Traveling abroad? Then you should go and ready your suitcase! You’ve got your clothes, your toiletries, your plane tickets. What else do you need? Of course, you mustn’t forget your passport!

A passport is a travel document issued by the holder’s national government identifying him or her as a citizen of the issuing state, and requesting that he or she be permitted to enter, pass or stay in other countries.

Your passport serves as your ticket to other nations. Without this very important document, you’ll be denied the right to enter other countries. For any eager traveler, whether an excited tourist or a busy businessman, having this piece of paper with you is always a must.

Many people think that there’s only one type of passport. On the contrary, there are several kinds of passports to suit an individual’s travel status.

Here are the top ten kinds of passports used today by people. Check and see which one you’ll need for your overseas trip.

1. Tourist passports

A couple of tourists

Are you going on a cruise to the Caribbean? Sightseeing in Athens? Maybe you’re going to visit your relatives in Italy or in Hong Kong for just a few days? If these are your travel itineraries, then a tourist passport is what you need. Also known as ordinary passports, this is issued to most citizens. Tourist passports have no special connotations.

2. Business passports

A successful businessman

For busy businessmen or career-oriented individuals, the business passport is a very important document that they should always carry around. It’s not very different from tourist passports except that these cater to people who have business dealings abroad. Since these are frequently used by businessmen, these have more pages compared to ordinary passports.

You’ll often see business passports used by individuals who go abroad to consult with business associates, participate in seminars, attend conventions and conferences, and negotiate contracts or settle litigations. Even so, these do not include labor for hire or local employment.

3. Diplomatic passports

Said Tayeb Jawad, the ambassador of Afghanistan to the United States

If you’re an employee of the state, then you’ll need a diplomatic passport. This kind of passport is issued to a country’s diplomatic representatives. There are many advantages if you get a diplomatic passport. For example, you are granted diplomatic immunity in many countries.

4. Service passports

If you’re a government employee traveling abroad for work-related reasons, but you don’t qualify as a diplomat, you can opt for a service passport. Also called an “official passport” this type of passport can offer its own advantages to the bearer.

5. Special passports

President Goerge Bush uses a special passport

If you’re the Sultan of Brunei, the Prime Minister of Britain or the President of the United States, your passports won’t be the same as those given to ordinary citizens. High-ranking state officials, such as the leaders of a country, are given special passports. Their passports exempt them from the hassle of visa requirements. Special passports are also given to the dependents or family members of the officials.

6. Temporary or emergency passports

A foreigner being given an emergency passport

Was your passport stolen or did you misplace it? There are instances when an individual accidentally loses his or her passport. This can be troublesome especially if he or she knows that an important trip abroad is coming up. To solve this problem, there are emergency passports available. This kind of passport is given to individuals who misplaced their passport but need to travel urgently.

Emergency passports can be useful, but they have limitations. They are also not as efficient as real passports. They can serve for a specific period and for a particular destination that you’ve requested for, but other than that, they won’t be accepted elsewhere.

7. Internal passports

Travelling locally, he must use an internal passport

If you think that all passports are used for overseas, you’re wrong. There are some countries that issue internal passports for domestic use. Internal passports are used by governments to control their population’s movement. The functions of these passports are not very different from that of identity cards. Some of these passports have restrictions.

There are several countries today that use internal passports. Russia is a popular example of such country. In China, the Hukou Residency is also identified as an internal passport system. The same goes for Saudi Arabia’s “igama” system. North Korea is also said to have an internal passport system.

8. Collective passports

Chinese ladies travelling abroad

Group traveling is fun, but can be tedious and messy, since the participants need to arrange their passports if they’re traveling overseas. Fortunately, there are collective passports to solve this problem. A collective passport is a single document that covers all the individuals included in the trip.

Collective passports are different from typical passports since they are only valid for a specific period of time. Even so, they cause less hassle for people traveling overseas in large numbers. Schools and companies often apply for this passport. A family passport is also an example of a collective passport, except that this is issued to family units.

9. Alien passports

No, these passports are not issued to extraterrestrial beings. Rather, they are given by a government to non-citizens who are “stateless”, or who cannot obtain passports from their country of origin. Sometimes, this passport is referred to as a “certificate of identity”.

10. Laissez-passer passports

An international civil servant in the airport

Are you an International Civil Servant? If you are, then you’re qualified to get a laissez-passer (a French term meaning “let pass”) passport. This type of travel document is issued by an organization to their officials, allowing them to visit other countries. Sometimes a national government also issues this document as a type of emergency passport.

The United Nations is an example of an organization that uses laissez-passer passports. A U.N. laissez-passer is widely recognized all over the world, although there are some territories that consider it insufficient as a pass.

Getting a passport may seem like a mundane concern, but a passport is one of the most important items you need to carry around with you when you travel. Make sure that you take care of this precious document properly, keeping it secured and in good condition.

If you can, take it with you all the time, or put it in a safe compartment inside your carry-on bag. That way you can be assured that your travel will be hassle-free and enjoyable.

Have a safe trip!

* There are many types of passports available depending on your needs. You don’t need to shell out too much money and endure long lines just to get that elusive passport. You can learn how to get a passport here.