free for applicants aged 70 and over
  • certain classes of applicants qualify for a 50% discount of a relevant fee
  • 10 years (applicants aged 13 and over)
  • 5 years (applicants aged under 13)
 1 January 2006
Portugal Portugal

  • 5 years (applicants aged 5 or over)
  • 2 years (children under 5)
 25 May 2009
Romania Romania

  • 276 RON / €59 (5-year passports)
  • 116 RON / €25 (1-year passports)
  • 5 years (applicants aged 6 or over)
  • 3 years (applicants under 6)
  • 1-year (temporary passport)
 Ministry of Administration and Interior (General Directorate for Passports) 26 April 2006
Slovakia Slovakia

  • €33/66/99 (16 or older up to 30/10/2 days processing time)
  • €13/26/39 (6-16 year olds up to 30/10/2 days)
  • €8/16/24 (6 or younger up to 30/12/2 days)
  • 50% discount exists for seriously ill applicants; 10% discount exists for applicants whose fingerprints cannot be taken and who obtain a passport valid for 1 year.
  • 10 years (adults aged 16 or over)
  • 5 years (children aged 5–15)
  • 2 years (children under 5)
 15 January 2008
Slovenia Slovenia

  • €42,05 (adults 18 or over)
  • €35,25 (agend 3-17)
  • €31,17 (aged up to 3)[22][23]
  • Ministry of the Interior
 28 August 2006
Spain Spain

  • €26.02
  • 10 years (applicants over 30)
  • 5 years (applicants between 5 and 30)
  • 2 years (applicants under 5)
  • National Police Corps of Spain
 2 January 2015
Sweden Sweden
  • 350 SEK
  • 5 years
  • Swedish Police Authority
 2 January 2012
United Kingdom United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom

  • £72.50 (adults; 32 pages)
  • £85.50 (adults; 48 pages)
  • £46 (children)

Western European Passport Service: Paris Embassy

  • €170 (exc. courier fee) (adults; 32 pages)
  • €205 (exc. courier fee) (adults; 48 pages)
  • €108 (exc. courier fee) (children)
  • 10 years (adults aged 16 or over)
  • 5 years (children under 16)
 5 October 2010
Gibraltar Gibraltar

  • 10 years (adults aged 16 or over)
  • 5 years (children under 16)
 Civil Status and Registration Office, Gibraltar 6 September 2006
Guernsey Guernsey
(Note that only those who have a connection to the United Kingdom (e.g. they have lived in the UK for five years, or born in the UK, or have parents or grandparents born in the UK) are EU citizens.)

  • 10 years (adults aged 16 or over)
  • 5 years (children under 16)
 Passport Office of the Customs and Immmigration Department 25 September 2006
Isle of Man Isle of Man
(Note that only those who have a connection to the United Kingdom (e.g. they have lived in the UK for five years, or born in the UK, or have parents or grandparents born in the UK) are EU citizens.)

  • 10 years (adults aged 16 or over)
  • 5 years (children under 16)
 Chief Secretary's Office of the Isle of Man Government 6 October 2006
Jersey Jersey
(Note that only those who have a connection to the United Kingdom (e.g. they have lived in the UK for five years, or born in the UK, or have parents or grandparents born in the UK) are EU citizens.)

  • 10 years (adults aged 16 or over)
  • 5 years (children under 16)
 Passport Office, Jersey Government 9 October 2006

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Resolution of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Communities, meeting within the Council of 23 June 1981".
  2. ↑ "Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States".
  3. ↑ Non-European lookalike passports, UK Passport office
  4. ↑ Article 6.3.2 of the Practical Handbook for Border Guards (C (2006) 5186)
  5. ↑ Judgement of the European Court of Justice of 17 February 2005, Case C 215/03, Salah Oulane vs. Minister voor Vreemdelingenzaken en Integratie
  6. ↑ UK Border Force Operations Manual: Processing British and EEA Passengers without a valid Passport or Travel Document
  7. ↑ "UK Border Agency: Using e-passport gates". Ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  8. ↑ http://diplomatie.belgium.be/fr/binaries/prijs_Paspoorten_FR_tcm313-122220.pdf
  9. ↑ "Travel documents, website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic". Mvcr.cz. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "Service prices 2014". Poliisi.fi. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  12. ↑ "Passport". Poliisi.fi. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  13. ↑ Department of Foreign Affairs. "Passport Fees - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade". Dfa.ie. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  14. ↑ "Il Rilascio". Poliziadistato.it. Retrieved 2014-08-29.
  15. ↑ "Passaporto per i minori". Poliziadistato.it. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  16. ↑ "Ministero degli Affari Esteri - Documenti di Viaggio - Passaporto". Esteri.it. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  17. ↑ STATE FEES FOR ISSUANCE OF PASSPORT
  18. ↑
  19. ↑ "Tarieven 2013". Bprbzk.nl. 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  20. ↑ "Paspoort en identiteitskaart voor Nederlanders in het buitenland". Denhaag.nl. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  21. ↑ "Paspoort wordt 10 jaar geldig". Rijksoverheid.nl. 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  22. ↑ Izdaja potnega lista
  23. ↑ Izdaja potnega lista za otroka

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to European passports.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for EU citizens travelling within the EU.