The European Union itself does not issue ordinary passports, but ordinary passport booklets issued by its 27 member states share a common format.[1] This common format features a colored cover (for which burgundy is recommended:[1] all countries except Croatia follow this recommendation) emblazoned—in the official language(s) of the issuing country (and sometimes its translation into English and French)—with the title "European Union", followed by the name(s) of the member state, the heraldic "Arms" of the State concerned, the word "PASSPORT", together with the biometric passport symbol at the bottom center of the front cover.[2]
Some EU member states also issue non-EU passports to certain people who have a nationality which does not render them citizens of the European Union (e.g., Danish nationals residing in the Faroe Islands).
In addition, the European Commission issues European Union Laissez-Passers to the members and certain civil servants of its institutions.[3]
- ^ a b "EUR-Lex - 41981X0919 - EN". Official Journal C 241, 19 September 1981, p. 0001–0007; Spanish special edition: Chapter 01, Volume 3, p. 0087; Portuguese special edition, Chapter 01, Volume 3, p. 0087.
- ^ "L_2004385EN.01000101.xml". eur-lex.europa.eu.
- ^ European Council regulations covering the issue of EULF documents, dated 17 December 2013, accessed 11 October 2016.