What to Look for When Buying a Passport Holder

by GR0 Collaborator / Jan 20, 2020

The SENREVE woman is defined by her desire and openness to explore. Whether she is jetting to the beach for vacation or traveling abroad for work, she enjoys maintaining her versatile, classic style. 


Luckily, SENREVE has you covered, from the SENREVE Passport Holder to the SENREVE Envelope Sleeve, you can rest assured that you will be traveling in style while also keeping all of your important documents safe and sound. Replacing a passport or paying for damage control if you lose your passport in another country can be expensive. Buying a passport cover is not. Invest in a quality protective cover before your next flight so you can enjoy traveling at ease. 


Read on to learn more about what you should look for when buying a passport holder.


What is a Passport Holder? 


A passport holder, or passport cover, is any sleeve or other protective exterior that covers your passport. Your passport is the most important document you carry when you travel, and keeping it safe from accidental spills, scuffing, or other damage is the best way to ensure you will get home hassle-free. Besides adding an extra layer of protection, they can also help keep documents organized and reduce the risk of accidentally misplacing or losing them. 


Besides adding a layer of protection, a new passport holder also adds individualism to a standardized document, helping you easily identify which is yours while also adding a touch of your own personal style. They make great gifts, and higher quality designs like SENREVE's can even be further personalized with your initials or icons. 


Top Considerations when Buying a Passport Holder


1. Material and Durability 

Passport holders are available in a wide variety of materials, including plastic, leather, and fabric. Let's break down the pros and cons of each. 


Leather. SENREVE's Passport Holder is the prime example of genuine leather that is durable, sustainable, and eco-friendly, with the added benefit of being classic and timeless. Our leather passport holders come in a variety of colors, ranging from neutral to vibrant, to match your unique style and design. We recommend our leather option for anyone who values longevity and sustainability when it comes to their purchase decisions. 


Plastic. Like other synthetic handbags and wallets, plastic passport holders are made from PVC. While PVC is extremely durable and easy to clean, the manufacturing process is harmful to the environment and the final product is not eco-friendly or biodegradable. Plastic passport holders are extremely inexpensive but do not offer the chic, stylish appearance of other materials. 



Fabric. Some passport holders are designed using simple fabric such as cotton or polyester. While these designs offer simplicity, beauty, and even a DIY project, they are most susceptible to quickly picking up dirt and are extremely difficult to get clean. If you've ever had a fabric wallet, you know what we're talking about. 


2. Size and Functionality Needs 

When considering the size and functionality you need in a passport holder, ask yourself what else you would want to carry with your passport. Do you want the holder to accommodate other important items such as credit cards, hotel keys, and boarding passes? Do you want to fit your phone and passport into the same wallet? Your answers to these questions will determine the best passport holder size for you. You may even consider a wallet style that serves a more versatile purpose but can still keep your passport secure.  


Another common passport holder style is one that goes around your neck or straps directly to your chest/sternum. While we wouldn't recommend them for their fashion appeal, they are great for ensuring a higher level of security and theft prevention as they are easily hidden under clothing or can be worn as a cross-body bag. 


3. Security Features 

If you are traveling to a country with a high rate of crime or theft, some passports' added security features are an important consideration. In modern times, wallets and passport holders may be equipped with an anti-theft RFID feature that will help protect against identity theft. 

If you aren't familiar with RFID theft, also known as RFID skimming, it's the use of radio waves to read and capture information stored on RFID chips, a feature present on all credit cards. RFID skimming can happen from several feet away, and you don't even have to take out your credit card or use your PIN to have all of your information stolen. 


To mitigate this risk, RFID blocking materials are created with copper or aluminum, woven directly into the fabric to block the RFID scanner's functionality. But, not all RFID blocking material is made equally. If the security feature is a major concern for you, be sure to do your research and read reviews before purchasing. 


4. Budget 

Knowing passport holders come in a variety of designs, styles, and materials, it's unsurprising they also come with a range of pricing. If you are searching for higher quality, designer style, or added functional benefits, you should be willing to pay a higher price. For those that travel frequently and want the versatility of design paired with organization, the overall cost per use will easily justify a higher price tag. 


In either case, knowing and setting your budget upfront will help you make the right decision. For those looking for designer quality, make sure you set a budget range you are comfortable with before starting your search. 


Passport Holder vs. Passport Cover


The choice between a passport holder or a passport cover comes down to how organized of a traveler you are today. A passport holder is typically designed with added functionality, such as pockets and zippers, and is designed with space for your passport. A passport cover, on the other hand, is a snuggly fitting sleeve, like a book jacket, that envelops your passport directly. 


A cover generally provides more direct protection to your passport, keeping it safer from spills or other wear and tear. A holder, on the other hand, creates extra organization while keeping all of your important items together. If you are someone who is already organized, a fitted cover will do in a pinch. If, however, you find yourself scrambling at security or customs to produce all necessary documentation, or if you just want the added convenience of keeping everything together in one place, you may consider a passport holder to help centralize and organize your items. 


While both options protect your passport, it's worth noting that most customs agents will require you to take your passport out of its cover or sleeve when presenting the document. 


Why is Passport Safety Important?


When traveling abroad, your passport is the only thing that will be accepted as proof of your identity and home country. A driver’s license or state ID is NOT an acceptable form of ID when in a foreign country. If you do lose your passport while abroad, the necessary paperwork and added stress required to resolve the problem will likely bring an immediate end to your trip, not to mention the necessary precautions you will need to take to mitigate the risk of a stolen identity. 


With this in mind, proper passport safety should be a top priority for anyone traveling out of the country and especially in unfamiliar areas. We strongly encourage anyone with travel plans to ensure they know the location of their nearest embassy and backup the official passport document with images or photocopies (these will not be accepted as official forms of ID, but can help you in the case of passport theft). 



Upon arrival to your destination country, we advise you to lock your passport in your hotel safe or other secure location and do not carry your passport with you everywhere you go. In some cases, this may be difficult if your passport is needed to identify your age. If this is the case, make sure you carry your passport in a cross-body bag or a belt-bag, and if you choose to wear a backpack instead, make sure to wear it facing forward, rather than on your back.


The Bottom Line


No matter how frequent of a flyer you are, taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your documents is important. The SENREVE woman is far too busy to let her vacation be ruined by accidental damage to her passport. 


Whether it's a passport holder or a passport cover, we recommend you protect your documents with something that will keep them looking neat while adding extra functionality and confidence to your travel style. Check out SENREVE's lineup of passport holders and versatile accessories to find your next travel companion--don't forget your face mask, either.


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