Monarchs and Emperors hold unique privilege to travel without passports

Only three individuals in the world possess the privilege of traveling internationally without a standard passport: King Charles III of the United Kingdom and the Emperor and Empress of Japan, Naruhito and Masako.

In the United Kingdom, King Charles III does not require a passport because such documents are issued in his name. The passport serves as a request from the monarch to facilitate passage and protect the bearer. This privilege is exclusive to the monarch; other members of the Royal Family, such as princes and consorts, must carry passports.

In Japan, the tradition for the Imperial Family dates back to 1971 during the preparations for Emperor Hirohito’s first overseas trip. The Imperial House determined it was not appropriate to issue ordinary passports to Japanese monarchs. Instead, their international travel is coordinated through diplomatic documentation between Japan and the receiving nations.