Featuring national comic book heroes, Belgium redesigns its passport

On Thursday, January 27, 2022, the Belgium government has declared to launch the redesigned international passport, featuring the illustrations of comic book characters of Belgian. The new passport will come into effect from February 7, 2022, as per the Foreign Affairs Minister Sophie Wilmès.

While announcing the decision, Foreign Minister Wilmes, on her Facebook post, wrote,” The Belgian citizens would be able to use the new and redesigned passport from February 7, 2022″.

She further asserted,” The new passport twice to give secure, better quality and it highlights the 9th art that is highly appreciated in Belgium and without a hike in its price”.

Moreover, while declaring the decision, she also interviewed in a press conference and stated,” The Belgian passport is one of the best passports and always made us proud, but also referred to as an object of desire for counterfeiters. Hence, we are ensuring and working to improve its security”.

The personalisation techniques and security measures have been used to design a new passport, so it would be more secure than the previous one and depicts the Belgian culture.

She further underscored,” With the new passport, the culture of Belgium is highlighted which involves 9th art, the comic strip. It is also a central element of our culture, and I thank you for the publishers, authors and right holders who have completed the project”. Further, she also mentioned the artwork done on the passport and said it involves the illustration of Tintin’s rocket, the smurfs, Lucky Luke, Bob & Bobette and Marsupilami.

Wilmes further cited that the process is being charged to the people will not be changed, and it remains €65 for adults and €35 for minors for a standard 34-page passport even though its quality gets enhanced.

The temporary exhibition will be held at the Comics Art Museum in Brusells, from Friday, January 28, until March 6, as a launch event of the new passport. Moreover, in the event, the history of Belgian passport would be shown.