Passports Through Time: From ‘Safe-Conduct Letters’ to Digital Documents

Everyone loves to travel abroad to discover new countries, new cultures and new languages. Traveling is always fun and never fails to broaden your horizons. These days it’s virtually impossible to go anywhere without a valid passport, the most modern international identification that allows you to cross the borders of all nations. But do we ever stop to wonder where passports actually originated? When did the need for international documentation arise and who brought it all to fruition?

The Intriguing History of Passports Uncovered

Passports certainly sound like a modern, 20th century invention - and they certainly are. But the origin of the passport actually reaches far back in time. The ancient origins of passports can be traced back to several civilizations where various forms of travel documents or ‘safe-conduct letters’ were used. These early documents served similar purposes to modern passports, such as ensuring the safety and protection of travelers in foreign lands.

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In ancient Rome, officials issued documents known as tesserae hospitales and tesserae hospitalitatis to foreign diplomats and messengers. These documents provided safe passage and protection while traveling through Roman territories. They were typically written in Latin and carried the seal of the issuing authority. While not exactly the same as modern passports, these tesserae served a similar function in allowing individuals to travel safely. In the early history of Rome, outsiders could often enter the city only if they possessed such a document.

Another early historic mention of a travel document can actually be found in the Hebrew Bible. In the chapter of Nehemiah, dating to around 450 BC, we can read that one of the officials of King Artaxerxes I of Persia, called Nehemiah, asked the king's permission to travel to Judea. As a result, the king provided him with a letter “to the governors beyond the river.” This letter allowed safe passage as the man traveled through their lands.

During the Middle Ages, feudal lords, monarchs and city-states in Europe issued various forms of safe-conduct letters or “letters of protection.” These documents were often written in Latin and provided travelers with written guarantees of safe passage through different territories. They were especially important for merchants, diplomats and pilgrims, as they protected them from being detained, robbed or harmed during their journeys.

In Europe, the concept of safe conduct evolved, with various rulers issuing letters of protection to foreign visitors. These documents played a crucial role in safeguarding travelers during a tumultuous era marked by frequent incidents of robbery and warfare, preventing them from being detained or harmed.

Secretarial letter of safe conduct, the precursor to the passport, for the merchant and diplomat Anselm Adornes (1424-83) for a Burgundian embassy to Persia, issued in the name of Casimir IV Jagiellon, King of Poland. (Public domain)

Medieval Safe-Conduct Letters Evolved into Passports

Even the medieval form of the passport had an “international” aspect to it. Many of these medieval travel documents were written in Latin, which was the common language for official and diplomatic correspondence during the Middle Ages. The use of Latin allowed these documents to be understood by officials in different regions and nations across Europe.

The content of these medieval travel documents typically included the name and identity of the traveler, the purpose of their journey, the destination or route of travel, a request for safe passage and protection, and the seal or signature of the issuing authority. It's nevertheless important to note that while medieval safe-conduct letters served similar purposes to modern passports in terms of facilitating safe travel and protecting individuals, they lacked the standardized format, security features and international recognition that modern passports enjoy today.

The practice of issuing travel documents during the medieval period varied by region and over time. Different territories and rulers had their own customs and procedures for issuing safe-conduct letters. Safe-conduct letters were especially important for pilgrims traveling to religious sites, such as Jerusalem or Santiago de Compostela, the famous shrine on the Way of St. James. These documents ensured that pilgrims could pass through various territories without fear of harm.

As international travel and trade expanded, there was a growing need for standardized travel documents that could be recognized and accepted internationally. The development of medieval safe-conduct documents into modern passports was a gradual process that involved the standardization of document formats, the introduction of security measures and international agreements to ensure the widespread recognition of these documents.

Medieval safe-conduct letters were especially important for pilgrims travelling to religious sites and needing safe passage. (Archivist / Adobe Stock)

Historic Foundations for Modern Passports

The 18th century marked a significant turning point in the history of passports, as the concept of the passport as an official travel document began to take shape. During this period, several important developments occurred that laid the foundation for the modern passport system. The term “passport” itself can be traced back to this period. It is derived from the French phrase passe port, which means “to pass through a port.” Initially, passports were associated with the idea of granting safe passage through ports and harbors.

Passports in the 18th century primarily served diplomatic and military purposes. Diplomats and military officials often used them when traveling to foreign countries to establish their identities and privileges, and during the 18th century, European nations began to issue standardized documents to their citizens traveling abroad.

These early passports were often handwritten and contained information about the traveler, their nationality and their purpose for travel. They were issued by various authorities, including monarchs, governments and local officials, resulting in a lack of uniformity in their design and format.

While passports were initially associated with diplomats and government officials, they gradually became more widely used by other groups, such as merchants and scholars, who required safe passage through foreign territories for trade, exploration and academic pursuits. Also, the use of passports around this time spread across the oceans and reached the west for the first time. The United States, newly formed after the Revolutionary Wars, were quick to embrace the concept as a newly formed nation.

Entering the Modern Era of the Passport

The American Revolution played a significant role in the history of passports, as it marked a period of transition and change in the issuance and use of travel documents in the newly formed United States. Before the American Revolution, British colonial subjects living in North America did not possess passports as we understand them today. However, they often relied on various forms of documentation to prove their identity and purpose when traveling.

These documents were typically issued by colonial authorities and varied in form and content. As tensions between the American colonies and the British government escalated in the years leading up to the American Revolution, it became increasingly important for American colonists to establish their identities and protect their interests, especially when traveling abroad. This was particularly important for merchants and maritime travelers.

The Continental Congress recognized the need for official travel documents; as a result, it began issuing passports to American citizens during the Revolutionary War. These early American passports were often handwritten and contained information about the bearer, their occupation and their destination.

American passports during this period were primarily used by diplomats, couriers and private individuals traveling abroad on behalf of the revolutionary cause. Diplomats and representatives of the Continental Congress, such as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Jay, relied on passports when negotiating with foreign governments, including France and the Netherlands, to secure support for the American cause.

European nations, particularly those sympathetic to the American cause, recognized American passports and treated their bearers as official representatives of the United States. This recognition was a crucial step in establishing the legitimacy of the new nation on the international stage. It was also a huge milestone for the acceptance of the passport as a viable means of international documentation across the world.

In the modern world, having a passport is a prerequisite for international travel. (sebra / Adobe Stock)

Passing Through the Port in the 21st Century

In the 19th century, the passport became more common. After the Napoleonic Wars, at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, diplomatic and consular privileges were established and they provided guidelines for the issuance and recognition of passports.

Passport formats became more standardized during the 19th century, with printed documents replacing handwritten ones. These passports typically included the bearer's name, physical description, occupation, nationality and other identifying information. Governments began to use specific passport designs and watermarks to deter forgery.

In Britain, in 1855, passports became a standardized document issued solely to British nationals. They were a simple single-sheet hand-drafted paper document. It was one of the first forms of the passport as we know and use today. Afterwards, in the latter half of the 19th century, some countries began to include photographs of the passport holder in their travel documents. These photographs added an extra layer of security and helped prevent identity fraud.

Alongside passports, visa systems began to develop during the 19th century. Visas were issued by foreign governments to allow entry into their territories. The concept of visas worked in conjunction with passports to regulate the movement of foreign nationals. As European powers expanded their empires during the 19th century, the need for travel documents increased. European citizens traveling to distant colonies often required passports and visas.

The Impact of the First World War on Passport History

As the global nations descended into all out Great War, the world was entering a new chapter - through the crucible of bloodshed. After the First World War, the need for passports and official documentation for every individual became a necessity. During the war, passports were used for military service and to restrict the movements of enemy nationals. And after the war, the world was still reeling from the devastation and it was hard to trust other nations. The League of Nations and later the United Nations played a role in standardizing passport formats and travel regulations to promote international cooperation.

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1914 Turkish Ottoman passport issued at Jaffa. Public Domain

After the Second World War, the passport became a modern document, much like the ones we use today. Standards were established for machine-readable passports, which significantly improved security and streamlined immigration processes. In the post-war years, during the Cold War, passports became tools of ideological struggle. The Eastern Bloc countries issued special travel documents for their citizens that were often highly restricted and controlled. For some, the passport had become a means to control the populace and their movements.

Others, however, recognized the passport as a way for everyone to travel freely to other, friendly nations of the world. In 1985, the Schengen Agreement was signed. It allowed for passport-free travel among many European countries. Of course, with all the modern technologies of the 21st century, we now have advanced digital passports with biometric chips embedded within them. They contain personal data and facial recognition information, allowing for greater security. Together with borders, the importance of safety is at an all-time high, and passports have been evolved into their best form.

The history of the passport is a testament to the changing nature of international relations, security concerns and the facilitation of global travel. From ancient safe-conduct letters to modern biometric passports, this document has evolved to serve diverse purposes in our interconnected world. Today, passports have evolved into an indispensable tool for ensuring personal identification during travel and for many it is inconceivable to travel without one.

Top image: The 1927 passport of Isabel Ingram (Ken Mayer / Flickr)

By Aleksa Vučković