Passport colors have no international standard, so each country picks its own, and most covers are blue, red, green or black. A regular US passport is blue, while US diplomatic passports are black and official passports are maroon or brown depending on the source.
People search passport colors because they notice that the covers they see in a queue or on a trip do not match. The short answer is that the color does not change what a passport can do, but it often reflects a country’s history, region, religion or political groups. This guide explains the four main passport colors and what they are linked to, why the US passport is blue, what the other US passport colors mean, how the US cover color changed over time, whether color affects visa-free travel, and which mistakes people make when they read too much into a cover. The facts come from a Kayak article published on 20 January 2026, a PhotoAid article published on 11 June 2024 and last updated on 8 March 2025, a Your Mileage May Vary article published on 27 June 2026 and an Immihelp guide published on 1 September 2021 and updated on 6 December 2021. All are secondary sources, not the State Department, and they disagree on a few points, such as the color of US official passports and the year the blue cover began, which we flag. For the US document itself, start with our US passport guide.
What Do Passport Colors Mean?
There is no international rule. Immihelp and Your Mileage May Vary both say no international body or agreement sets passport colors. Each country chooses its own, often based on geography, culture, religion or politics.
The table summarizes the four main colors and what the sources link them to.
Kayak counts 84 blue, 68 red, 40 green and 7 black passports. Immihelp lists about 68 red, about 40 green, more than 70 blue and about 10 black. The counts differ a little, so treat them as approximate. Our world passport ranking guide explains how passports are compared for travel access, which has nothing to do with cover color.
Why Is the US Passport Blue?
Kayak says the blue is believed to match the American flag. PhotoAid does not explain why blue was chosen.
Kayak adds that blue is linked to the “new world” in general. The reason the US picked blue is therefore partly a belief and not a documented decision in our sources, so treat the flag explanation as likely and not confirmed. The US cover color changed several times, as the next section shows. PhotoAid calls the standard blue book “Federal Blue” and says it is the most common type, also called the regular or Type P passport, which any American citizen can get for international travel. For how to get one, see our passport application guide.
How Did the US Passport Color Change Over Time?
The cover was red, then green, then blue, with a short green period in the 1990s. The sources agree on the pattern but not on every date.
According to the sources:
- 1780 to 1917: large paper documents with no cover, per Your Mileage May Vary.
- After World War I: smaller folded passports on brown cloth, with a green hard cover added in 1921, per Your Mileage May Vary.
- 1926 to 1941: red, per PhotoAid and Your Mileage May Vary.
- 1941 to the 1970s: green. Your Mileage May Vary says 1941 to 1976, and Immihelp says 1941 to 1979.
- Blue: Kayak says it became blue for the 1970 Bicentennial, while Your Mileage May Vary says 1975 and Immihelp gives both 1976 and 1979 in different sections.
- April 1993 to March 1994: green again to honor Benjamin Franklin, per Your Mileage May Vary. Kayak says the cover briefly returned to green in 1993 and went back to blue in 1994.
The blue start date is the main conflict, with the dates running from 1970 to 1979 across the sources. Check the State Department if you need a precise year. Our passport book dimensions guide covers other physical details of the book.
What Are the Other US Passport Colors?
Black for diplomats, maroon or brown for official travel, gray for some contractors, and a lighter green for refugee travel documents. The sources disagree on maroon versus brown.
Kayak and PhotoAid say official passports are maroon, issued to government officers and employees on official business. Your Mileage May Vary and Immihelp say brown for government employees, contractors and military personnel on official travel. Both groups agree that black is for diplomats and that gray is for service contractors. PhotoAid says gray passports are free, issued by the Special Issuance Agency in Washington, and valid for up to five years. Kayak says special-issue passports do not require a fee, are valid for five years and are limited to official or diplomatic travel, so personal trips require a regular passport. Your Mileage May Vary adds light green for refugee travel documents, which do not indicate citizenship, and Immihelp says green for permanent residents or refugee travel documents. Because the green description differs, do not assume a green document is a US passport.
Who Gets a Black or Maroon US Passport?
Black goes to high-ranking officials and diplomats, and maroon or brown to government employees on official business. PhotoAid says diplomatic passports carry privileges and immunities under international law.
PhotoAid says official passports are for politicians, FBI agents and other government employees who travel abroad for official purposes, and that with State Department approval, immediate family members may qualify. It says active-duty military members and their families can also receive them. The Kayak article says a no-fee blue version is provided to American Red Cross, Peace Corps and Department of Defense members, and PhotoAid says a no-fee blue version exists for certain Defense Department employees, Red Cross staff and Peace Corps volunteers. A regular citizen cannot choose one of these colors. If you want a personal trip, you need a regular blue passport. Our difference in visa and passport guide explains why a passport is not a visa, whatever its color.
Which Regions Use Which Colors?
Many regions share a color, but the pattern has exceptions. Kayak and Your Mileage May Vary describe the main groups.
According to the sources:
- Europe: Kayak says all EU countries use burgundy, while Immihelp says EU members except Croatia use deep red or maroon, which is another conflict between sources.
- Americas: Kayak says most of the Americas use blue, and Your Mileage May Vary lists the Caribbean Community and Mercosur members such as Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.
- Andean countries: Your Mileage May Vary says Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru use burgundy or red.
- Islamic-majority countries: Kayak and Your Mileage May Vary say many use green, for example Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, because green is significant in Islam.
- West Africa: Your Mileage May Vary says several ECOWAS states use green.
- Black: Your Mileage May Vary lists several African countries, such as Angola and Botswana, and New Zealand.
These are patterns and not rules, so a country in a group can still choose another color.
Are There Exceptions to the Four Colors?
Yes. Some countries break the pattern for their own reasons. The sources give several examples.
Kayak says Mexico, Vatican City and Taiwan use green for non-religious reasons, and that New Zealand uses black because black is its national color. Your Mileage May Vary adds that Singapore uses red, mirroring its flag, and that the UK went from blue to red and back to blue after Brexit, while Kayak says the UK switched to blue after leaving the EU. Immihelp says South Korea uses dark green. These examples show that passport colors are choices made by each government and can change when politics change. A change in color does not change who may hold the passport or where it is accepted.
Does Passport Color Affect Visa-Free Travel?
No. Kayak’s FAQ says passport color has no effect on visa-free access or a passport’s power. What counts is the issuing country and its agreements.
Passport rankings depend on diplomatic ties and visa rules, not on the cover. Immihelp mentions Japan’s dark red passport as the most powerful, but that reflects Japan’s travel access and not the color. A blue passport from one country may allow visa-free entry to many places, while a blue passport from another may not. If you are planning a trip, check the destination’s entry rules, as our passport 6 month rule guide explains for validity. Do not pay for a cover or service that promises “a better color.”
Can You Change the Color of Your Passport?
No. You cannot choose a cover color, because the issuing government decides. A regular citizen gets the standard blue book.
Your Mileage May Vary notes that in 2018 India briefly considered orange covers for certain passport holders but withdrew the proposal, which shows how rarely countries change colors. If your cover is damaged, discolored or peeling, that is a wear problem and not a new color, and our what is considered a damaged passport guide explains when to replace it. If your name or details change, our passport name change guide explains the forms.
What About the Passport Card?
Our sources do not cover the passport card color. PhotoAid links to a separate comparison article for the card and does not discuss it.
A passport card is a different document from the passport book, and our passport card vs book guide explains where each works. Do not assume a card follows the same color code as the book.
How Do You Spot a Passport Scam?
No service sells a “diplomatic” or “official” passport to the public. Be careful with offers.
Be careful when a website or agent:
- Sells a black or maroon passport to a private person.
- Promises a “premium color” cover for a fee.
- Offers a passport from a country with no residency or process.
- Asks for payment to a personal account.
- Asks for your passport number on a non-government page.
Use travel.state.gov and the official sites of other countries.
What Mistakes Cause Problems?
Reading too much into a cover color and trusting old dates cause most mistakes. Check each point first.
- Assuming color decides visa-free access.
- Assuming a green document is a regular US passport.
- Mixing up maroon and brown official passports.
- Trusting a single date for when US passports turned blue.
- Using a diplomatic or official passport for a personal trip.
- Buying a cover or a service because of its color.
- Assuming a passport card has the same color code.
- Leaving a damaged cover unreplaced.
When unsure, check the State Department.
FAQs
What do passport colors mean?
There is no international rule. Colors often reflect region, history, religion or politics.
Why is the US passport blue?
Kayak says it is believed to match the American flag. PhotoAid does not explain the reason.
What color is a US diplomatic passport?
Black, according to all four sources.
Does passport color affect visa-free travel?
No. Kayak says color has no effect on visa-free access or power.
What color is a US official passport?
Maroon per two sources, brown per two others. Check the State Department.
Can I choose my passport color?
No. The government decides, and regular citizens get the standard blue book.
Conclusion
Passport colors are a country’s choice, with blue, red, green and black the main groups and no international rule behind them. The US passport is blue, diplomatic passports are black, and official passports are maroon or brown depending on the source. The color does not change visa-free access, the history of the US cover shows dates that differ by source, and you cannot pick your own color. Use the State Department for exact details and keep your regular passport valid.
