Passport of the European Union Information & Passport of the European Union Links at HealthHaven.com

2008 Dutch passport

A European passport is a passport issued by a member country of the European Union to its citizens. European passports share common design features^[1] such as the burgundy coloured cover, the use of the words "European Union" (before 1997: "European Community") in 23 of the EU official languages on the first page, as well as common security features and biometrics.^[2] Some EU countries also issue non-European passports to people whose citizenship of that country does not make them citizens of the European Union (e.g., British Overseas Territories citizens, British National (Overseas)).^[3]

[edit] Common design features

2008 Luxembourg passport

Since 1980s, the European Union member states have started to harmonise the following aspects of the designs of their passports:^[1]

[edit] Overall format

Paper size B7 (ISO/IEC 7810 ID-3, 88 mm × 125 mm)
32 pages (this number is given on the bottom of the last page)
Colour of cover: burgundy red

[edit] Cover page

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

The words "European Union - EU" (before 1997: "European Community")
Name of the issuing state (similar typeface as "European Union")
Emblem of the state
The word "Passport"

[edit] First page

Information on the first page, in some of the official languages of the European Union:

The words "European Union"
Name of the issuing state (similar typeface to that of "European Union")
The word "Passport"
Serial number (may also be repeated on the other pages)

[edit] 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

[edit] Following page

Optional information on the following page (not available on all EU passports):

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)

[edit] Remaining pages

The following page is reserved for:
- Details concerning the spouse of the holder of the passport (where a family passport is issued)
- Details concerning children accompanying the holder (name, first name, date of birth, sex)
- Photographs of spouse and children
The following page is reserved for use by the issuing authorities
The following page carries the index that translates the field numbers into the official languages of the EU
The following pages are reserved for visa
The inside back cover is reserved for additional information or recommendations by the issuing state in its own official language(s)

[edit] Visa-free travel

Although member states issue their own passports, the EU countries in the Schengen area have a common visa policy. The EU is also working to achieve visa mutuality, respective to all member states. For example, today all EU passport holders are allowed to visit Mexico under the same conditions.

It is a political goal of the European Union to achieve freedom from visa requirements for citizens of the European Union at least in such countries the citizens of which may enter the Schengen area without visa. To this end, the European Commission negotiates with third-countries, the citizens of which do not require visas to enter the Schengen area for short-term stays, about the abolishment of visa requirements which exist for at least some EU member states. The European Commission involves the members state concerned into the negotiations, and has to frequently report on the mutuality situation to the European Parliament and the Council.^[4] The Commission may recommend the temporary restoration of the visa requirement for nationals of the third country in question.

The European Commission has dealt with the question of mutuality of the abolishment of visa requirements towards third countries on the highest political level. Currently there are three countries with which mutuality has yet to be achieved : Brazil, Canada and the United States ^[5] With respect to the U.S. it suggests to examine the effects of new legislation enacted there, but reserves itself “the right to propose retaliatory measures”.^[6]

All European Union citizens may visit the following countries without previous visa arrangements:

[edit] Africa

[edit] Americas

[edit] Asia

[edit] Europe

European Union unlimited access
Iceland unlimited access
Liechtenstein unlimited access
Norway unlimited access
Switzerland unlimited access
Albania 90 days
Andorra 90 days
Bosnia and Herzegovina 90 days
Croatia 90 days
Faroe Islands 90 days
Guernsey unlimited access
Isle of Man unlimited access
Jersey unlimited access
Kosovo 90 days
Macedonia 90 days
Moldova 90 days
Monaco 90 days
Montenegro 90 days
San Marino 90 days
Serbia 90 days
Turkey 90 days
Ukraine 90 days
Vatican City 90 days

[edit] Oceania

Australia (eVisitor required)
Cook Islands
Fiji
French Polynesia
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
New Caledonia
Niue
New Zealand 90 days or 6 Months for British Passport holders
Palau
Samoa
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Wallis and Futuna

[edit] Gallery of EU passports

Austrian passport	Belgian passport (Dutch-French-German version)	Bulgarian passport (pre-EU cover)	British passport
Cyprus passport (pre-EU cover)	Czech passport	Danish passport	Dutch passport
Estonian passport	Finnish passport	French passport	German passport
Greek passport	Hungarian passport	Irish passport	Italian passport
Latvian passport	Lithuanian passport	Luxembourg passport	Maltese passport
Portuguese passport	Polish passport	Romanian passport (pre-EU cover)	Slovak passport
Slovenian passport (Slovenian-Italian version)	Spanish passport	Gibraltar passport