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Monarch passport exemptions in UK and Japan

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2026-09-04 06:32 UTC → 2026-09-06 11:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan are identified as the only three individuals globally permitted to travel internationally without standard passports due to their unique constitutional and protocolary positions. For King Charles III, the exemption is based on the fact that British passports are issued in his name. Rather than a standard passport, special documents are utilized to request free passage and ensure necessary protection. This privilege is exclusive to the reigning monarch and does not apply to other members of the British Royal Family, such as Queen Camilla or Prince William. This status was previously held by Queen Elizabeth II. Similarly, the Japanese Imperial couple is exempt from standard requirements. Historical documentation from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests it would be ‘very inappropriate’ to treat the Emperor and Empress as ordinary citizens. A 1971 determination by the Ministry specifically noted that issuing standard passports to the imperial couple would be ‘exceptionally inappropriate.’ Their travel involves official notifications to destination countries to facilitate entry, whereas other members of the Japanese Imperial Family utilize diplomatic passports.

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