Protect your precious personal details with these handy picks
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A passport holder is an essential item for the organized, put-together traveler. It offers a convenient way to protect your most important identity document, while also adding style points and an opportunity for personalization. These days, passport holders are typically much more than a simple protective sleeve. They often incorporate other features such as storage for other essentials, including your bank cards and boarding pass, as well as RFID-blocking technology to minimize the risk of identity theft.
From smart leather splurges and crossbody solutions to budget-friendly purchases, the TripSavvy team put 15 popular passport holders (most of them wallet-style) to the test. Over the course of at least two weeks, we evaluated and scored each one for capacity, ease of use, quality, and value based on their performance in real-life travel scenarios.
Leather needs some breaking in
Scoring perfect fives across our testing board, the Baphity Genuine Leather Passport Holder impressed us with its sturdy construction and high-quality materials. Made of 100 percent bovine leather with a smart, pebbled finish, we felt it could easily pass as a much more expensive product from a top-tier travel brand. It offers excellent value for money (and in fact, we decided after testing that we would happily pay quite a bit more for it). An RFID-blocking lining is included for your peace of mind.
Other features include slots for your air ticket, two SIM card pockets, and slots for three regular bank cards. The wallet also has a clear 4-inch by 3-inch slot perfect for immunization or medical cards that you need to keep visible. We found all slots very secure (so much so that it was a little tricky getting cards in and out until the leather had been broken in) and felt that the wallet offers the perfect amount of space. We loved its small size and slim profile. Choose yours with or without a zipper in a range of colors from pine green to wine red.
Size: 0.6 x 4.9 x 6.2 inches | RFID-blocking: Yes | Weight: 5.3 ounces
Great for note taking in transit
Crafted from weather-resistant PU leather with a magnetic snap closure, the Tigari Passport Holder felt and looked much nicer than we expected given its budget price. We liked the simplicity of its design, with a slip-in section that held our passport securely and a clear window perfect for displaying an immunization or ID card. The wallet also features four bank or business card slots, a larger section for travel documents or cash, and two SIM card slots. We found we could fit all of our essentials with space to spare.
One of our favorite features was the included pen, perfect for filling in immigration documents on the go. This does add to the overall size and bulk of the holder, though, which means we’d be unlikely to use it as our everyday wallet (we found it difficult to fit into a small backpack compartment). Nevertheless, it’s perfect for travel especially because it uses RFID-blocking materials that protect your personal information from potential cyber theft. There is a diverse color selection, including rose gold, teal, matcha green, and more.
Size: 0.7 x 4.6 x 5.7 inches | RFID-blocking: Yes | Weight: 2.4 ounces
Can accommodate a phone or Kindle
On the larger side if you’re looking for something compact
Available in five styles of genuine leather from granulated to crocodile-style calfskin (the cheapest of which is more than 13 times the price of our overall winner), the Lucrin Passport Travel Wallet is certainly a luxury item for wealthy travelers that have literally everything else or a high-end gift. However, after testing, we can confirm that the quality is extremely high, with a buttery feel, perfect stitching, and a sturdiness that suggests this is a one-time investment that will last many years. The wallet comes in a rainbow of colors from lavender to tan or turquoise, and for an additional fee you can have yours monogrammed, change the thread color, or add RFID blocking.
More than a passport holder, it’s really a slim, elongated wallet with space for all your essentials. It has 13 credit card pockets, three loyalty card pockets, slots for your passport and boarding pass, and a zippered pocket for cash. We loved the all-in-one nature of this holder, which we found could even fit a phone or slimline Kindle. You could use it on its own or fit it into a medium-to-large purse or backpack. Despite its large size, we didn’t find it cumbersome on any of the four flights we took it on. The organization is intuitive and we appreciated the sense of security offered by the zippered section and button latch.
Size: 9.8 x 9.1 inches | RFID-blocking: Optional | Weight: Not listed
We were pleasantly surprised by the sturdy build and quality feel of the Melsbrinna Waterproof Travel Wallet, despite it being made of faux leather. We felt it was worth considerably more than its budget price, making this a stylish steal. It scores extra points for aesthetics by coming in almost every color imaginable from burgundy to mint green, as well several prints including panda and blossom. The holder is secured by a magnetic snap button closure and features RFID-blocking technology.
Storage includes a passport sleeve, which held our passport securely, but still allowed us to remove and replace it easily at airport security. The wallet also has four bank card slots; two SIM card slots; a larger section for holding boarding cards or cash; and a page-style, dual-sided clear plastic slot perfect for your driving license or state ID. We loved this product’s small size (we easily fit it in a fanny pack). We also loved that, despite its diminutive nature, we were able to fit everything we needed even when using it as our everyday wallet for three weeks.
Size: 0.7 x 4.7 x 5.7 inches | RFID-blocking: Yes | Weight: 3 ounces
The crossbody Pacsafe RFIDsafe V150 Compact Organizer scores sustainability points by using post-consumer recycled polyester (equivalent to five plastic bottles). The water-repellent, hard-wearing fabric and quality finishes, such as smooth zippers, makes the organizer well worth its higher price tag. The material is also RFID-blocking for added peace of mind, while the detachable strap is reinforced with Dyneema for cut-resistant durability.
We loved having a shoulder strap because it kept the organizer accessible during our tests and minimized the chances of accidentally leaving it behind in the airport terminal. Inside, it offers a secure mesh passport holder, six card slots, a slip pocket for your boarding pass, a pen loop, and a key attachment point. There’s even a zippered section for your coins or bills. We were able to fit all our travel essentials and liked that the organizer is capacious enough to use as a standalone bag, but also compact enough to fit inside a larger carry-on. It comes in one color: black.
Size: 0.8 x 4.9 x 6.7 inches | RFID-blocking: Yes | Weight: 4.8 ounces
If you have a large family and they all give their passports to you to look after en route to your destination, the Valante RFID Passport Holder Wallet could be your new best friend. It’s made from RFID-blocking, water-resistant Oxford fabric and it’s large enough to accommodate up to six passports. In addition to six passport sleeves, the book-style wallet offers two slip pockets for boarding passes or bills, two dedicated SIM and memory card pockets, and two large zippered pockets perfect for coins.
There’s also a zippered phone pocket and two letter-size document pouches on the exterior for quick-access essentials. We found that we had ample space for everything we wanted to take with us. The extra room is nice to have; however we did feel that the wallet runs the risk of being too large for smaller families. We loved that it has removable wrist and crossbody straps, and the sturdy, stylishly pale gray fabric is appealing. Your purchase is protected by a one-year warranty and a 60-day money back guarantee.
Size: 1.2 x 5.9 x 10.6 inches | RFID-blocking: Yes | Weight: 9.1 ounces
We love the Baphity Genuine Leather Passport Holder for its quality construction, gorgeous colors, slim build, and clever organization features, all of which are offered at a very reasonable price point. For a truly budget option, go for the chic, conveniently designed Tigari Passport Holder.
For this round-up, we tested 15 passport holders and scored each one on a scale of one to five for capacity, ease of use, quality, and value. We then used overall scores to select our category winners. Scores were based on the real-world experiences of our team of travel experts, who traveled with or used the holder as their everyday wallet at least three times over a period of two weeks. We evaluated how well our passports fit into each holder, their capacity for other essentials, the quality of materials, and any notable design features.
Away Passport Holder: Beautiful, simplistic, and compact, this passport holder performed well for our tester. We felt a bit nervous that the card slot/cash area didn't feature a true closure and the price was somewhat elevated.
Fjallraven Kanken Travel Wallet: This wallet stood up well to an exploded lipstick and was very roomy, easily holding everything we needed with space to spare. A wrist strap would increase utility as the size is slightly too large for everyday use.
Royce Vaccine Card and Passport Wallet: Unsurprisingly stiff at first, the premium leather construction of this wallet was a highlight. The vaccine card section may be a bit dated and could be substituted for additional card slots.
Leatherology Zip Around Travel Wallet: There's not much to dislike about this travel wallet. It's spacious, well-organized, and attractive. It's a bit on the long side, making it ideal for fitting documents and tickets, and requires an upfront investment.
Passport holders fall into two main subcategories: simple protective sleeves that act as a weather- and spill-resistant cover for your passport only, and wallet-style holders that typically provide space for other essentials as well. Which is the better choice depends on your personal preference. If you already have a trusted carry-on, purse, or backpack to conveniently store the rest of your travel necessities and purely want to keep your passport in tip-top condition, a protective sleeve may be all you require. However, a wallet-style holder lets you keep everything in one place and may allow you to streamline your packing so much that you can use it as your primary personal item or carry-on.
Passport holders come in a variety of fabrics: most usually leather, faux leather, or polyester. Whichever you choose, look for quality materials built for long-lasting durability with reinforced seams and straps (if applicable). Leather is often perceived as the sturdiest and most stylish option, but can be expensive. There are good plastic-based, faux leather options out there that offer the same aesthetic for a fraction of the price while also scoring better in terms of sustainability and animal ethics (depending on their construction). RFID-blocking lining is a bonus for anyone concerned about cyber identity theft.
Passport holders keep precious documents protected and secure while traveling. However, be prepared to remove the passport from its case or cover when presenting it to customs officials.
Many passport holders do more than hold a single document. They contain extra slots and pockets for credit cards, IDs, cash, credit cards, and/or vaccination documents. You may find better peace of mind knowing that all your important documents are stored in the same place.
Many passport holders help store the document discretely and away from pickpockets’ sticky fingers. If you’re opting for a passport cover instead of a holder, plan to keep your passport in a difficult location for thieves to access. For example, if you carry it in your purse or a backpack, zip it into an internal pocket. Don’t carry it loosely or in an external bag pocket.
You should also keep backup copies of your passport’s identification pages. You can do this by taking pictures of the pages with your smartphone or photocopying hard copies. If you keep a hard copy, store these documents separately from your passport. Don’t keep them with the original in your passport holder.
Jessica Macdonald is TripSavvy’s Africa travel expert and Commerce Updates Editor. She has traveled to more than 50 countries across six continents and hasn’t yet lost or damaged her passport! The products included in this article were verified for quality and performance during extensive, real-world tests carried out by TripSavvy’s team of travel experts.
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