Fantasy and Camouflage Passports
There are currently around 180 fantasy passports, camouflage passports, and documents of territories that are not internationally recognized. Migrants increasingly used such documents to attempt to enter the EU countries that have reported them to a centralized hub.
The United Nations currently has 193 member states. Does it mean there are 193 different passports? No, because there are another 54 countries or territories that presently are not in the United Nations. That gives a total of 247 “states.” So there are 247 different passports in the world? Again – NO! Confusing? YES! Within these 247 states are so-called “Dependencies.”
Examples: French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic, and its citizens do have a French passport. The Cayman Islands are a British territory, but the Britons issue a British Passport – Cayman Islands! Why, e.g., Yugoslavia or East Germany is not listed in “B. Camouflage passports” is not clear to me.
There are less than 247 passports but more than 193 internationally recognized passports worldwide. If we also consider the passport types (e.g., Alien, Stateless, Temporary, Emergency…), we will come to an estimated 800 passport types worldwide. Finally, add to this number the “old passports of States no longer in existence” then a passport collector can probably collect an estimated amount of 825 “modern” passports and passport types.
Here is the EU list (15-01-2022) for your info.
FANTASY AND CAMOUFLAGE PASSPORTS
How do I buy these camouflage passports
Sometimes you find them on eBay.
Gentlemen,
My daughter’s partner claims he belongs to the Knights of Malta Foundation and, as an ex-diplomat, that he is bearer of a passport recognized by all member states registered by the UNO under accreditation UNO N° 31638, confirmed and recorded April 22, 1976, by Samuel R; Rosenberg of the Supreme Court of the United States. I discovered there never was any Judge of that name at that Supreme Court, and do believe that the whole issue of his so-called diplomatic passport is bogus or gross fraud. Uses this so-called credentials to attract people into bizarre (a.o: Gemcoins) or risky investment schemes. What about that passport?.. Thanking you in advance for your kindness and information.
Hello Christian,
I fully understand your “concern” and indeed someone need to be careful as there are so many bogus documents out there in relation to the ORDER OF MALTA or more correctly Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM). The Order retains sovereignty under international law, including United Nations permanent observer status, issuing its own passports, currency and postage stamps with the Maltese cross insignia. The order’s military corps, three brigades, are stationed throughout Italy, liaisoned with the Italian Armed Forces. (I guess you already could research this by yourself). However you mention he belongs to ” Knights of Malta Foundation” and I strongly believe that is such a bogus document then. I attached to covers of the new and old Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) to my private message to you and ONLY these are proof of “the real order” anything else is bogus! There is a Black version too which is not diplomatic but a service passport. Hope this helps. Cheers Tom
Nice Tom!
But to a collector these type of passports can be a collection criteria… I only keep a few samples of these type of passports related to the Netherlands.
And the number of countries etc recognized which issue passports: refers to current and still recognized only. The number increases like crazy when passports of countries, states and other passport issueing bodies are added to the list that no longer exist.
Article updated as follows:
Example(s):
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic and their citizens do have a French passport. The Cayman Islands are British territory but the Britons issuing a British Passport – Cayman Islands! Why e.g. Yugoslavia or East Germany is not listed in “B. Camouflage passports” is not clear for me. Also the INTERPOL passport is only recognized today by almost “Third World Countries”. It’s not recognized by EU (Schengen States).
So there are less than 247 passports but more than 193 international recognized passports world wide and if we consider also the passport types (e.g. Alien, Stateless, Temporary, Emergency…) then we will come to a estimated number of 800 passport types world wide. Finally add to this number the “old passports of States no longer in existence” then a passport collector can probably collect a estimated amount of 825 “modern” passports and passport types.