The Wallet Shoppe
Ok, so what’s the point of the “travel wallet”?
Everyone already has a wallet as their everyday carry, so why do you need to get an additional passport wallet to take with you when you travel? We’ll talk about why you should have a travel document holder, and we’ll review some of the best passport wallets we’ve found!
Why You Need to Carry a Travel Wallet
A travel wallet is useful when you want your passport, cards and paperwork together. You may not need one if your everyday bag already has a secure document pocket; the benefit is organisation, rather than another item to pack.
We’ll look at all the pros to carrying one of these wallets, but know this, they’re really made to make your travel life easier—especially if you’re a frequent traveler.
-
Simple Protection— the passport or travel wallet will keep all your travel docs in much better shape than your normal wallet. It really comes down to a matter of size. Passports, boarding passes, declarations and customs forms aren’t made to fit into a slim wallet. The end result? All your stuff ends up with worn edges and corners (at best) and gets torn or lost (at worst). A good travel wallet will keep your stuff nice and crisp for the entire trip.
-
You Can Actually Find It— We’ve all been there. You throw your passport in your duffle bag or briefcase. Now it’s time to present it and you have to actually find it. But where is it? You dig and dig and end up having to empty out your entire bag before finding it. It’s such a time waster—not to mention embarrassing. The solution? Tuck your passport away into a nice little pocket inside your wallet. Now, when you need it, it’s ready to access and you (and everyone else) can keep moving.
-
Stay Organized— Most of the cases below come equipped with pockets, card slots, ID windows and places to store your passport. To expand on our point above, it just keeps you organized. Traveling can be stressful, so there’s no need to add to the stress with not being able to find your documents (and holding up the line). It really just gives you peace of mind.
-
RFID Blocking— Some travel wallets shield contactless cards and passports while closed. It’s an optional feature, not a requirement for a useful holder, and it doesn’t prevent physical theft, online fraud or losing your documents. Our RFID guide explains what it does.
Types of Passport Wallets
Now we’ve covered why passport wallets are a good idea, let’s quickly cover the main types of passport/travel wallets.
The Replacement Wallet
If you’ve ever done any sort of extensive travel… meaning, traveled further than grandma’s house and longer than “for the weekend”, then you know how important it is to keep your valuables (ID/Passport, papers, tickets, travelers checks, money, credit cards, hotel key, etc..) organised and easy to find.
Let’s face it, you have a lot more “stuff” when you travel. Because of that, you need a wallet that can accommodate all your things. Things like your passport and ID are non-negotiable when traveling abroad. And you definitely want secure, easy access to your money.
So - one obvious thing to do is to pick up a travel wallet. These are larger than the wallets we’d typically recommend, but they incorporate both the usual credit card and cash pockets as well as a pocket for securely containing a passport (or two if you’re traveling with your significant other. Or you’re James Bond.)
The idea here is that you’d take the contents of your regular wallet, decide which cards to take and which to leave behind somewhere secure, and pack this travel document holder. Keep a backup payment card separate so a lost wallet doesn’t take everything with it. Something like the Fjällräven Passport Wallet, for instance.
The Passport Holder
Maybe you’d rather not risk your passport and your everyday cards in the same spot. In that case, maybe what you need is a passport holder like this one from Bosca. A slim cover protects the passport’s edges and gives you a place to tuck a boarding pass. Larger documents need a bigger organiser; check their folded size before buying.
The idea being of course, that you protect the documents needed specifically for travel, while keeping your usual wallet separate. The travel documents can go into the hotel safe when not actively traveling.
Around-the-Neck Passport Case
Some folks swear by these things when traveling. Others, not so much. It’s just what it sounds like, a passport wallet that fits around your neck. The reason? Worn under your clothing, it keeps your passport out of sight and leaves your hands free.
Which approach you take is a purely personal one of course. Whichever option you prefer, read on - we’ve got you covered!
The Best Passport Wallets
The wallets below aren’t necessarily the “slimmest” on the planet, but they also won’t require their own luggage. Form meets function in our list of the best travel wallets in the world… for any type of traveler.
Fjällräven Passport Wallet
Material: G-1000 polyester/cotton with leather details · Size: 6.3 x 4.33 x 0.79 inches · Format: Zipped passport organiser
The Fjällräven Passport Wallet has open pockets for cards and cash, plus a zipped coin compartment. It fits a passport up to 125 x 90 mm, so compare that with your actual document.
The G-1000 fabric and simple layout appeal to the practical traveler in us. This is the smaller Passport Wallet, rather than the wider Kånken Travel Wallet designed around additional items such as a phone.
One Passport Wallet owner said they loved it for travel. The zipped layout is its attraction: documents stay together without needing a large leather folio.
Leatherology Zip Around
Material: Leather · Size: 9 x 4.75 x 1 inches · Capacity: Passports, multiple cards, coin pocket · RFID: Separate RFID versions are offered
Leatherology is a company set on showing the world that you don’t have to give up style to have a spacious travel wallet. Introducing the Zip Around Travel Wallet. This leather wallet is composed of 100 % full grain leather. The point? It’s made to last.
This beauty can hold up to eight (8) credit cards, boarding pass and passports, and also manages to include two (2) deep pockets to place excess bills and travel docs or papers. Comes with a zippered pocket for coins. The Zip Around is impressively slim for being able to carry so much.
And the best part? There’s a wide range of leather colors to choose from.
Visconti 1157
Material: Leather · Size: 4.33 x 9 x 1.2 inches · Capacity: Passports, 7 cards, ID Window · Format: Long travel organiser
Visconti’s 1157 is a large leather organiser for readers who want separate places for travel documents and cards. Its long format is better suited to a bag than a small trouser pocket.
The 1157 can hold up to 7 credit cards, ID Window and has 5 slip in pockets. There is also a pocket on the outside and a convenient pen holder down the middle. That layout is useful when you want cards, a pen and paperwork together.
Derek Alexander Passport Travel Wallet
Material: Leather · Size: 5 x 9.5 inches · Format: Large travel organiser
The Derek Alexander Derby Ultimate Traveler Wallet is quite possibly the most gorgeous travel accessory you’ll pack. The 5 x 9.5-inch format gives you more room for travel paperwork than a passport-sized sleeve.
Its attraction is the combination of leather styling and a larger organiser layout. Check the footprint against the bag pocket you plan to use; this is a bag-sized document wallet rather than a tiny everyday cardholder.
Bellroy Travel Folio
Material: Leather · Capacity: 2 passports, 6–8 cards, bills and boarding passes · RFID: Yes
You are able to easily transition from the office to the open road with Bellroy’s Travel Folio. This amazingly versatile wallet will be the travel companion you are looking for. Its two passport pockets, six card slots with room for one or two more cards, and hidden bill storage keep documents and money separate.
It even comes with a micro pen - how many times have you had to borrow a pen to fill in landing cards or sign customs documents? The design of this folio is all about organization in a beautiful environmentally-certified leather look.
Tumi Alpha Passport Holder
Material: Ballistic Nylon · Size: 5.8 x 4.8 x 0.8 inches · Capacity: Passport, 8 cards, 2 extra pockets, ID Window · Format: Bifold passport case
The Tumi Alpha Passport Holder is going to appeal to the traveling businessman that wants his wallet to be practical, handsome, and durable. This bi fold travel wallet is able to hold 8 cards on one side and a nice deep pocket to hold the passport on the opposite side. There is a full sized currency slot behind.
The Nylon material is reinforced with premium leather trim and a stylish logo. The finish is sleek and sophisticated and you can fit this wallet in your pocket for quick access during the day. Not many travel wallets are that compact while still being so useful. Make a great travel investment and check out the Alpha Passport Case.
Maxwell Scott Passport Holder
Material: Nappa leather · Size: 4.02 x 5.63 x 0.12 inches · Format: Slim passport cover
Maxwell-Scott’s older Prato Nappa design adds a little luxury to the trip without turning your passport into a large document binder. It has a transparent passport sleeve, two slit pockets and a hidden rear pocket, with cotton lining.
The clear sleeve helps you find the identification page, though you should expect to remove the passport whenever an officer asks to examine it. The original Prato Nappa was sold with Maxwell-Scott’s 25-year warranty.
Allett RFID Travel Wallet
Material: Leather and Nylon · Size: 5.6 x 4.4 x 0.2 inches · Capacity: Passport, 4-10 cards, bill pocket, ID Window · RFID: Yes
Traveling with your passport does not mean you have to use a bulky wallet. The Allett RFID Slim Wallet provides one location for all your important travel information but manages to keep it in one tiny package.
Made with the finest Nappa leather, it can hold up to 10 cards in 5 convenient credit card slots. Additionally, there is room for receipts, cash, and your passport/boarding pass (as well as other travel documents).
The Made-In-The-USA Allett Slim is also equipped with RFID blocking protection for shielding contactless cards while they’re inside. Whether your plane ride is 1 hour or 14, the minimalist design allows you to store it in your pocket comfortably the whole trip.
Bosca Passport Case
Material: Leather · Size: 3.75 x 0.4 x 5.5 inches · Capacity: Passport, boarding documents · Format: Slim passport cover
The Bosca Old Leather Collection has released the Bosca Passport Case with the refined, gentleman traveler in mind. The hand-stained Italian leather provides that smooth, stylish finish that all Bosca products are famous for.
The deep pocket on the inside of this wallet allows you to store your passport and boarding pass safely (plus other travel documents). You also have the option to store a few bills behind the passport for convenient access. The best part is the Bosca Passport Case is extremely thin and lightweight so you will not feel bogged down on your next trip.
Kasper Maison Travel Wallet
Material: Leather · Size: 3.94 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches · Capacity: Passport, card slots and extra pockets · RFID: Yes
The Kasper Maison Travel Wallet has it all for maximum quality and travel-friendly features. Premium full grain leather gives you that extravagant feeling while still remaining one of the most practical wallets on the market in terms of modern design.
Your passport will fit snugly on the right side which allows the front cover and signature pages free for scanning. The card slots on the left give immediate access to your most-used cards. Keep an ordinary wallet separate if you prefer not to carry all your payment cards with your passport.
The Swedish-designed Kasper Maison Travel Wallet comes with RFID blocking protection and makes a great gift (they even make a point of calling out their “premium unboxing experience”.) Whether your trip is for business or pleasure, the Kasper Maison Travel Wallet keeps those small travel essentials together.
Jack Spade Tech Travel Wallet
The Tech Oxford Travel Wallet is an older Jack Spade design with a polyester exterior and leather trim.
The classic appeal is the point here: a simple bifold with card pockets and larger sections for a passport and currency. It suits readers who like a fabric wallet with restrained leather details rather than an all-leather folio.
If you find one secondhand, compare the actual wallet’s pockets and condition with your travel documents. Jack Spade phone cases bearing the same Tech Oxford name are different products.
Passport Wallet Buyer’s Guide
The passport wallet makes a great “second wallet” (see our types of wallets article for more on this). Not for everyday use perhaps, but hugely useful for travel.
The right choice depends on your load. There are three criteria to think about:
-
Function: Are you looking for something to protect just your travel documents, or something to be the all-in-one wallet for your trip?
-
Style: Are you looking for something practical where the key feature is the number of different pockets and ability to get organized? Or something in beautiful old leather that is designed to be seen and make a statement?
-
Security: Are you looking for something like an around the neck wallet, maybe with RFID protection as well? This will somewhat depend on your personal comfort level with traveling, but of course, this also depends on where you are going.
“The World Is Waiting For You. Good Luck, Travel Safe…Go!” Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
Before You Go…
Ok, so your documents are safe in a travel wallet. There is another travel issue we can likely all relate to though. It’s been a long flight and you just want to get out of that airport and shower at your hotel … but all the bags on the carousel are identical…surely there’s a way to make your luggage stand out at the airport … but in style?
How To Make Your Bag Stand Out At The Airport
And if you’re still figuring out the carry-on itself, the rolling luggage pilots and flight attendants actually use is the shortlist worth borrowing from — it covers the practical features that matter for frequent trips.
