Passport

A passport isn’t just important because it’s a basic tool to allow you to travel outside your own country. It isn’t just important because while you travel, in many cases, it’s your only form of identification. A passport is important because it’s a symbol of travel. Not in a status symbol sort of way, although collecting stamps and visas can be fun. A passport is an important psychological symbol.

1. Passports are an internationally recognized form of identification and are required for travel between countries. The concept of a passport has been around for hundreds of years. Essentially, a passport is an authorized document requesting that its bearer be allowed to pass freely and be granted protection in a foreign country. Nowadays, passports are standardized around the world: They're made to fit a standard size, they include a photograph and other identifying details, and they need to be renewed periodically.