Picking the Perfect Passport Holder

Your passport is your most essential travel document. A passport holder can help prevent you from fumbling through your bags for that all-important form of ID, and it will protect the document from damage (which can be cause for extra scrutiny). Frequent travelers may want to invest in a holder that contains RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) blocking qualities, which protect the passport’s RFID chip from being picked up by those who shouldn’t have access to it. But if you are a casual traveler or rarely need your passport for business, then a standard carrier should do. Look for carriers that hold your passport snugly but allow easy access.

If you’re the kind of person who likes your accessories to serve multiple uses, select a carrier that’ll hold airline tickets, credit cards and currency as well.

RFID Primer

All U.S. passports issued after October 2006 contain an RFID chip, as do the new passport cards used for travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico and Caribbean countries. A camera-like logo on the front of these passports indicates an RFID chip is inside. A shield inside the passport is designed to prevent identity theft, but critics claim that the data can be read if the passport is open even slightly (e.g., in a briefcase).

1. The Fashion Plate

Guard your documents in one of these stylish holders from Tiffany & Co., $100 each, made of high-grade leather with a lined, color-coordinated interior. Available in Tiffany Blue, brown, red, white and pink, 800-526-0649

2. The Ray Blocker

The color makes this carrier by Kena Kai, $120, easy to spot in your carry-on, and its RFID blocking technology protects your private information. It comes with slots for boarding passes, credit cards and folded cash. kenakai.com

3. The Multitasker

If you prefer to stash all your travel documents in one place, the F1 soft-grain leather passport carrier by Lodis, $65, is for you. Its sleek exterior guards your passport, while extra space inside fits tickets, credit cards and hotel access cards. lodis.com

4. The Chic Keeper

Take a slice of New York wherever you travel with this Jane Street passport holder by Kate Spade, $65, named for its West Village inspiration. Made of calfskin and outfitted with 14-karat gold-plated hardware, it’ll also hold a boarding pass. katespade.com

5. The Hip Protector

This cool carrier by Flight 001, $65, is made of thin, lightweight stainless steel and contains RFID blocking qualities that’ll keep your private details private. flight001.com