Only 3 People in the World Can Travel Without Passports, Who Are They?

December 29, 2024 | 11:08 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In today’s dynamic provision worldwide, individuals are required to bring formal documents, which include a passport and a visa, to travel abroad. However, there are people who can travel without passports, demonstrating their dominance within the global landscape.

As international travel sees drastic increases, every individual needs to adhere to the strict regulation by showing their identification booklets when crossing borders of foreign lands. Even the heads of countries, prime ministers, presidents, and the pope don’t have the capacity to abstain from international authority.

In this article we’ll take a look at a few people who can travel without passports and don’t have to worry about the hassle of going into customs in the airports, as cited from Travel Leisure and Economic Times. 

What is a passport? 

A passport is an official document issued by a national government that verifies the identity of the holder and allows them to travel safely across international borders, as noted by Britannica.

Historically, similar travel documents have existed for centuries, but the widespread use of modern passport identification techniques, such as digital watermarks and embedded microchips, only became common between the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Britannica highlights that passports were initially adopted as a security measure to prevent fraud between nations, which is why many countries now incorporate advanced features like holograms and biometric data storage.

People Who Can Travel Without Passports 

According to Travel Leisure, the Emperor and Empress of Japan, as well as the Monarch of the UK, are the three people who can travel without passports. Read on to discover the reasons behind their freedom for global mobility below.

- Emperor and Empress of Japan

Ranked two across nations, the Japanese passport holders are eligible to grant visa-free access to approximately 193 countries as of 2024. Despite this flexibility, Japan’s reigning monarch and his wife have even more influence in the global landscape that they don’t have to own passports to travel the world. 

Citing News18, the exemption of travel documents for Japanese emperors dated way back to a ministry document issued on May 10, 1971. According to the law, it is deemed highly inappropriate for the Emperor and Empress to undergo immigration or visa procedures when flying abroad. 

As this policy has been enforced since the emperor’s predecessor, Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Empress Michiko, today’s ruler of the Imperial House of Japan, Emperor Naruhito, and Empress Masako don’t hold passports to travel the world. 

Despite the exemption for the Emperor and Empress of Japan, other members of the Imperial family, including the Crown Prince and Princess, still have passports to complete their diplomatic duties. 

- King Charles III - Monarch of the UK 

As the monarch of a giant economy, King Charles II does not have a passport. In accordance with UK government norms, British passports are issued in the monarch's name, which naturally exempts the monarch from requiring one. 

When King Charles III has an international agenda, “His Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State” will issue prerequisite documents offering necessary assistance for the monarch to cross the borders without any obstacles. 

Much like the case of Japan, other members of the British monarchy aren’t granted similar treatment, including Queen Consort Camilla. 

As international travel continues to evolve, this exceptional privilege for people who can travel without passports reflects the longstanding traditions and customs tied to their positions. However, American citizens don’t have to become emperor to enjoy plenty of places to travel without a passport in 2024.

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