Only 500 People on Earth Have This Rarest Passport
- Henley Passport Index
Jakarta – In an increasingly interconnected world, the significance of a passport extends far beyond being a mere travel document. Beyond its role as a gateway to new destinations, a passport symbolizes a citizen's identity and affiliation with a particular nation.
Passport becomes significant for the most people, and carry more influence than others. For example, the Japanese passport, renowned as one of the most powerful global entry tools on Earth.
Holders of Japanese passports can travel to 194 countries worldwide without requiring a visa.
While having the ability to travel to numerous countries is impressive, what might be even more extraordinary is being a bona fide member of the world's most exclusive passport, namely, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
Ilustrasi paspor dan visa
- Pexels/Mariakrey
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta - also known as the Knights of Malta is a sovereign nation, with United Nations observer status and its constitution, but without any land. It issues car license plates - without having any roads to drive them on - and its stamps, currency and passports.Â
The Order of Malta issued the first passports during the 1300s, as its diplomats ventured to foreign states with documents verifying their status as ambassadors.
Post-World War II, the diplomatic passport evolved to incorporate features found in passports from various nations. Presently, there are approximately only 500 diplomatic passports in circulation, making it the rarest passport globally.
The Order's crimson passport, possibly symbolizing the blood of Christ, is exclusively designated for members of the Sovereign Council and leaders of diplomatic missions, along with their families.
It features gold lettering denoting the organization's name in French, "Ordre Souverain Militaire de Malte," accompanied by a crest, NDTV reported.
"The Order grants passports to members of their government for the duration of their mandate," de Petri Testaferrata said.
The passports of Grand Masters are valid for the longest period, spanning a decade, as they are elected for two terms and are required to retire by the age of 85.
