U.S. passports have evolved through the years, from when families appeared on one 1925 document to a new version celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. (State Dept.)
When Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams voyaged across the Atlantic to persuade France and the Netherlands to support America’s independence, they carried letters of introduction to build trust. These letters from the U.S. government served as early passports, notifying foreign governments of the founders’ diplomatic mission and requesting safe passage.
Use of passports has expanded since those early days. The U.S. Department of State issued 27 million passport books and cards in 2025, a record high. About half of all Americans now hold a valid passport, up from just 5% in 1990. Passports are an essential tool for Americans traveling globally, whether they are students attending a semester abroad, businesspeople expanding their markets or tourists visiting foreign countries.
For the 250th anniversary of America’s founding (July 4), the State Department is featuring the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Founding Fathers and President Trump on a special commemorative passport. The department will start issuing these commemorative passports beginning July 6. “Under President Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio’s leadership, the State Department is proud to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary by putting the story of our nation’s founding directly in the hands of American passport holders,” said Mora Namdar, assistant secretary for the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
U.S. passports continue to evolve with new designs and next-generation security features. Take a look at how U.S. passports have changed since the country’s founding.
1700s: Safe passage
When the United States won its independence in the late 1700s, few Americans traveled internationally.
Most Americans traveling abroad were diplomats or merchants, and they carried letters from the U.S. government announcing the purpose of their travel.
Often written in French — then the international language of diplomacy — a single letter sought safe passage for a ship’s entire crew, rather than for a single person.
That would change in the next century, when the United States began issuing passports to individuals.
1800s: Improved identification
From 1800 to 1861, as international trade expanded, the State Department opened 226 consular offices around the world. The offices assisted Americans abroad, most of whom traveled for business. Use of passports also grew. Still a written letter, a passport now included a person’s physical description so a foreign government could identify the American visiting its country.
In the early 1800s, passports were also issued by state and local governments. However, in 1856, Congress ended the confusion of multiple government-issuing authorities and granted the State Department sole authority for issuing passports. The authority remains in place today.
In 1862, as passports continued to grow in popularity, the State Department began charging a $3 fee, equivalent to $100 today.
1900s: Stronger security
During World War I, after a German spy operating with a stolen U.S. passport gathered intelligence on the British Navy, the United States introduced new security measures. In December 1914, the U.S. began requiring photos on passports, setting a new standard for security.
In the early 1900s, the U.S. improved the design and efficiency of the passport. During World War II, the government began requiring those entering the United States to present passports from their own countries.
Family passports were once common, as women were not allowed to apply for passports independently until 1937. Even after that, children were included in their parents’ passports. However, by 1981, each traveler was required to have their own.
As to design enhancements, the trademark blue color of the U.S. passport was introduced for the 1976 bicentennial and remains in use today.
2000s: Advanced technology
In recent decades, the State Department has deployed new technologies to improve security and efficiency.
In 2000, the department began printing digital photos directly on passports, replacing the practice of pasting a physical photo into books. Later, in 2008, the passport card debuted, providing a convenient, secure option for traveling within North America via land when passports became a requirement for cross border travel after 9/11.
Finally, in 2021, the next-generation passport launched. Still issued today, it features updated artwork, security fibers in the passport paper and a laser-engraved, polycarbonate data page.
Now, to celebrate 250 years of our nation, the State Department is issuing a special commemorative Patriot Passport. It features “customized artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the U.S. Passport the most secure document in the world,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott says.
