PASSPORT (Fr. passeport, from pass, r, to pass port, Lat. port us, port, harbor). A written instrument issued by the authority of a government for the identification and of its citizens when traveling abroad. It is first a certificate of the citizenship of the bearer, and, second, a formal permit authorizing him to leave the State of which he is a subject. The of the practice of granting passports grew out the right of nation-, whitli was formerly more frequently exercised than now. to a ithliol:i from foreigners the right of transit through their territory. The formal permission granted to a foreigner by a goo erniliellt to pa.s through its territory was a To a‘oi(1 the incon venience of this requirement. the practice was adopted by which a ..subject of one leaving his eountry for travel in :mother ob tained front his government a certificate of eili zenship which was :iceepted hr the other -toNern Inca as a passport. This is presented to the toreign government as an identifieation of the bearer, who, instead of receiving a passport from the foreign government, is given permission to pass through by the act of an olliver in Nutting a rim' upon the certitMate .1t present 1Zussia. Turkey, Portugal. and (free', are the only European conillrie• where travelers cannot travel freely without passports. thongli some of the Cerman States require certification for the purpose of police protection, where parties desire to reside for a considerable period in tutu- place. fit the United States passports are issued only by the l).partment of State and only to citizens upon application supported by. proof of citizen ship. No distinction is made between native born and naturalized citizens in the granting of passports. The fee is and a passport for II.e head of a family includes the wife and mint r children. In foreign countries they may be ob tained by citizen-. of the United States only hy the chief diplomatic representative or by the consul-general, or, in the absence of both of these officers, by a consul. A fee of $5 is allowed to be charged for each passport granted to a citizen of the United States almond a diplomat is rep resentative. Au application to a diplomatic. of for a passport by a native citizen st Ise accompanied by a written deelaratiOn under oath stating the name, age, and plate of birth of the applicant, supported if by the tin'daN it of a creditable person to NNlioni the applicant is personally knmvia. If the applicant claims to be
a naturalized citizen, lie must prodii,c a copy ..f the decree of the court by which he uralized. In both cases an oath of allegiance is required for transmission to the Ilvita talent ,-f State. Every such passport to be 1ahi.l nanst he renewed either at the Department ,t1 'state or at a legation of the United States abroad at the expiration of two frolti its date. l'a--port are not eTanted to aliens ii1.0 I.a‘e de, fared their intention to become citizens of the I Wised Slates, although they may obtain authentic ite.I cert itica te. of t heir de, la ra t ion of intent ion. w I Min entitle them to a qualified protection cling abroad. Nor are tl ey granted to natural ized citizens who may be inf. reed in in long resi &nee abet ad an-h other eircilinstaitees to have ahalidOill..1 thtir na I Iona lit y. a is that it pests ides the hold. i With authentic proof ttf his national eliaracter and frees hint from invomcnien.es 1thfc.Ii he atizht otherwise experi,nce NOlib• traveling in fort ign lands. If i ssned it is prima fag ie e% 1- deuce of eitizenship. and as such must he r, speettd not only by the administrative oft r-, but the of tile ,government whet-, .• n ay soi, urnitog; lint it fund-dies n) exemption from the jurisdiction of the country in which he may be. It is nothing more than a request to foreign governments to admit the bearer to the enjoyment of the rights and privi leges to which he as citizen of the country issuing the passport may be entitled by treaty or convent ion.
In sonic European States no subject is allowed to depart therefrom without first securing a pass port from his government authorizing him to leave the country. Where this rule prevails the passport is required to be countersigned by the minister or consul of the country which the bearer visits. In time of war passports or safe conducts are frequently granted by military com manders to allow persons to pass through the lines or to insure the safety of officers while in the performance of some duty which takes them beyond the lines. They may also he granted for the passage of goods as well as for individuals. Diplomatic representatives upon departing from a State in which they have been residing usually demand and receive passports to enable them to withdraw in safety.