Passports

One of the most important documents issued today by any world government is a passport. Passports are issued to the international traveler so that his country of origin may be determined. The criteria of identification are the travelers’ full name. It also states his or her correct date of birth, as supported by an official birth certificate. States the sex of the person holding the passport, and gives his or her place of birth in the country of origin. A passport is for identity purposes only and does not give the international traveler automatic rights to enter any other foreign country. This is why visas are issued. A passport however does give the holder rights to return to his or her passport issuing country. A passport also does not give the holder automatic rights to Consular protection in a foreign country
Travelers must always first and foremost obey the laws of the country they are visiting. Passports usually contain information in at least two languages the first the language of the issuing country the second in English. This is because English is the “lingua franca” of the international community. A passport usually consists of three sections, the first section being information on the issuing country, the second section blank pages for the recording of immigration stamps and visas, the third section important information on the holder including an up to date photograph. Modern passports may also contain a readable biometric chip that also contains information on the holder. Modern passports are very hard but not impossible to forge.
If you should ever lose your passport or have it stolen from you then most countries require you to firstly make an official police report and secondly report to your local consulate or embassy with the police report. Depending on the country only consulates and embassies can issue new passports and often in the case of a lost and stolen passports will only issue you with a temporary “return to country of origin” travel document. This document is not a passport as such and will be surrendered on returning to the issuing country A passport for an international traveler is an important document and care of the passport should be taken at all times.