British passports come in a standard dark blue color. This has been the case for decades, with the dark blue passport being an iconic symbol of British nationality and travel.
History of the British Passport Color
British passports used to come in a variety of different colors earlier in the 20th century. These included red, green, and even black passports at different points in time. However, in 1921 it was decided to standardize on a single color – dark blue.
The reasoning behind choosing dark blue was that it was a color associated with the country and seen as being quintessentially British. It was felt that the dark blue had a touch of class and sophistication about it. So from 1921 onwards, British passports have utilized the iconic dark blue color.
Reasons for the Consistent Blue Color
There are several reasons why the dark blue color has been retained for British passports over the decades:
- Branding and Recognition – The consistent blue color helps with branding and immediate recognition of British passports around the world.
- National Pride – The dark blue is seen as a patriotic national color and a badge of Britishness that inspires pride.
- Security – The singular consistent color makes it easier to recognize legitimate passports and forge fakes.
- Tradition – The blue passport is considered traditional and quintessentially British after decades of use.
So even with periodic passport design updates, the core blue color has remained in place throughout the years.
Recent Changes to the British Passport
The latest version of the British passport was rolled out in October 2021. This new iteration made the following changes:
- The front cover now features the national floral emblems of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales embossed in gold foil.
- The back cover has been updated to a new colorful image with the British national flowers.
- The pages now feature additional security features such an embedded photo and special watermarks.
However, despite these design refreshments, the core dark blue color remains unchanged and as iconic as ever.
The Significance of the Blue Passport
The dark blue passport is a globally recognized symbol of British citizenship that carries important meaning for many citizens. Reasons it holds significance include:
- National Pride – It is a source of patriotism and national identity.
- Access and Opportunity – It allows travel to numerous destinations around the world.
- Identity – It is a validation of a person’s status as a British citizen.
- Security – It provides protection and assistance through British consulates when abroad.
The iconic blue passport therefore has deep personal meaning for British citizens in addition to its official functions.
British Passport vs. European Union Passport
British passports differ from European Union passports in a few key ways:
| British Passport | European Union Passport |
|---|---|
| Dark blue cover | Uniform burgundy red cover |
| Features British national symbols | Features EU symbols |
| Issued by UK government | Issued by member state government |
The return to the iconic blue passport was seen as symbolic of Brexit and Britain’s regained independence from the EU by some.
Conclusion
In summary, British passports have used the same dark blue color for over a century at this point. The dark blue is considered a patriotic national color and an iconic symbol of British identity. Despite periodic design changes, the blue coloring has remained in place due to tradition, security, branding, and national pride. The significance of the blue passport runs deep for British citizens both practically and symbolically.