Until I had kids, I always prided myself on being a minimalist traveler and never bothered with a passport holder. Then suddenly, my carry-on bag was full of diapers, wipes, and changes of clothes — and keeping track of my important documents became a lot harder. A friend gifted me a passport holder that doubled as a wallet and allowed me to keep my cards, cash, boarding passes, and passport in one easily accessible place. It was a game changer. Of course, organization isn’t the only reason to invest in a passport holder. They’re also useful for protecting your passport and giving stylish travelers the chance to make a statement with luxury materials, a range of colors, and personalized monogramming.
Passport holders come in a variety of designs, from simple covers to wallet-style holders with dedicated spaces for cards, paper documents, and even a luggage tracker. To help you choose the one that best suits your requirements, we tested nine popular brands during various trips, giving feedback on capacity, ease of use, quality, and value, and results will be updated after six months of long-term testing.
Available in dark green, navy, or black to match the brand’s luggage collection, the Quince Nappa Leather RFID Blocking Passport Holder offers a quality that belies its minimal price tag. We took ours on a three-week trip to Germany and the Netherlands and fell in love with the buttery Nappa leather, heavy-duty stitching, and overall sturdiness. It’s thick without being too bulky, holds a lot without taking up too much space, and looks exactly the same after our trip as it did before — suggesting that this passport holder will last for many years, even with regular use. As a bonus, it uses RFID-blocking technology to keep your digital data safe.
We also appreciate the holder’s versatility. On top of providing the perfect fit for our passport (neither too snug nor too roomy), it offers three card slots and two larger slip pockets ideal for cash or travel documents. We used ours to store boarding passes, our flight itinerary, and our baggage claim receipts and loved how we were able to cruise effortlessly through check-in. With everything kept organized and easily accessible in the passport holder, we weren’t left fumbling in our fanny pack for documents — making the whole process a lot less stressful.
The Details: 5.5 x 4.25 x 0.25 inches | Leather | 6 pockets
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Deluxe-Passport-Cover-Tan-418-229_fullsize-a44d21bc39e44853a591df2e449d25ed.jpeg)
Although the Leatherology Deluxe Passport Cover is considerably more expensive than our overall winner, the additional cost may be worth it for those who like to customize their travel accessories. You can choose yours in signature full grain leather, premium vegetable-tanned Italian leather, or with an RFID-blocking lining. Although the latter options are only available in two colors each, there’s a rainbow of shades to choose from, ranging from deep plum to scarlet, if you opt for the signature leather version. All categories can be debossed with a plain, gold, or silver monogram.
Travel + Leisure testing editor Jackie Cucco chose hers in lime green and loves that it’s easily visible in her bag. She used it on a domestic flight to Nantucket and comments that “the quality on this is top-notch, with beautiful full-grain leather, visible stitching, and a fabric lining inside all of the pockets.” These include four card slots and two side pockets. We liked that either of these can be used to store your passport, with a looser, more easily accessible fit on the left side and a tighter, more secure fit on the right.
The Details: 5.5 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches | Leather | 6 pockets
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Pottery-Barn-Quinn-Leather-Passport-Case--Luggage-Tag-2f34154f4cbf47ddb162bda00a1a9495.jpg)
Available in a range of gorgeous colors including gold, rose gold, silver, white, and black, the Pottery Barn Quinn Leather Passport Case is undoubtedly a luxury purchase. It can be monogrammed for an additional fee, and comes with a matching luggage tag. We used our set to travel from Iowa to Mexico and were impressed with the quality of the leather and stitching, feeling that it will likely last a long time. The luggage tag is equally well made, with a gold buckle and a security flap that conceals your details in transit.
The holder lacks the card slots offered by some of the other options on this list, instead offering a simple design with a slip pocket on either side. We found that our passport fit comfortably into one of these, remaining easy to get out while still secure enough that we never worried about it falling out accidentally. We stored a card in the opposite pocket but could equally have used it for cash or travel documents. Finally, we appreciated the holder’s compact size which meant it fit easily into our weekender, sling bag, and travel purse for easy access at all times.
The Details: 4 x 5.5 inches | Leather | 2 pockets
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Genuine-Leather-AirTag-Passport-Holder-a2feb0d88723404d92594f797f6dccf5.jpg)
We love the Lumberjack Plaid Genuine Leather AirTag Passport Wallet for its quality material and stitching, impressive capacity, and reasonable price tag. It also stands out from others on this list for its integrated AirTag pocket (compatible with a Moto Tag for Android devices, too). We used ours on a business trip to New York and found it very convenient for keeping our passport, ID, boarding passes, cards, and cash secure. We also liked that at 5 x 4 inches, it’s compact enough to fit in most suit jacket pockets.
In addition to the passport section (which was ideally sized for easy access), the holder offers three card slots and a large slip pocket for cash or travel documents. We found that although each card held a single card snugly, the leather was flexible enough to allow multiple cards to be stored in the same slot. A sturdy leather strap with a snap button closure gave us peace of mind knowing everything was securely held together. The holder comes in a range of colors from brown to blue and can be customized with laser engraving.
The Details: 5 x 4 x 1 inches | Leather | 5 pockets
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/july-40956c38714e4ea585d4b56fe2a3b13b.jpg)
This holder offers a unique, space-saving design and is made from a luxurious full grain leather that looks, feels, and smells great.
Available in oyster or black, the July passport holder is made from smooth, tactile Nappa leather. We love its unusual, minimalist design, consisting of two external slip pockets (each big enough for a passport) and a central pocket for cash or folded travel documents. We used ours on a round-trip to Toronto and found that it held our passport snugly without being too tight. Although the holder is designed to hold passports in the external pockets, we found that we could store one in the middle pocket too.
In this way, we were able to organize cash, visa papers, and a passport separately, making the holder just as effective as our usual travel binder but much more compact. It takes up a similar amount of space as a single passport and is exceptionally streamlined, making it easy to store in a pocket for quick access at the boarding gate. Finally, the external pockets are protected by an RFID-blocking lining and all purchases include a two-year guarantee.
The Details: 5.7 x 3.9 inches | Leather | 3 pockets
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/passport-3a3a9d6121014ddc906bdcf2ff6acd65.jpg)
Those in search of a budget-friendly option should check out the Stouchi AirTag Passport Holder. Costing half the price of our overall winner and much less than the most expensive choices on this list, it’s made from vegan leather. However, we were impressed with the overall quality and felt that the design (which includes a dedicated space for an AirTag) was particularly good. Additionally, while PU leather may not have the luxury smell and feel of real leather, it is both durable and naturally weather-resistant.
The holder consists of a slip pocket for your passport (we found this a little tight, and had to maneuver our passport to get it to fit), two card slots, and a large slip pocket with a transparent sleeve. This is perfectly sized for displaying the included medical emergency card, which you can complete with your own details. It also includes an RFID-blocking lining and a secure elastic strap, and comes in a range of colors from black to sky blue. We chose ours in bright purple and liked how easy it was to locate in our backpack.
The Details: 5.5 x 4 x 0.6 inches | PU leather | 4 pockets
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Beis-Passport-and-Luggage-Tag-Set-694d56073d0048908b889d9a0803447b.jpg)
T+ editor Jackie Cucco says that although the vegan leather construction of this Beis passport holder doesn’t feel as nice as some of the genuine leather holders we tested, it’s a great alternative for people who prefer not to purchase leather for either ethical or economical reasons. “I love that the set comes not only with a passport holder, but also with a matching luggage tag and clear travel pouch,” she says. The holder and luggage tag are both made of the same pink material, while the pouch features a matching trim.
The holder includes a passport pocket, four card slots, a pen loop, and a larger slip pocket for cash or folded travel documents. Although the pen loop is a nice touch, adding a pen does make it difficult to get your passport in and out. Otherwise, it’s a perfect fit. We also like the added security of the holder’s magnetic strap. Meanwhile, the luggage tag fulfills its purpose as expected and the pouch’s transparent sides make it ideal for transporting liquids through security.
The Details: Vegan leather | 6 pockets
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/royce-rfid-blocking-passport-case--5b12daaaf5e0427f89f490978a8fd887.jpg)
We love the soft, luxurious feel of the Royce RFID Blocking Passport Case, which is made from top grain Nappa leather. Sturdy stitching and a debossed American passport emblem on the cover add to the overall impression of quality. We tested ours on vacation to Vancouver and found that our passport fit perfectly — at no point did we worry about it falling out. Meanwhile, the RFID-blocking lining helped us feel that our information was safe from digital theft.
The holder also offers a second large slip pocket perfect for cash, travel documents, or a small card holder. We particularly liked that we were able to hold two passports at the same time, making this a convenient option for couples. Even when full, the holder was small and slim enough to fit easily in a purse. It comes in a full range of colors, from business-ready black or tan to statement-making magenta or carnation pink. Make the most of Royce’s free monogramming service to add your initials in plain, gold, or silver debossing.
The Details: 5.6 x 4 x 2.5 inches | Leather | 2 pockets
Other Passport Holders We Liked
Here is one runner-up that we tested, though we didn’t love it enough for our main list.
Tumi Alpha Passport Cover: This passport holder just missed out on being included on our main list because we found the large slip pocket on one side too loose to be particularly useful — a problem for us given the product’s high price tag. However, it’s a beautifully crafted piece likely to appeal to Tumi brand loyalists who want to match their existing luggage collection.
Our Testing Process
For this article, we tested nine different passport holders on real life travels to a range of destinations from Mexico to Europe. First, we inserted our passport and filled any other slots with cards, cash, and travel documents. We assessed the overall quality of the holder and whether our passport fit securely. Next we took it on at least one plane journey, making sure to note our thoughts on portability and convenience. Each one was scored on a scale of one to five for capacity, ease of use, quality, and value, with averaged totals determining our category winners. Testing is ongoing for a period of six months, after which this article will be updated.
Tips for Buying Passport Holders
Look for durable materials
The primary purpose of a passport holder is to protect your most precious documents, so it makes sense to choose one that is sturdily built. It needs to be able to stand up not only to the rigors of frequent travel (i.e., being thrown into a bag or purse along with your other essentials), but also the repetitive action of taking your passport in and out for security checks. Strong yet supple leather is a great choice for a passport holder, while vegan leather (typically PU) offers an alternative for those who prefer to avoid leather for ethical or economical reasons. Whichever you go for, check customer reviews to get an idea of the product’s long-term durability before purchasing.
Decide what type of pockets you’ll use
Some passport holders are designed to hold your passport and little else, while others are designed as a replacement for your wallet with slots for cards, cash, and paper tickets or travel itineraries. Think carefully about how you want to use your passport holder, both in transit and when you reach your destination. If you’re likely to leave your passport in a safe at your hotel while out and about you’ll probably need to bring a wallet as well, in which case you may not need a holder with additional pockets. Conversely, you may decide that the convenience of having everything in one place for the journey is worth leaving your regular wallet at home.
Add a tracker for security
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being unable to find your passport, especially if you’re rushing for a flight (or worse, already abroad). You can save yourself the stress by choosing a passport holder with space for a luggage tracker — whether that’s a designated AirTag pocket, or simply a pocket big enough to hold a regular card-sized tracker. This is an especially good idea if you’re heading anywhere with a high crime rate as it’s a safeguard against theft as well as your own forgetfulness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are passport covers allowed?
Passport covers are certainly allowed, although you will typically have to remove them from the holder for security checks. Reasons vary depending on the rules and regulations of your destination, but it’s usually so the immigration agent can check the authenticity of the passport and/or to allow it to be scanned properly. This is especially true if you have a biometric passport (one with a microchip that allows it to be used at ePassport gates).
Are passport covers necessary?
Passport covers are not essential — I have traveled many times both with and without one. Some may find that having to take their passport out of the cover at security is an annoyance they’d rather live without (especially if they already have a wallet capable of holding their cards and cash). But for many, a passport cover is a worthwhile purchase not only because it protects your passport from damage, but because (if you purchase one with enough space) it allows you to keep everything together in one convenient place. It also looks smart and allows for some personalization in terms of color, design, and monogramming.
Do I need a passport cover with RFID-blocking technology?
A passport cover with RFID-blocking technology uses a layer of special material (usually metal or carbon-based) to deflect the radio frequency waves used in Radio Frequency Identification technology. Its purpose is to prevent the theft of electronic data stored on your passport, or on bank and ID cards that may also be stored in your passport holder. The likelihood of this happening is small, because the thief would need to scan your documents at such close range that you would probably notice them anyway. Additionally, it’s debatable how much useful information they would be able to take, especially if you have several RFID chips stored in your passport holder. However, if this is something you’re worried about, having RFID-blocking technology will give you valuable peace of mind.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Jessica Macdonald has been writing about travel accessories for more than 10 years and has tested many of them on her own travels to more than 50 countries. Although she’s a relatively recent convert to passport holders, she now wouldn’t travel without one. Products in this article were chosen according to the results of real-life tests carried out by T+L’s experienced travel editors.
Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.
