When Was the British Passport Invented?

12 March 2019, 14:02

Passport
Passport. Picture: Getty

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.