US Passport Color Meaning [Blue, Black, Gray, and Maroon]

Q: What do the different US passport colors mean?

Blue : The blue passport, known as the Regular or Tourist passport, is for regular US citizens. It’s the most common type and is sometimes used by government employees for no-fee travel. Black : A black passport is a diplomatic passport issued to Foreign Service Officers and other persons with diplomatic or comparable status. It is used by government officials representing their country abroad. Gray : A gray passport is an official passport for non-diplomatic government personnel. Maroon : A maroon passport is issued to government employees who must travel for official business and to military personnel.

Ever noticed the blue cover on US passports and wondered why?

It’s actually called “Federal Blue.”

But—

They also come in black, gray, and maroon. Do these US passport colors mean anything? Yes! We’ll explain everything in this article.

Interested in US passports? Learn more about them:

Why Do US Passport Colors Differ?

The color of a US passport cover is more than just a stylistic choice.

It signifies different types of travel documents issued by the US government. These four colors help distinguish between regular passports and special issuance passports.

Let’s explore their meanings.

US Passport Colors

Four pictures of US passports: blue, maroon, black, and gray.

Blue passport

The blue passport, also known as the regular or Type “P” passport, is the most common US passport.

It has a navy blue cover and is issued in two cases:

Regular fee passport: For all US citizens who need to travel internationally.
Non-fee passport: For specific employees of the Department of Defense, American National Red Cross, and Peace Corps volunteers.

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A passport photo taken with PhotoAiD®, a mobile photo app.

Black passport

Black passports are issued to high-ranking government officials and diplomats traveling on official business.

These passports offer certain privileges and immunities under international law, distinguishing them from regular blue passports.

Maroon passport

Maroon US passports, often mistaken for brown passports (which don’t exist), are called “official passports.”

These are for US government employees who must travel internationally for official purposes.

This includes:

Politicians
FBI agents
Bureaucrats

With approval from the Department of State, immediate family members of these officials may also qualify for a maroon US passport.

Similarly, active-duty military members and their families can get such passports for international travel obligations.

Gray passport

Gray passports, or service passports, are issued to certain government contractors and non-diplomatic personnel on official government business. They offer some privileges but are less potent than diplomatic passports.

Issued by the Special Issuance Agency in Washington, they are free of charge and valid for up to five years.

Interesting Facts about US Passports

Different passport cover colors and their meanings aren’t the only fun facts about US passports.

Here are some other tidbits you might not know:

The current blue (Type “P” passport) wasn’t always the standard. From 1926 to 1941, US passports had red covers, which were then replaced by green.
During the War of Independence (1775-1783), passports were only valid for 3–5 months.
The American passport is one of the most powerful travel documents in the world, granting US passport holders visa-free travel to 116 countries.
Blue is one of the most popular passport colors in the world—it’s used in 84 countries.
The US Department of State is the only issuing authority responsible for reviewing, approving, and denying passport applications.
In 2023, the US Department of State issued 24,021,257 passports, the highest number since 1996.
There are 26 passport agencies and centers across the US that handle passport applications.
In 2023, nearly half of Americans (48%) had a valid passport.

FAQ

What colors do US passport covers have?

US passport covers are blue, black, maroon, and gray. Blue is for regular use. Black diplomatic passports are issued to Foreign Service Officers and other persons with diplomatic or comparable status. Maroon and gray are for special purposes.

What do the different US passport colors mean?

Blue: The blue passport, known as the Regular or Tourist passport, is for regular US citizens. It’s the most common type and is sometimes used by government employees for no-fee travel.
Black: A black passport is a diplomatic passport issued to Foreign Service Officers and other persons with diplomatic or comparable status. It is used by government officials representing their country abroad.
Gray: A gray passport is an official passport for non-diplomatic government personnel.
Maroon: A maroon passport is issued to government employees who must travel for official business and to military personnel.

What’s a red passport in the US?

Red was the cover color of US passports issued from 1926 to 1941. Currently, red passports are no longer issued.

What does "brown passport" mean?

The US doesn’t issue brown passports. However, there are passports with maroon covers—also known as “official passports.” These documents are issued to government employees who must travel for official business and military personnel.

Sources:

https://py.usembassy.gov
https://www.passportindex.org
https://travel.state.gov
https://travel.state.gov
https://diplomacy.state.gov
https://travel.state.gov

Sylwia Green

Sylwia is a skilled writer with a BA in English Studies and an active SPJ member. For nearly three years now, she’s been writing captivating articles for international companies, turning her lifelong passion into a career.

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