5 ms·

Curious, why is it the best passport to have?

mthoms 10y ago
You get to bypass the regular folk and use the diplomatic lane for processing. Holders don't require Visas in many countries and some versions of the passport carry diplomatic privileges (including immunity). I'm sure there are other perks akin to having a diplomatic passport from whereveristan, but with the added weight that it's issued by the UN.
- DanBC 10y ago
  The link you provided doesn't say that though. > Most countries do not accept a UNLP as a travel document, unless a visa has been added. and most people with the blue passport don't get diplomatic immunity - that's limited to a few people with the right visas and the red version. > Most officials hold a blue UNLP (up to D-1 level), which is similar in legal status to a service passport (however, diplomatic status may be conferred on the holder if the visa issued in the UNLP is a diplomatic visa). A red UNLP is issued to particularly high officials (D-2 and above), and depending on their rank, this may confer diplomatic privileges and the red UNLP may therefore be similar to a diplomatic passport.
  - mthoms 10y ago
    What a bizarre thing to wish to argue nuances about. I just thought the passport was neat, had cachet and I really like the idea of being a "Citizen of Earth". I'm actually sorry I even mentioned it. But since you wish to be pedantic: I said that holders don't require Visas in many countries - According to the second paragraph of the Wiki link there are at least 29 countries. This qualifies as many. I also said "You get to bypass the regular folk and use the diplomatic lane for processing" - As per the Wiki link, it's considered equivalent to a "Service Passport". This allows processing through diplomatic lanes at airports that have them. Further reference is here: https://books.google.ca/books?id=RpIDDAAAQBAJ&lpg=PA508&ots=76A5ItL5CY&dq=diplomatic%20processing%20lanes%20at%20airports&pg=PA508#v=onepage&q=diplomatic%20processing%20lanes%20at%20airports&f=false https://books.google.ca/books?id=RpIDDAAAQBAJ&lpg=PA508&ots=... Lastly, I said "some versions …carry diplomatic privileges (including immunity)". Here is a chart with some more details (see "International Organizations section"): http://www.slogold.net/diplomatic_immunity.html http://www.slogold.net/diplomatic_immunity.html It clearly says support staff enjoy immunity for official acts and higher ranking officials (with the red version of UNLP) enjoy full immunity.
    - Tharkun 10y ago
      I don't think that qualifies as 'many', if you want to be pedantic. My Belgian ID card (not even a passport!) gives me visaless and pasportless access to 50 countries.. But I agree, it would be a very near passport to have, and I wish there really was such a thing as a 'citizen of earth'-passport.
      - frobozz 10y ago
        There is: http://www.worldservice.org/docpass.html http://www.worldservice.org/docpass.html
      - mthoms 10y ago
        That's great but European freedom of unrestricted movement is certainly not the norm in the world. Rather it is the rare exception.
pierrec 10y ago
It's "the best" in the sense of being the classiest (but definitely not the most powerful as a standalone passport, it would be ranked pretty low in the featured site). Obviously, it also has immense value in supporting the fact that you're UN staff.

You get to bypass the regular folk and use the diplomatic lane for processing. Holders don't require Visas in many countries and some versions of the passport carry diplomatic privileges (including immunity). I'm sure there are other perks akin to having a diplomatic passport from whereveristan, but with the added weight that it's issued by the UN.

DanBC 10y ago
The link you provided doesn't say that though. > Most countries do not accept a UNLP as a travel document, unless a visa has been added. and most people with the blue passport don't get diplomatic immunity - that's limited to a few people with the right visas and the red version. > Most officials hold a blue UNLP (up to D-1 level), which is similar in legal status to a service passport (however, diplomatic status may be conferred on the holder if the visa issued in the UNLP is a diplomatic visa). A red UNLP is issued to particularly high officials (D-2 and above), and depending on their rank, this may confer diplomatic privileges and the red UNLP may therefore be similar to a diplomatic passport.
- mthoms 10y ago
  What a bizarre thing to wish to argue nuances about. I just thought the passport was neat, had cachet and I really like the idea of being a "Citizen of Earth". I'm actually sorry I even mentioned it. But since you wish to be pedantic: I said that holders don't require Visas in many countries - According to the second paragraph of the Wiki link there are at least 29 countries. This qualifies as many. I also said "You get to bypass the regular folk and use the diplomatic lane for processing" - As per the Wiki link, it's considered equivalent to a "Service Passport". This allows processing through diplomatic lanes at airports that have them. Further reference is here: https://books.google.ca/books?id=RpIDDAAAQBAJ&lpg=PA508&ots=76A5ItL5CY&dq=diplomatic%20processing%20lanes%20at%20airports&pg=PA508#v=onepage&q=diplomatic%20processing%20lanes%20at%20airports&f=false https://books.google.ca/books?id=RpIDDAAAQBAJ&lpg=PA508&ots=... Lastly, I said "some versions …carry diplomatic privileges (including immunity)". Here is a chart with some more details (see "International Organizations section"): http://www.slogold.net/diplomatic_immunity.html http://www.slogold.net/diplomatic_immunity.html It clearly says support staff enjoy immunity for official acts and higher ranking officials (with the red version of UNLP) enjoy full immunity.
  - Tharkun 10y ago
    I don't think that qualifies as 'many', if you want to be pedantic. My Belgian ID card (not even a passport!) gives me visaless and pasportless access to 50 countries.. But I agree, it would be a very near passport to have, and I wish there really was such a thing as a 'citizen of earth'-passport.
    - frobozz 10y ago
      There is: http://www.worldservice.org/docpass.html http://www.worldservice.org/docpass.html
    - mthoms 10y ago
      That's great but European freedom of unrestricted movement is certainly not the norm in the world. Rather it is the rare exception.

pierrec 10y ago

It's "the best" in the sense of being the classiest (but definitely not the most powerful as a standalone passport, it would be ranked pretty low in the featured site). Obviously, it also has immense value in supporting the fact that you're UN staff.