| United Nations laissez-passer | |
|---|---|
The front cover of a bluebiometric United Nations laissez-passer. | |
| Type | Laissez-passer |
| Issued by | |
| Purpose | Identification |
| Eligibility | UN officials and officials of the United Nations Specialized Agencies and theIAEA |
| Size | 88 mm × 125 mm (3.5 in × 4.9 in) |
| United Nations laissez-passer | |
|---|---|
The front cover of a redmachine-readable United Nations laissez-passer. | |
| Type | Laissez-passer |
| Issued by | United Nations |
| Purpose | Identification |
| Eligibility | High UN officials and Directors of the United Nations Specialized Agencies and theIAEA |
| Size | 88 mm × 125 mm (3.5 in × 4.9 in) |
AUnited Nations laissez-passer (UNLP orLP) is adiplomatic travel document issued by theUnited Nations under the provisions of Article VII of the 1946Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations[1] in its offices inNew York City andGeneva, as well as by theInternational Labour Organization (ILO).[2]
The UNLP is issued to UN and ILO staff as well as staff members of international organizations such as theWHO, theIAEA, theWorld Tourism Organization, theComprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Preparatory Commission, theOrganisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, theWorld Trade Organization, theInternational Monetary Fund, theInternational Organization for Migration, theWorld Intellectual Property Organization and theWorld Bank. The document is written in English and French,working languages of United Nations.
The UNLP is a valid travel document, which can be used like a national passport (in connection with travel on official missions only).
Most officials hold a blue UNLP (up to D-1 level), which is similar in legal status to aservice passport. A red UNLP is issued to particularly high officials (D-2[a] and above[b]), and confers similar status to that of adiplomatic passport holder.
A data page has a visual zone and amachine-readable zone. The visual zone has a photograph of the holder, data about the passport, and data about the LP holder much similar to a normal passport. The nationality and place of birth of the passport holder is not mentioned in a UNLP, but the UN is used in fields similar toissuing country.
The first line of a machine-readable zone (which is at the bottom of the page) of the passport contains a letter to denote the type of travel document (which despite the laissez-passer status, it is "P" for passport), followed by the code normally used for the citizenship of the passport holder (but here: "UNO/UNA" for "United Nations Organization/Agency"), and the name (surname first, then given name or names) of the passport holder. When visa are placed in a UNLP, the same practice should be followed, and in the nationality field, UNO/UNA should be placed.[3] This guideline however is often not observed.[citation needed]

Effective 3 September 2012, all applicants for new LPs received by the UN Office in Geneva (UNOG) will be issued the new "e-UNLPs" and there will be no renewal of current UNLPs. The new "e-UNLP" is fully compliant with international standards established by theInternational Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These include the use of bio-chip technology, facial recognition identification and employs strict photographic standards for passport documents. All "e-UNLPS" will be issued with a five-year fixed duration, regardless of contract expiration and will not contain dependents. The validity period of the new e-UNLP cannot be extended and additional visa pages cannot be added. Existing LPs retain the validity date stipulated in the document.
The UN laissez-passer is not treated as a valid passport for the purposes of obtaining anElectronic Travel Authorization to visitCanada.[4]
Some categories of persons employed by or affiliated with the United Nations are not normally entitled to receive a laissez-passer, e.g.:goodwill ambassadors,Messengers of Peace, consultants of United Nations organizations and funds and programmes, experts on missions for the United Nations, and individual and institutional contractors.
However, in accordance with section 22 of theConvention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, individuals who are designated as experts on missions for the UN may be issued a United Nations Certificate, which is not a legal travel document but serves to certify that the holder is travelling on official business on behalf of the UN orspecialized agency or related organization.[5]