# Religion on passports **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719 "2004-12-27T00:26:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/1 "2004-12-27T00:26:35Z")
Which countries (besides Pakistan) have the bearer’s religion on its passports? Thank you. WRS ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/2 "2005-01-03T05:03:10Z")
I don’t know whether this is kosher, but I thought I would bump this topic, if only because I’m hoping someone will have an answer. I suppose a few other Muslim countries - maybe Saudi Arabia? - have the bearer’s religion on the passport. Certainly, European, American, India, Japan, etc., don’t have a religion line. WRS * * * * * * MODERATOR ADDS NOTE (22-Apr-2013): Note that this thread is from 2004/2005, and was revived in Post #15 today. – CKDH ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/3 "2005-01-03T05:13:00Z")
Wow. ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/4 "2005-01-03T06:11:57Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > Wow. Wow? Is that good or bad? And no one has any information on this? WRS ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/5 "2005-01-03T08:16:40Z")
[Pakistan](http://www.dawn.com/2004/12/14/top6.htm) apparently recently removed it, but it was later reinstated due to the controversy surrounding it- specifically because Saudi Arabia wants to keep a minority group deemed non-Muslim out of Mecca. The article states that Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Malaysia do not state religion on passports [This site](http://www.keralaglobal.com/nrizone/visa_passport.php) implies that India lists religion, as it gives the process for getting a new passport if your religion changes. [Jamaica](http://216.239.63.104/search?q=cache:5Y5kwMMqTT4J:www.jamaicanconsulatechicago.org/passport.pdf+passport+religion&hl=en) wants to know your religion if you must wear religious “headgear” in your photo. It’s unclear if religion is listed. [Canada](http://216.239.63.104/search?q=cache:q-eNHP7Nx1wJ:www.ihrcanada.com/applicationforms/pdf/UAEVisaApp.pdf+passport+religion&hl=en) asks for religion. So does [Singapore](http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:gkHucoOn1ZgJ:www.mom.gov.sg/MOM/EPD/Forms/3214_Form14_28102004.pdf+passport+religion&hl=en). Apparently Iraq will deny admission to Jews if it is stated on their passports. [Ecuador](http://news24.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Ecuador/Basics) has special rules for Sikhs. It looks like many countries exclude Jewish people. ---
**Author:** ![akifani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@akifani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akifani)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/6 "2005-01-03T09:35:35Z")
> [@even sven](#): > > It looks like many countries exclude Jewish people. I would be very surprised (and shocked) if more than a couple countries do that. Do you have a list of such countries? Also, do you mean israelis or jews as a whole? And how would they know if someone is jewish if they are canadians, or romanians or spanish, etc. Seems to me they’d get in trouble with whichever country this particular jew is from. Forgive the number of questions but i don’t want this misconception to spread if you’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Blueapple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Blueapple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueapple)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/7 "2005-01-03T09:57:39Z")
Found [this](http://projectvisa.com/countryinfo.asp?countrycode=il) site… > [@](#): > > Israeli border guards might stamp the entry and exit stamps on a separate piece of paper if you ask, and not in your passport. This is not always the case so beware. > Having an Israel stamp in your passport will stop you from visiting; > Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, UAE and Yemen. > > There are border guards in other countries who might react unfavourably to seeing an Israeli entry/exit stamp. > > Also be warned, if you have a stamp from the Egyptian or Jordanian border crossing with Israel, could also give you problems. The entry and exit stamps into Jordan and Egypt must be consistant, and you must not be missing an exit or entry, otherwise you may be refised entry into the above countries. > > If you do have an israeli stamp on your passport and you want to hide it some consulates which issues sticker visas will cover the stamp if you ask. Also we have heard of people who have simply stamped and smudged (with a few drops of water) over the israeli stamp so as the hide it. We do not recommend this type of behaviour. I’d figure under current day Iraq, you can get in with an Israeli stamp. Many [sites](http://www.geographyiq.com/countries/is/Israel_relations_summary.htm) say that you can enter Egypt, [Qutar](http://www.virtualtourist.com/f/p/1caa6/) and Jordan with an Israeli stamp. Eqypt and Jordan are the only two Arab countries Israel has full relations with. (And Turkey too if it’s considered an Arabic nation). With Qutar, Israel set up full diplomatic and economic ties with it in 1996, but with the increase in Palestinian violence in 2001, [some of those ties were severed](http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-06-02-arabs-israel-glance_x.htm). [Map and List of Israeli Relations](http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/about%20the%20ministry/diplomatic%20missions/Israel-s%20Diplomatic%20Missions%20Abroad) ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/8 "2005-01-03T10:51:59Z")
> [@Blueapple's Cite](#): > > Having an Israel stamp in your passport will stop you from visiting; > Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, UAE and Yemen. 😕 Surely these countries wishing to do international business don’t deny entry to foriegn businessmen who have had to also travel to Israel? Also, what about journalists??? And what about Israeli Palistinians? Surely they would be allowed entry into any of these countries? All Muslims are encouraged to visit Mecca, correct? And Egyptians and Jordanians who have normal relations with Israel? Once they make a single visit to Israel are they then denied entry to these other countries? ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/9 "2005-01-03T12:08:09Z")
Generally when you go in to Israel, you can get something stamped other than your passport. I know people that have done this. Frequent travellers like journalists often keep a second “clean” passport for entering countries that like to ask questions about where you’ve been. Apparently Germany even has a system set up to issue second passports for travel in Israel. I can’t for the life of me find a complete list, but here is quote from the US State Department > [@](#): > > Some Arab countries will not allow travelers to enter if their passports show any evidence of previous or expected travel to Israel. Other Arab countries apply the ban inconsistently, sometimes refusing and at other times allowing entry when a passport shows evidence of travel to Israel. If passport restrictions imposed by other countries may be a problem for you, contact the nearest U.S. passport agency, embassy, or consulate for guidance. > > Several Arab countries ask visa applicants to state their religious affiliation. The U.S. government is opposed to the use of this information to discriminate against visa applicants, and has made its views known to the governments concerned. In turn, the United States has received assurances that visa applications are not denied based on religious affiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/10 "2005-01-03T12:18:05Z")
> [@even sven](#): > > [Canada](http://216.239.63.104/search?q=cache:q-eNHP7Nx1wJ:www.ihrcanada.com/applicationforms/pdf/UAEVisaApp.pdf+passport+religion&hl=en) asks for religion. Canada does not put a person’s religious affiliation on their passport. You linked to an application form for a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates… ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/11 "2005-01-03T12:53:38Z")
Whoops! I thought that was kind of odd… ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/12 "2005-01-03T13:37:04Z")
Bolding is done by me for emphasis: > [@](#): > > The U.S. government is opposed to the use of this information to discriminate against visa applicants, and has made its views known to the governments concerned. **In turn, the United States has received assurances that visa applications are not denied based on religious affiliation.** Yeah, right. My sarcasm meter is registering far into the red. OK, on other points: I believe the U.S. government will issue you a second passport that can be used when travelling to Israel, if that’s an issue. Many countries applied the same sort of policy to South Africa back in the days of apartheid: if you had visited South Africa, you couldn’t visit them (or you’d have a major hassel getting a visa or at the border.) My impression is that very few countries put religion on the passport, but lots of them ask about religion on visa forms. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/13 "2005-01-03T13:57:55Z")
> [@WeRSauron](#): > > Wow? > > Is that good or bad? > > And no one has any information on this? > > WRS I don’t know. I just can’t believe some countries are doing this. ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/14 "2005-01-03T16:24:20Z")
Actually, the Pakistan issue is what made me interested in this. For clarification, the religious party and people in Pakistan saw this as an attack on Pakistan’s Muslim identity. They wanted it reinstated. The argument they made is that without identifying the religion, Qadianis (or, to be more exact, Qadiani Ahmadis) might be able to get a visa from Saudi Arabia and go for Hajj. Ahmadis are not considered to be Muslim according to the Constitution of Pakistan (yes, the Constitution was amended to specifically state that Ahmadis are not Muslim) and according to Muslims in general. Now, Saudi Arabia does not need the religion line because the Pakistani government has provided the Saudi authorities with information regarding every Ahmadi in Pakistan. If I understand correctly, Saudi authorities check every visa application to make sure the person is not an Ahmadi. But of course. The religious party in Pakistan is full of idiots. Now, including religion on one’s passport, to me, seems ridiculous. What is also ridiculous is a line in the Pakistani passport that states that the passport is valid in all countries, except for Israel. I checked the site about India’s passport. Religion is not listed. If one needs to change one’s passport due to change in name because of change in religion, then a certain process is needed: this process is described. But if change in religion does not result in a change in name, nothing needs to be done. The website regarding Ecudaor states: “All members of the sikh religion regardless of nationality require a passport valid for six months and a visa.” How odd. (Thanks, **even sven** , for the links!) WRS ---
**Author:** ![Winter\_Maiden\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9de053/32.png) [@Winter\_Maiden\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winter_Maiden_1)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/15 "2013-04-21T04:14:12Z")
Bouncing this up to the top again, because I am curious about whether Turkish passports list religion. Also, in reply to the issue of traveling back and forth between Israel and Muslim countries, here is some added information from the past: In the mid-1950s my father was the Colgate-Palmolive sales representative in the Middle East, based in Beirut. That included Turkey, the Arab countries, and Iran–and I think sometimes Greece. But because of anticipated problems traveling to Muslim countries with an Israel stamp in his passport, my father never went there. Israel was taken care of by the rep based in Italy. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/16 "2013-04-21T04:27:47Z")
Apparently the Ecuador thing is still true eight years on. I can’t find out why; the only site that seemed to have a good lead was a message board discussion that quickly devolved into a fight. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/17 "2013-04-22T13:36:24Z")
First, note that this is a thread from 2005, revived in Post #15, so please be cautious about responding to prior posts that may be very outdated. Or the posters may no longer be around. I have added a note to the OP. Passport regulations do change, often frequently.\* I got no clue about current situation for Turkey, but presumably a quick internet search on Turkey and passport and religion would find it? - _Pirates of Penzance_, NOT often person-who-has-lost-his-parents. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/18 "2013-04-22T16:35:09Z")
The old Soviet Union used to put religion on their internal passports, required for travel within the SU. A Jew (especially one who wanted to be a mathematician–the Soviet mathematical community was virulently anti-Semitic) was described as having a bad fifth point, that being the line on the internal passport. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/19 "2013-04-22T18:40:15Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > The old Soviet Union used to put religion on their internal passports, required for travel within the SU. A Jew (especially one who wanted to be a mathematician–the Soviet mathematical community was virulently anti-Semitic) was described as having a bad fifth point, that being the line on the internal passport. Not exactly. The USSR considered Jews to be an ethnic group just like Russians, or Tatars, or Uzbek and that was listed in the internal passport. It didn’t matter whether or not a given “Jew” actually practiced Judaism; indeed an ethnic Russian who converted to Judaism would still be listed as Russian, not Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719/20 "2013-04-22T18:55:28Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Generally when you go in to Israel, you can get something stamped other than your passport. I know people that have done this. I’m one. It’s not so much that you won’t be able to get into certain Muslim countries, it’s that you’ll face more hassle when you go there if you have an Israeli stamp on your passport. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religion-on-passports/281719.md?page=2)