Reported 10 months ago
Established in 1048, the Maltese Order is a religious entity without territory. Its passport, now only around 500 in circulation, is considered one of the rarest globally. Originally known as the Hospitaller Order, it provided aid to pilgrims and the sick during the Crusades and once held lands in Rhodes and Malta before Napoleon expelled them from Malta. Today, the Order operates as a sovereign religious and charitable organization with observer status at the UN, issuing stamps and currency. Their passports, distinct in crimson honoring the 'precious blood,' bear a gold Order emblem and French name, with a 4-year validity extended to 20 years for the Grand Master, making them rarer than Vatican passports.
Source: YAHOO