Do you know which passport in the world is most rare? What if we tell you that there’s a passport which is held by not more than 500 people in the world and it holds great significance. Yes, there’s one like that! The Order of Malta, a Roman Catholic institution or order, is home to the rarest passport in the world. The institution works with the motto of “Defence of the (Catholic) faith and assistance to the poor”, Scoopwhoop.com reports. As per the Sovereign Order of Malta, these special diplomatic passports are only granted to “the members of the Sovereign Council (the government), to heads and members of its Diplomatic Missions (as well as their consort and minor children), and – with very few exceptions – to senior figures in charge of a special missions within the Order of Malta,” the report says. The order is active in as many as 120 countries, where it helps to care for people in need through its medical, social, and humanitarian efforts.

The passport remains strictly linked to the duration of the assignment as decided by Order, and therefore, remains active for only 4 years. The Sovereign Order of Malta is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilisation, the about orderofmalta.int says.

“A lay religious order of the Catholic Church since 1113 and a subject of international law, the Sovereign Order of Malta has diplomatic relations with over 100 states and the European Union, and permanent observer status at the United Nations,” it reads. The website claims it to be a neutral, impartial and apolitical organisation.