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The majority of people in England nowadays are passport holders, as foreign vacations have become ever cheaper over the last 30 years. But what is a passport for? So what happens when I hand over my passport book to Spanish officials?
Your passport document principally identifies you as a particular citizen of a certain nation. This at once tells local agencies (wherever you are) of your particular rights in their nation. Your passport is also the location to keep various stamps and visas which also tell local agencies as to how many days you’ve been in their country, and how long you’re permitted to stay for.
It’s a common misconception to think a passport entitles you to the same rights as the residents of the country you hold a passport for. Not true. For example, if you’re a Swedish resident (holding a US passport) and have resided in Sweden for 20 years, then go back to the United States on your American passport, you will almost certainly not have the same rights as a resident of the United States (e.g. claim particular benefits or get help with government grants). Residency and holding a passport for a particular country are two different things. It’s essential to note this as more and more individuals are dual passport holders these days.
You should always store your passport in a secure place, and make a copy of the page with your photo on it and your visa/stamped pages just in case your passport goes missing. If your passport does go missing overseas, contact your embassy who will be able to issue you a temporary passport. Your embassy is there to give you help with passport help when you need it, even passport renewal if you are a long-term immigrant in a foreign land.
