View source for Sovereign Military Order of Malta passport

{{Short description|Passport}}
{{Distinguish|Maltese passport}}
</noinclude>{{Infobox Identity document
| document_name       = Sovereign Military Order of Malta passport
| image               = Passaportoordinemalta.png
| image_caption       = The front cover of a contemporary Sovereign Military Order of Malta [[diplomatic passport|diplomatic]] [[biometric passport]]
| date_first_issued   = 
| using_jurisdiction  = {{flag|Sovereign Military Order of Malta}}
| valid_jurisdictions = 
| document_type       = [[Passport]]
| purpose             = Identification
| eligibility         = [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]]
| expiration          = 
}}
The '''Sovereign Military Order of Malta passport''' is a [[travel document]] issued to officials and diplomats of the [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta]] (SMOM). The order issues [[biometric passports]] which are fully [[ICAO#Passport_Standards|ICAO9303]] compliant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundesheer.at/truppendienst/ausgaben/artikel.php?id=433|title=Bundesheer - TRUPPENDIENST - Ausgabe 2/2006 - The New e-Passport|website=www.bundesheer.at|access-date=2021-04-18|archive-date=2021-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418072650/https://www.bundesheer.at/truppendienst/ausgaben/artikel.php?id=433|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The application and printing processes are handled by the {{lang|de|Österreichische Staatsdruckerei}} in [[Vienna]], Austria.

==Types of passport==
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta issues two types of passport.

===Diplomatic passports===

Diplomatic passports of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta are issued only to the members of the [[Sovereign Council of the Order of Malta|Sovereign Council]] (the government of the Order) and to representatives of the [[List of diplomatic missions of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta|Order's diplomatic corps]] (heads and members of diplomatic missions abroad as well as spouses of full-time diplomats and their minor children). The validity of the passport is strictly linked to the duration of the assignment. As of February 2018 there were approximately 500 passports in circulation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orderofmalta.int/press-release/sovereign-order-malta-clarifies-press-reported-figure-passports-issue-currently-500-passports-circulation/|title=The Order of Malta clarifies press reported figure on passports issued: currently 500 passports in circulation|access-date=2017-06-16|archive-date=2017-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705034546/https://www.orderofmalta.int/press-release/sovereign-order-malta-clarifies-press-reported-figure-passports-issue-currently-500-passports-circulation/|url-status=live}}</ref> The holders of these passports as well as the numerous other members and volunteers of the Order remain citizens of their own respective countries with their national passports.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Report from Practically Nowhere|last=Sack|first=John|publisher=Harper & Brothers|year=1959|isbn=9780595089185|pages=140}}</ref>

Among those who possess an Order of Malta diplomatic passport are:

# The [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta#Governance|Grand Master]] (since 3 May 2023) [[John T. Dunlap]].
# The [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta#Governance|Grand Commander]] (since September 2022) [[Emmanuel Rousseau]].
# The [[Sovereign Military Order of Malta#Governance|Grand Chancellor]] (since September 2022) [[Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo]].

===Service passports===
Service passports of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta are issued only to people who are in charge of a special mission within the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The validity of the passport is strictly linked to the duration of the assignment.

==Physical appearance==
Passport covers carry the text {{lang|fr|Ordre souverain militaire de Malte}} above the coat of arms, and {{lang|fr|Passeport diplomatique}} or {{lang|fr|Passeport de service}} below it.<ref name=pdf>{{Cite web |title=Sovereign Military Order of Malta issues new e-passport |work=C. Haager (Keesing Journal of Documents and Identity) |year=2005 |url=http://www.staatsdruckerei.at/oesd.html?p=155 |access-date=18 July 2010 |archive-date=6 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706094731/http://www.staatsdruckerei.at/oesd.html?p=155 |url-status=live }}</ref> Diplomatic passports are red, whereas service passports are black. 

The [[Machine-readable passport#Passport booklets|country-code]] XOM has been assigned by the [[ICAO]] after consultation with the SMOM and the [[machine-readable zone]] thus [[Machine Readable Travel Document#Passport booklets|starts]] with <code>P&lt;XOM</code>.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/prado/en/XOM-AS-02001/image-226092.html|title=Council of the European Union - PRADO - XOM-AS-02001 - <Biodata page>|website=www.consilium.europa.eu|access-date=2019-01-11|archive-date=2017-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521122601/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/prado/en/XOM-AS-02001/image-226092.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Acceptance==
{{see also|Visa requirements for holders of passports issued by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta}}
The SMOM has [[Foreign relations of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta|diplomatic relations]] with 113 countries,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bilateral relations |url=https://www.orderofmalta.int/diplomatic-activities/bilateral-relations/ |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=Sovereign Order of Malta |language=en-US}}</ref> which therefore accept the passport. In the [[Schengen area]] (where most of the [[extraterritoriality|extraterritorialities]] of the order are located) it is recognized by 24 out of 26 members (all except Denmark and Norway).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Table of travel documents entitling the holder to cross the external borders and which may be endorsed with a visa |work=[[Council of the European Union]] |date=17 June 2010 |url=http://www.udiregelverk.no/~/media/Images/Rettskilder/Visa%20Code/Visa%20Code%20vedlegg%2010%20a.ashx |access-date=20 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120013643/http://www.udiregelverk.no/~/media/Images/Rettskilder/Visa%20Code/Visa%20Code%20vedlegg%2010%20a.ashx |archive-date=20 November 2010 }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Vatican and Holy See passports]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [https://www.orderofmalta.int/press-releases/the-order-of-malta-clarifies-press-reported-figure-on-passports-issued-currently-500-passports-in-circulation/ Press release: The Order of Malta clarifies press reported figure on passports issue: currently 500 passports in circulation]
* [http://www.consilium.europa.eu/prado/en/XOM-AD-02001/index.html Document: XOM-AD-02001] ([[Public Register of Travel and Identity Documents Online|PRADO]])
* [http://www.consilium.europa.eu/prado/en/XOM-AS-02001/index.html Document: XOM-AS-02001] ([[Public Register of Travel and Identity Documents Online|PRADO]])

{{Sovereign Military Order of Malta}}
{{passports}}

[[Category:Sovereign Military Order of Malta]]
[[Category:Passports]]
[[Category:International travel documents]]