The best passport holders for the ultimate airport accessory
Wherever you're headed, GQ's edit of the best passport holders will make for the ultimate airport flex
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Looking for the best passport holder to protect your precious travel documents? Good call. Whether it’s the sun-soaked beaches of the Algarve or Iceland's Blue Lagoon, a holiday is never without its hiccups. But if you are going to be waiting around for a delayed flight or “misplaced” luggage, you ought to be doing it in uncompromised style. What comes before the suave carry-on case, travel cushion and long-haul 'fit? A designer passport holder to check in in style.
You don’t need us to hammer home the importance of a trusty wallet on a trip. A passport holder is all the better, offering storage for that most important travel document as well as credit cards, cash and tickets. Most commonly coming in simple bifold form, just like conventional wallets, they have been the subject of designer takes by everyone from Gucci to Louis Vuitton, each imbuing theirs with signature house motifs for major flex appeal.
Whether your still repping old-school burgundy or have updated to post-Brexit blue, our pick of the best passport holders look a damn sight nicer and will protect yours from damage (and in some cases, even identity theft) as you collect your stamps around the globe. So, without further delay, here we present our very favourites…
What are GQ's best passport holders for men?
You'll find all the passport holders worth your consideration in the gallery below, but first, here's what our editors are holding onto this season:
- Best overall passport holder: Paul Smith, farfetch.com, £190
- Best designer passport holder: Burberry, farfetch.com, £270
- Best colourful passport holder: Penguin Books, penguin.co.uk, £12.95
- Best wallflower's passport holder: Tom Ford, mrporter.com, £420
Skip to: Are passport holders a good idea? | What should I look for in a passport holder? | GQ’s guide to the best luggage in 2024
Are passport holders a good idea?
Hands up if you’ve ever got to the airport and realised you’ve forgotten your passport, boarding pass and travel card. If your hand is raised, then wipe those tears of frustration away and invest in a quality passport holder to store it safely in your bag. If your hand isn’t raised, count your blessed stars this hasn’t happened to you, but it’s still worth getting a travel passport wallet just for the added peace of mind.
While these wallets won’t guarantee your passport’s safety, it will be a useful holder to keep your travel documents, possibly a few cards and a pen, as well as space for additional tickets and boarding passes all in one place, so you can stuff it in the pocket of your suitcase and rucksack happy in the knowledge your gear is secure and in the same location.
They also offer an under-appreciated jolt of sartorial flex – we hate our new blue post-Brexit colours – with the opportunity to fully customise your travel accessories. Personalised passport covers could result in full-grain leather, bespoke detailing or simply offer a unique colour to make it easier to spot when it’s swimming in the bottom of your rucksack, and also lets others know you truly care about how you look when travelling as you flash it at check-in.
What should I look for in a passport holder?
Aside from the obvious security of holding onto your passport without damaging it, there’s not too much to consider when buying a passport holder. Inevitably your thoughts will turn to materials, designs and branding if you’re sartorially minded, but let’s get the serious bits sorted first.
These holders are ostensibly sleeves to hold your passport, so making sure it has a secure cover to clip your passport in without folding corners or damaging pages is a must. Next, you may want to find one with a snap closure to reduce the risk of it slipping out accidentally.
You should be mindful that almost every single airport customs agent in the world will remove your passport from the passport holder to assess and scan your documents. Don’t worry, it’s not an issue, but keep it in mind as you travel.
Elsewhere, top options will likely have credit card pockets, a pen holder or a slot to hold tickets or even your vaccination pass.
GQ’s guide to the best luggage in 2024
We love a quality travel accessory to flex in the airport, but you also should pay attention to the rest of your luggage to make sure you’ve got all the best gear to get you from point A to B. Luckily for you, our travel editors know exactly what you need to glide through the airport with confidence. Read on to check out our guides on the best suitcases, best cheap suitcases, the best packing cubes, best luggage brands, best laptop backpacks, the best backpack trends, and the best carry-on luggage for the easiest trips of your life.
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Best overall passport holder: Paul Smith
1/19Paul Smith
Paul Smith
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Black
Paul Smith’s signature striped motif is the playful design touch that your passport has been waiting for. Boldly fronting this latest style from the British designer, its multicoloured motif is set on a bi-fold leather body, within which you’ll find a slot for your travel ID as well as a smaller collection for your cards. A perfect blend of fashion and function, it's a brilliant companion for the sartorially inclined.
Best wallflower's passport holder: Tom Ford
2/19Tom Ford
Tom Ford
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Black
Tom Ford’s glossed-leather passport holder exudes luxury, with an eye-catching croc-effect front panel that communicates just the right amount of travel glamour. Beyond protecting your passport in style, its body is detailed with a collection of cash and card slots, as well as initialled gold-toned branding at the corner of its frame. This one may be on the ‘spennier side, but trust us when we say: it’s worth it.
Best colourful passport holder: Penguin Books
3/19Penguin Books
- Fabrication: Not specified
- Colours: Blue
And now for a little bit of kitsch courtesy of Penguin Books, which offers passport holders in the style of its vintage book covers. This one uses the original jacket of Eustace Chesser’s Grow Up - And Live, a title that refers to the advice for adolescents it contains, but in this instance is a constant reminder to make the most of your travels.
Best designer passport holder: Burberry
4/19Burberry
Burberry
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Beige
Burberry’s checked passport holder, much like its collections as a whole, serves a distinct design stance with tradition and functionality at the core. Cut from a rich yet durable calf leather, it’s set apart by its iconic archival motif at the front: contrasting its beige-dominated pattern with a stark black interior. Bi-fold in structure and finished with an inner logo stamp, rest assured that sophisticated airport style is imminent upon purchase.
Hermès
6/19Hermès
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Bronze, navy, burgundy (+12 more)
Few luxury brands have a greater reputation with leather more than Hermès, making the French house a failsafe source for a passport holder to last. Fresh to its offerings is this Tarmac-hued design: crafted from a Chamkila leather which boasts a smooth and shiny grain, and finished with a simple snap closure at the top corner. Simple, secure and promising to produce a beautiful patina over time, it’s a timeless favourite for team GQ.
Not Another Bill
7/19Not Another Bill
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Green, black
Not Another Bill is the place for personalised gifts, but it’s also a prime spot for self treats too. Once you’ve picked up the site essential — an engraved cocktail shaker — get a load of this leather passport holder complete with gold foil graffiti and your very own initials.
Ami Paris
8/19Ami Paris
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Black
Travelling simple and light is our ideal airport scenario, so any kit that can aid this appearance is an instant win in our eyes. With that in mind, allow us to introduce Ami Paris’ latest passport holder: built from a slick palmellato leather and structured with two effective slots inside. A fuss-free accessory which will retain its style for years to come, it’s a particularly good choice for those who veer towards a minimalist wardrobe.
Harber London
9/19Harber London
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Tan, black, grey
If you’re searching for a wallet that’s slim, stylish, and seriously secure, this could be what you’ve been looking for. Handmade by expert craftsmen in Spain, this one from Harber London holds your passport, up to nine cards, and it’s also RFID protected as well, meaning it’ll prevent your card details from being stolen by dodgy characters.
Bottega Veneta
10/19Bottega Veneta
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Black
Looking to communicate some strong fashion knowledge via your passport holder? Bottega Veneta’s classic household offering will help you do it. Shaped through the luxury brand’s acclaimed Intrecciato weave, it’s built from a robust black leather and is fitted with a series of slots for a range of travel-ready gear. An investment well worth making, if you ask us.
Fortnum & Mason
11/19Fortnum & Mason
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Blue
Eau de Nil is the name of that particular turquoise Fortnum & Mason uses in all of its branding. It’s also the shade of this leather passport cover, which uses pebbled leather and subtle gold foil to make a luxury finishing product you’ll be proud to whip out at customs.
Bellroy
12/19Bellroy
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Tan, navy, black (+2 more)
An uber-functional choice for those more organised travellers, Bellroy's travel folio has room for two passports for dual-citizens or parents alongside ample travel cards, currency and boarding passes thanks to dedicated slots. There's even a sim card slot complete with an ejector pin for those who take advantage of the oftentimes cheaper local tariffs while abroad.
Zero Grid
13/19Zero Grid
- Fabrication: Nylon
- Colours: Black
Security should be front and centre in your planning while travelling, and we can't recommend this Zero Grid passport wallet higher for this factor. Not only is it capacious enough for two passports, some cards and some money, it's also RFID blocking, keeping your info safe in transit from potential delinquents.
Louis Vuitton
14/19Louis Vuitton
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Brown
Perhaps the most recognisable monogram of all the high fashion houses, Louis Vuitton has, of course, cast its floral x LV step and repeat on a passport cover. For those in possession of the corresponding bags, this is an absolute must, while those with plainer luggage will enjoy the ease at which you’ll locate your passport at the gate.
Go Travel
15/19Go Travel
- Fabrication: Signal blocking fabric
- Colours: Navy
If you're less concerned by which designer logo you present at the departure gate and simply want to preserve your pristine stamp collector, The Passport Slip by Go Travel is an affordable solution that also makes room for two cards. More impressive are its security features, however – blocking illegal scans of the chips embedded in your passport and cards to help prevent data and identity theft.
Brunello Cucinelli
16/19Brunello Cucinelli
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Brown
Forever the master of quiet luxury, Brunello Cucinelli's latest passport holder promises to bring a bunch of credits to your style score. Crafted in Italy from a full-grain, tan-coloured leather, it's resistant to wear and tear and is detailed with a diverse range of slots to store your goods inside. Excellence defined.
Saint Laurent
18/19Saint Laurent
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Black
More of an understated kind of style maven? You might already be a fan of the dark designs of Saint Laurent Paris. If you’re £3,000 short of being able to afford one of the brand’s iconic leather jackets, there’s still a way into the fold and it’s through this handsome grain de poudre passport cover. The indie sleaze agenda truly does span all accessories.
Smythson
19/19Smythson
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Red, black, green (+9 more)
Not all that sweet on that fraught shade of blue on your new passport? The selection of shades to choose from on Smythson's Panama passport cover can make it feel as though Brexit never happened, at least for the duration of your holiday. Constructed from smart and durable crossgrain leather, gold-stamped pockets signpost space for your passport and boarding pass for ultimate airport efficiency. The option to personalise makes it an especially good choice for gifting.
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