A passport is a travel document issued by the home country of a traveler that serves as an international ID in addition to allowing the bearer to cross international borders. All international travelers carry passports from their country of origin, and guard them carefully. Passport are often more coveted by pickpockets than cash, so a savvy traveler will keep his passport close at hand at all times.

A passport contains a traveler's name, address, country of origin, and vital statistics such as height, weight, and hair/eye color. It also contains several blank pages on which entries are noted with stamps from the country of entry. A photo of the owner is also included on a passport, and strict standards apply to these photographs to prevent abuse.

Applying for Your Passport

Passports are granted by a country's department of state, because they are essentially part of a nation's security. The passport application process takes as long as it does to ensure that all applicants are in fact citizens. This is an international responsibility, for the system of passports and visas is meant to keep spies, terrorists, and carpetbaggers out. Any nation that regularly fails to screen for such characters in the passport process may be subject to harsher travel regulations.

In order to apply for a passport, you need to show proof of citizenship (with a document such as a birth certificate), current ID (a driver's license or equivalent), and passport photos. All of these are checked to make sure that a passport is being properly issued. It is against the law to falsely apply for a passport or other ID, and if you are caught applying for a passport with false identification you can face jail or fines.