When Was the British Passport Invented?
| Updated: 10 Feb 2026
How long has a passport been necessary in Britain?
Mystery Hour Question
When was the British passport invented?
Martin, Aldershot
**Definitive**
Who: Josh, Warrington
Qualifications: English Literature and History Masters
Answer: The first British passport was created by Henry V in the fifteenth century. An act of parliament was passed that made it a crime to kill anyone who was carrying a passport signed by the king.