Only 500 copies: this is the rarest passport in the world

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

The Swiss passport is one of the most attractive passports in the world. You can travel around 121 countries without a visa. Red and bright, it is highly sought after by many people. The rarest passport in the world looks a lot like ours. The biggest difference is probably the number. There are only 500 copies of the Sovereign Order of Malta passports in circulation.

Sovereign Order of Malta

A Catholic order, a humanitarian aid organization, an entire nation. The Sovereign Order of Malta in Malta has a history of 1000 years. Around 1099, the so-called Knights of Malta received the Spanish archipelago in Jerusalem as a gift from the Spanish king. But Napoleon Bonaparte expelled the Knights from the archipelago in 1798, after which the Knights spread across the globe. This remains the case today, the order’s president told CNN. Only 100 of the 13,500 family members still live on the island. The head office is now in Rome.

From diplomatic to passport

The first passes were created in the 13th century. They were intended as diplomatic passports and were given to those who had to travel to other countries as diplomats and ambassadors for the order. Over time, it changed from a diplomatic passport to a simple passport.

The passport is crimson in color with a golden coat of arms on the cover. Next to it is an inscription with the name of the organization “Ordre Souverain Militaire de Malte”. The Order issues passports to people who hold public office in the Order during their term of office.

Source: Blick