The Economic Times

Passport not proof of citizenship? The 2,500-year-old history behind the travel document

A recent government clarification in India, stating passports aren't conclusive proof of citizenship, has ignited interest in the document's history. Originating over 2,500 years ago in ancient Persia as a safe passage letter, passports evolved through medieval Europe and were standardized after World War I. Today's e-passports, with biometric data, represent a millennia-long journey from simple permits to vital identity symbols.