02 Jul The Passport Was Born as a Safe-Conduct Letter
Although it’s essential for travel today, the passport didn’t always exist as we know it. Its origin dates back to the Middle Ages, when kings issued safe-conduct letters to allow certain travelers to move freely without being harassed by other feudal lords.The word passport comes from the French passe-port, which literally meant “to pass through the port.”
Originally, it wasn’t meant to control who entered a country, but to protect those who were leaving. It wasn’t until the 20th century, after World War I, that passports began to be standardized and used to regulate borders.
Today, some passports hold more power than others: the Japanese and Singaporean ones open the most doors, while others have very limited access. A simple document, but with a much more complex backstory than it seems.
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