In a world where countries are “protected” by their borders, getting a shiny new passport to access a country other than your own is a real treat.

Just ask the Guptas. They were able to capture a whole state.

But now that that’s crumbling, perhaps the family should look at gaining entry into the Sovereign Military Order of Malta – although from what we can tell, they are going to have to bring their A game.

A Catholic Order, its sovereignty was recognised by Pope Paschal back in 1113, which makes it one of the oldest institutions in Christian civilisation, reports The Independent:

It is a neutral, completely apolitical body that predominantly concerns itself with humanitarian issues – at the moment, for example, it is heavily involved in providing medical assistance to refugees crossing the Aegean Sea to Europe.

It is currently active in 120 countries, where it helps to care for people in need through its medical, social, and humanitarian works.

When it comes to the passports – of which the application and printing process is handled by the Österreichische Staatsdruckerei of Vienna, Austria – only one permanent passport is issued at any given time: to its highest officer, the Grand Master, the current being Grand Master is Fra’ Matthew Festing, from the UK.

Then:

Twelve individuals also hold temporary passports for the length of their five-year term. These positions include the traditional titles of Grand Commander (spiritual head) and the Grand Chancellor (Prime Minister) and the Grand Hospitaller (Minister of Health and Social Welfare).

The Order originated as the Crusader Knights Hospitaller in 1048, and its full name is the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.

If you are lucky enough to get given a passport, this is what it would look like:

The Order lost the island of Malta, in 1798 so is “restricted to two extra-territorial properties in Rome, from where it issues its own postage stamps, currency and passports”.

Kind of like the Vatican, yes.

The Order has diplomatic relations with 106 countries and the EU and is a permanent observer at the UUN, which means it can access “crisis-hit regions where it can carry out humanitarian work”.

Made up of 13 500 knights, dames, and chaplains, as well as 80 000 permanent volunteers and 25 000 employees, the Order only issues 500 passports – however, members retain their own passport to use when not on “official” business.

The Guptas must be frothing.

[source:travelandleisure&independent]